Few actors have reached the level of respect and acclaim in the film business as Robert De Niro. For the last several decades, De Niro has been a part of some of the best films ever made, from The Godfather Part II to Taxi Driver to Heat to The Irishman. He has one of the most impressive careers in Hollywood.
But even with all the acclaim De Niro’s films have received, some truly great films from his filmography have been overlooked by audiences. And then there are those films that were celebrated in their time but fail to live up to their stellar reputations. Here are Robert De Niro’s most underrated and overrated films.
Underrated: The King Of Comedy (1982)
De Niro’s greatest and most significant collaborator has obviously been Martin Scorsese. They have made many iconic movies together, but The King of Comedy has never gotten the attention of some of their other work.
De Niro plays Rupert Pupkin, a delusional man with dreams of being a comedian, who goes to shocking lengths to make his dream a reality. It is one of the most compelling films these two collaborators have made together and features De Niro’s most underrated performance.
Overrated: Cape Fear (1991)
De Niro and Scorsese teamed once again for this remake of the classic thriller, Cape Fear. De Niro plays Max Cady, a dangerous man released from prison who sets out on a deranged mission of revenge on his former lawyer whom he blames for his incarceration.
De Niro does make for an unsettling villain though his performance is a little too over-the-top at times. The film was praised for its thriller elements, but its climax is overly long and begins to turn ridiculous.
Underrated: Jackie Brown (1997)
De Niro teamed with another acclaimed auteur, Quentin Tarantino, for the crime film, Jackie Brown. Based on Elmore Leonard’s novel Rum Punch, De Niro plays an ex-con working alongside his arms dealer buddy, played by Samuel L. Jackson.
Given that it is quieter and less violent than Tarantino’s other films, Jackie Brown is often overlooked. But it is perhaps Tarantino’s best work as a filmmaker and De Niro gives one of his funniest performances as the clueless criminal.
Overrated: Joker (2019)
Todd Phillips used the influence of 1970s movies, including those of Scorsese and De Niro to retell the story of Joker. Joaquin Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a struggling comedian who begins embracing his darker side and inadvertently becomes a symbol for Gotham City.
Joker was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars and many named it as one of the best comic book movies of all time. However, the movie seems to think it is more profound than it really is and it feels like a rip-off of The King of Comedy with less interesting results. De Niro feels very miscast as a popular talk show host Arthur admires.
Underrated: Ronin (1998)
De Niro has made many crime films throughout his career, but Ronin is an underrated masterpiece that fans might have missed. It follows a group of criminals who are brought together for a mission to retrieve a suitcase for their unknown bosses.
The movie is a gripping crime thriller that features some of the best car chases of all time. It is a fast-paced throwback action film with sharp dialogue and a strong cast, led by De Niro.
Overrated: Limitless (2011)
Bradley Cooper stepped into leading man roles with his performance in the thriller, Limitless. He plays an aimless young man who takes a drug that allows him to access the full power of his brain. De Niro plays a formidable businessman Cooper encounters when on his newfound path of success.
Cooper is solid in the lead, but the film itself only gets so far on its premise. Putting aside the flawed science of the idea, the concept is only entertaining for a short while before the story turns into a standard thriller.
Underrated: Midnight Run (1988)
De Niro’s attempts at comedies are not always successful, but Midnight Run showed how fun he can be in these types of roles. He plays a bounty hunter assigned to transport a convict across the country while being hunted by the mob, the FBI, and fellow bounty hunters.
The movie was a modest hit but seems to have faded from memory in the last few decades. It’s a shame because the film is endlessly fun and De Niro plays one of the most likable characters of his career.
Overrated: Analyze This (1999)
In another comedy romp, Analyze This partners De Niro with Billy Crystal and plays off his tough-guy persona. Crystal plays a psychiatrist who is dragged into the mob world by one of his patients, an insecure mobster (De Niro).
The movie was a big hit and even got a sequel, but it doesn’t elicit as many laughs as you might remember. The casting of De Niro is milked for all it’s worth, but there’s only so many times you can laugh at a tough guy crying.
Underrated: Wag The Dog (1997)
Another great pairing in De Niro’s career with Dustin Hoffman for the political satire, Wag the Dog. In the film, the president of the United States looks to distract from a sex scandal by staging a fake war. De Niro plays a government operative who partners with a Hollywood producer (Hoffman) to pull off the scheme.
The movie embraces the insanity of its plot without ever going too overboard. It is a hilarious and clever comedy that feels timely all these years later.
Overrated: Meet The Fockers (2004)
De Niro and Hoffman teamed up again for another comedy, this time the anticipated sequel to De Niro’s hit film Meet the Parents. In Meet the Fockers, Ben Stiller’s Greg introduces his new in-laws to his eccentric parents.
The movie was a massive hit, making hundreds of millions more than its predecessor despite being much worse in quality. While the original film succeeded because of its relatable cringe comedy, the sequel just goes for lazy gross-out humor.
