Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the biggest movie stars of all time, but even he has a few movies that most people won’t be familiar with. Whether it’s kicking off his career in a little-seen direct-to-video sequel or starring in a buried movie that even he doesn’t want you to see, there are several DiCaprio films that have quickly slipped under the radar.
We all know DiCaprio’s work with Martin Scorsese and other celebrated auteurs, but especially in his early years, there were plenty of releases that failed to achieve the same kind of enduring cultural resonance as Titanic. That’s because for every Inception there’s a Critters 3 and for every Wolf of Wall Street there’s Don’s Plum.
Critters 3 (1991)
While cinephiles may be acutely aware of Leonardo DiCaprio’s feature debut, most won’t be familiar with his work on Critters 3. As the lone sequel in DiCaprio’s entire career, this was a rare misstep, which it seems he was determined to never repeat again, as he’s kept the quality of his work decisively high ever since.
As a direct-to-video horror sequel, Critters 3 is notable today primarily due to DiCaprio’s presence alone. The young actor played Josh, the stepson of a corrupt landlord who ultimately traps his stepdad with the Critters and leaves him to die. DiCaprio himself hopes viewers forget this one, describing it (via Far Out) as “possibly one of the worst films of all time.”
Don’s Plum (2001)
Most people have never heard of Don’s Plum, and that’s for good reason, as there’s been a conscious effort to keep this movie buried. Filmed between 1995 and 1996, this independent drama starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Kevin Connolly didn’t exactly show its stars in the best light.
Taking place over just one night, it featured hedonistic men discussing life while eating at a diner with crude, off-color dialogue. With DiCaprio and Maguire as two major up-and-coming Hollywood stars, it’s no surprise they tried to delay the release of the film, as it had the potential to damage their carefully constructed public images.
Celebrity (1998)
From Christopher Nolan to Martin Scorsese, it’s common knowledge that Leonardo DiCaprio has worked with some of the best directors of all time. However, one of his least spoken about collaborations was with the controversial auteur Woody Allen on the comedy-drama Celebrity.
Coming just one year after DiCaprio was catapulted to global superstardom with Titanic, Celebrity was a satirical look at a couple’s failing marriage starring Kenneth Branagh. DiCaprio played volatile young movie star Brandon Darrow, who invites Branagh’s Lee Simon to join him in group sex.
The Man In The Iron Mask (1998)
The Man in the Iron Mask sees Leonardo DiCaprio play a dual role as he tackles the part of the tyrannical King of France, Louis XIV, and his imprisoned twin brother, Philippe Bourbon. Sadly, this low-grade and cheesy adaptation of the classic novel The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later wastes its all-star cast with lackluster mediocrity.
Hot on the heels of Titanic, DiCaprio proved himself a box-office draw, and the film was a financial hit. However, this was not enough to achieve lasting cultural resonance, as The Man in the Iron Mask stands as a forgotten footnote in DiCaprio’s uneven 1990s career.
Hubble (2010)
Leonardo DiCaprio takes us on a journey exploring the wonders of space in Hubble, which explores the Space Shuttle missions to repair and upgrade the Hubble Space Telescope. As a stunning, expansive experience that fully exploited the spectacular visuals it depicted, the best way to see Hubble was in 3D on the biggest IMAX screen you could find.
While audiences are used to seeing DiCaprio get lost in his roles as fictional protagonists, here he acted as the documentary’s narrator. Hubble doesn’t overstay its welcome either, as its swift 45-minute runtime doesn’t waste a minute as it explores the seven astronauts who carried out the servicing mission.
Marvin’s Room (1996)
With a cast including Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro, and, of course, Leonardo DiCaprio, it’s shocking just how little we hear about Marvin’s Room today. This dysfunctional family drama saw DiCaprio play a 17-year-old sectioned in a mental institution and boasted incredible performances across the board.
Marvin’s Room depicted a family in turmoil and kicked the melodrama into hyperdrive. However, its enduring message that it’s never too late to mend broken relationships still resonates, and this stands as an enjoyable hidden gem in DiCaprio’s impressive filmography. While DiCaprio is great in this one, the reason to watch is to see Streep and Keaton share the screen.
Ice On Fire (2019)
Outside of acting, Leonardo DiCaprio is best known for his environmentalism and climate activism. This passion is on full display as he narrated the documentary Ice on Fire, which explored the potential extinction-level event caused by arctic methane release and the newly developed technologies that could help reverse global warming.
Ice on Fire highlights in no uncertain terms the dangers humanity faces, but also adds to this an air of hope with science as the saviour. While we’re used to DiCaprio putting his life on the line in everything from Gangs of New York to The Revenant, in Ice on Fire he teaches us the biggest threats are in the real world here and now.
Total Eclipse (1995)
Leonardo DiCaprio has played plenty of real-life figures, including Howard Hughes in The Aviator and Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street, yet many will be unfamiliar with his time playing one of the most interesting poets who ever lived. In Total Eclipse. DiCaprio played Arthur Rimbaud, a French teenage poet known for his transgressive style.
Total Eclipse took audiences on a journey through Rimbaud’s whirlwind romance with fellow poet Paul Verlaine (David Thewlis) and stands out as one of the most slept-on performances in DiCaprio’s career. With youthful energy and a rebellious spirit, DiCaprio brought Rimbaud’s eccentricities and charisma to life in a way that truly deserves more attention.
Before The Flood (2016)
Leonardo DiCaprio narrated and executive-produced this powerful documentary about the effects of climate change worldwide. Not only does Before the Flood tap into the threats facing planet Earth, but it does not shy away from addressing the scourge of climate deniers head-on, who stand in the way of humanity’s attempts to save us before it’s too late.
With high production values and an incredible soundtrack featuring Trent Reznor, Before the Flood stands as an urgent call to action that demonstrates there is no time to waste. It’s unfortunate that DiCaprio’s climate documentaries aren’t better known among general viewers, as they help outline the climate emergency in a way that feels sincere and effective.
This Boy’s Life (1993)
Leonardo DiCaprio’s career has been intrinsically linked to the work of Martin Scorsese, but he actually owes this honor to the influence of the director’s previous muse, Robert De Niro. DiCaprio and De Niro first worked together on This Boy’s Life, a fantastic drama about the relationship between a rebellious 1950s teenager and his abusive stepfather.
As a gritty coming-of-age drama based on the work of Tobias Wolff, This Boy’s Life was an early indication of DiCaprio’s incredible talent as he held his own opposite De Niro and delivered a powerhouse performance. Leonardo DiCaprio impressed De Niro so much with his work on the film that he called up Scorsese and told him to pay attention to this kid.
Sources: Far Out
- Birthdate
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November 11, 1974
- Birthplace
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Los Angeles, California, USA
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