Leonardo
DiCaprio has a career spanning nearly three decades, during which time he has
played some memorable antagonists and endearing heartthrobs. He has earned
critical acclaim and love from the audiences. As the actor goes from strength
to strength, DiCaprio has done it all. From being mauled by a bear to playing an
unconscientious Wall Street investor, he has worked with giants in the industry
like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Quentin Tarantino.

Now,
the Oscar winner is all set to appear in Adam McKay’s ‘Don’t Look Up’, which
makes this the best time to delve into his top five performances.

5. The Revenant (2015)

This
film will always be memorable as the one which finally won DiCaprio a
long-deserved Oscar. Alejandro González Iñárritu spun a gritty tale, and Emmanuel
‘Chivo’ Lubezki masterfully executed the director’s vision. However, the film
firmly rests on DiCaprio’s performance as Hugh Glass, the fur trap hunter who
battles for his life, and then embarks on a journey of vengeance.

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DiCaprio
pulled off an intensely physical performance, masterfully portraying the
character only through actions. From eating raw bison liver to fighting a
grizzly, the star left no stone unturned, making this one of his most
outstanding performances, and one deserving the highest accolades.

4. Gangs of New York (2002)

Nobody
understood why DiCaprio would want to work in a Scorsese-directed period film,
after his raging success in ‘Titanic’. However, the actor has always chosen his
roles well, and not only did he ace this part, but he was also instrumental in
convincing Daniel Day Lewis to play Bill the Butcher. We all know that this has
now become arguably one of Day Lewis’ most memorable performances. Interestingly,
DiCaprio held his own as Amsterdam Vallon, a boy bent on avenging his dead
father.

The
actor masterfully portrayed the character as brooding and naïve, to counter
Bill’s boisterous and sharp villainy.

3. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

While
we might not be able to sell Jordan Belfort a pen, DiCaprio definitely sold us
on this role as the real-life Wall Street stockbroker, who pled guilty to
manipulating the stock market. He expertly transitions from a boy with a hunger
to do better and becomes a man who is larger than life himself.

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Once
again, this marks a successful collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio,
where much of the movie rests on DiCaprio’s ability to charm the audiences as
Jordan Belfort, creating a sympathetic base, even as the narrative shows how the
Wall Street broker lived a debauched life.

2. Titanic (1997)

James
Cameron’s blockbuster has now become an iconic part of Hollywood film history.
It also made DiCaprio a household name, with everyone’s hearts going out to the
young Jack Dawson. The film marked his arrival to the big leagues, especially due
to the magical chemistry with Kate Winslet’s Rose.

Though
the core of their story might be cliched, DiCaprio’s performance as the
wonderstruck boy with a doomed love affair has remained etched in the audience’s
memories for ages – so much so that people still joke about sharing the raft
with DiCaprio, to this date.

1. Once Upon a Time in
Hollywood (2019)

Tarantino
gives DiCaprio an extremely meta role in this movie about Charles Manson and his gang of hippies. The star plays a
struggling Hollywood actor, looking to get back his glory days. He shines as
Rick Dalton, portraying the self-doubt and regret that comes during a fading
career. Of course, the film ends on a surprisingly revisionist note, and perhaps a hopeful one for Dalton’s career.

However,
where DiCaprio really makes a mark is when Tarantino adds another layer to the
movie. Dalton, as a struggling actor, has to play the heavy – Caleb DeCoteau. Needless
to say, DiCaprio’s balancing of the two roles – as the unraveling Dalton,
and the menacing villain makes this his best performances yet.