Leonardo DiCaprio has been one of Hollywood’s biggest stars for decades, and some of his best films have earned amazing scores on Rotten Tomatoes. Though he made a few small appearances in the early 1990s when he was just starting out, DiCaprio rocketed to stardom almost immediately. As a teen and young adult, DiCaprio quickly honed his craft.

Though award success would notoriously elude him for years, DiCaprio headlined some of the most critically-acclaimed blockbusters of the 1990s and 2000s, and that would continue well into the 2010s. His greatest strength comes from his ability to inhabit a character, while maintaining just a little bit of himself as well. In biopics and historical dramas, DiCaprio truly shines.

Whether he’s working with auteurs like Martin Scorsese, or headlining box office juggernauts, the audience gets the same quality performance. This consistency has not only contributed to the longevity of his career, but also resulted in a plethora of well-regarded movies. Rotten Tomatoes is one way to judge a movie’s success, and DiCaprio has some major hits on the site.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019) – 86%

Despite being one of the best films of the 2010s, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood barely cracks DiCaprio’s top 10 on Rotten Tomatoes. Quentin Tarantino plays fast and loose with Los Angeles history in the late 1960s, and DiCaprio stars as fading actor, Rick Dalton. It blends humor and ultraviolence, and is clearly Tarantino’s love letter to the era.

The epic got stellar reviews, but didn’t earn unanimous praise on Rotten Tomatoes. There are inevitably going to be critics who don’t like Tarantino’s style, which is why even his best films fall short of 100%. In DiCaprio’s canon, though, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood showcases his mature development as an actor, and he gives a multifaceted performance.

The Aviator (2004) – 86%

A few years after working with Martin Scorsese for the first time, Leonardo DiCaprio reteamed with the director for a starring venture in The Aviator. The Howard Hughes biopic tapped DiCaprio to play the eccentric filmmaker and aircraft designer, and it represented a big leap forward in his development as an actor.

Though it had all the epic scale of Scorsese’s other biopics, The Aviator fell just short with critics. The film has abundant flashes of brilliance, especially with the acting and visuals, but its story structure falters. That being said, it’s a masterclass of acting from DiCaprio, and a sign of things to come from the actor in the 2000s.

Django Unchained (2012) – 87%

Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained was like a thesis statement for the director’s overarching vision, and it celebrated all of his hallmarks. The revisionist western starred Jamie Foxx as an ex-enslaved man on a revenge mission, and it was pure catharsis. Naturally, it stirred up a bit of controversy even while being heaped with praise.

DiCaprio completely stole the show as the vile plantation owner, Calvin Candie. It was clear that he was allowed to play and explore the character, and it paid off onscreen. It narrowly missed universal acclaim on Rotten Tomatoes, but with a score in the high 80s, it was only a matter of a few bad reviews.

Inception (2010) – 87%

Leonardo DiCaprio has worked with great directors in his career, and his collaboration with Christopher Nolan continued that trend. The mind-bending action film, Inception, was unlike anything else in DiCaprio’s filmography, and it gave the actor some credibility in the genre. Its complex plot was somewhat of a hindrance, and a few critics pooh-poohed the film.

Even so, Inception nearly cracked a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and its ratings on other sites reflect universal acclaim. DiCaprio’s performance is strong, but somewhat standard for an action film. He was his usual self, but Inception didn’t give him a lot to sink his teeth into. Nevertheless, his flexibility served the film extremely well.

тιтanic (1997) – 88%

Less than a decade into his career, Leonardo DiCaprio headlined the film that would come to define his legacy as a movie star. James Cameron’s тιтanic told a hyperstylized and romantic version of the true story, and DiCaprio stole hearts as the roguish artist Jack Dawson. Besides its unmatched box office success, тιтanic pleased critics too.

For a time, тιтanic was the highest-grossing movie ever, and it was a rare example of an acclaimed movie also doing well financially. Not only is it one of DiCaprio’s highest-rated movies, but its importance to his career can’t be overstated. The actor’s charm won over audiences, and he undoubtedly landed more starring roles because of тιтanic.

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) – 90%

Paramount Pictures

Young actors are typically typecast in light roles, but movies like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape helped DiCaprio establish himself as a dramatic force right away. The unflinching coming-of-age story starred Johnny Depp in the тιтle role, and challenged the young DiCaprio. While the movie faded over three decades, it was an important piece of ’90s cinema nevertheless.

DiCaprio’s turn as Arnie, a boy with an intellectual disability, required every ounce of his talents, and he brought humanity to a part that could have easily tilted into parody. The movie’s Rotten Tomatoes score came from over 50 reviews, and was fair. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape was a brilliant movie, but it lacks the longevity of other DiCaprio classics.

The Departed (2006) – 91%

The Departed continued DiCaprio’s collaboration with Martin Scorsese, and it was arguably the director’s best film of the 2000s. In one of Scorsese’s most star-studded casts, DiCaprio established himself as a bona fide force while playing William Costigan. The key word for The Departed is balance, and it juggles all of its elements perfectly.

The Departed represents the shortcomings of the rating system on Rotten Tomatoes, and the film’s score falls short of its actual greatness. DiCaprio is just one piece of a larger masterpiece, but he is one of the emotional anchors. With only a handful of better reviews, The Departed could have easily cracked the high 90s.

Killers Of The Flower Moon (2023) – 93%

DiCaprio and Scorsese’s latest collaboration is also their highest-rated on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s nearly Leo’s highest-rated film ever. Killers of the Flower Moon recounts the true tale of the Osage murders, particularly the machinations of the Burkhart family. Big and yet emotional, Scorsese’s opus felt a lot like a return to form for the legendary director.

Killers of the Flower Moon deserves its nearly perfect rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the film really is almost pristine. DiCaprio’s conflicted turn as Ernest Burkhart is arguably his best Scorsese character, but Lily Gladstone gives him a run for his money. Its epic length was divisive, and was really the only thing keeping it from a 100% score.

One Battle After Another (2025) – 96%

Leonardo DiCaprio has made himself somewhat scarce in the 2020s, and it seems he only reappears to star in absolute gems. Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another is a fast-paced thrill ride filled with quirky characters and less-than-subtle social commentary, and DiCaprio is right in the middle of the action.

Because of its newness, it’s tough to fully ᴀssess just how well the movie will be remembered in the future, but it’s already making a strong case as DiCaprio’s greatest achievement. Maintaining a high 90s score on Rotten Tomatoes with hundreds of reviews is almost impossible, and it suggests that One Battle After Another is no flash in the pan.

Catch Me If You Can (2002) – 96%

Catch Me If You Can holds the highest spot on Leonardo DiCaprio’s Rotten Tomatoes list, and for good reason. The Steven Spielberg crime comedy pits DiCaprio against Tom Hanks in a humorous, mile-a-minute battle of wits. Spielberg has never struggled with critics, and Catch Me If You Can was designed to be a crowd-pleaser.

The jury is still out if the 2002 hit is actually Leonardo DiCaprio‘s best movie, but it is certainly one of his most accessible. DiCaprio tends to headline challenging films, and Catch Me If You Can isn’t nearly as subversive as others. His performance as Frank Abagnale is the stuff of brilliance, though, and its high rating is certainly deserved.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Birthdate

November 11, 1974

Birthplace

Los Angeles, California, USA

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