As one of today’s most acclaimed and versatile actors, Leonardo DiCaprio has delivered some of his finest work in the thriller genre. With a remarkable ability to fully inhabit his characters and a career shaped by collaborations with some of cinema’s greatest directors, his career has been defined by consistency and truly great roles.

As audiences discover the impact of DiCaprio’s latest collaboration in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, there’s no better time to reflect on his remarkable work in the thriller genre. From Best Picture-winning work with Martin Scorsese to sharp social commentaries addressing the woes of globalization, DiCaprio stands as one of cinema’s last true movie stars.

Body Of Lies (2008)

Sadly, star power alone wasn’t enough to save Ridley Scott’s Body of Lies, as, despite two great performances from Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe, the film never rises above basic espionage clichés. With DiCaprio as the anti-terrorist CIA agent Roger Ferris, the film addressed the tension between the Western world and Arab societies.

While there are some interesting commentaries on the geopolitical landscape in the post-9/11 era, Body of Lies never quite coalesces into a compelling whole. In a filmography as impressive as DiCaprio’s, it’s a testament to his incredible appeal that even his worst thriller is intensely watchable.

Blood Diamond (2006)

Leonardo DiCaprio has always been outspoken about humanitarian causes, but few films of his captured the exploitative nature of war-torn economies better than Blood Diamond. As a tense political thriller from Edward Zwick, DiCaprio played a South African gunrunner trying to smuggle diamonds into Liberia during the Sierra Leone Civil War.

Blood Diamond effectively commented on the harrowing effects of globalization and the unseen horrors of the diamond trade and showcased a grittier, more realistic side to DiCaprio’s talents. While there’s plenty of food for thought here and a compelling lead performance, it just doesn’t stand up against DiCaprio’s very best work.

Shutter Island (2010)

Some of Leonardo DiCaprio’s most iconic performances came from his work with Martin Scorsese, and while Shutter Island made for exciting viewing, the truth is it’s their most minor collaboration. As a twist-filled neo-noir psychological thriller, Shutter Island leaned into genre clichés and felt like the pair were just having fun with some pulpy material.

With DiCaprio as U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, investigating a disappearance on a remote island mental institution, the film’s appeal hinged on the audience not knowing about Shutter Island’s final act twist. While it’s fun to rewatch Shutter Island one time with the twist in mind, it doesn’t have the same kind of timeless appeal as other DiCaprio-Scorsese movies.

Inception (2010)

Leonardo DiCaprio’s one and only collaboration with Christopher Nolan, Inception, felt like a true cinematic event. As Dom Cobb, a thief who infiltrates dreams to steal secrets, DiCaprio grounded the outrageous nature of Nolan’s spectacle with raw emotion, as it balanced blockbuster action with the grief of a man haunted by his past.

By taking viewers into complex dreams within dreams, Inception pushed mainstream audiences outside of their comfort zone and showcased that an action thriller didn’t have to trade complexity for simplicity to have broad appeal. Inception remains one of the defining films of the 2010s, thanks in no small part to DiCaprio’s great performance.

The Departed (2006)

As the film that finally earned Martin Scorsese recognition from the Academy, when he took the Oscar for Best Director, The Departed represents the pinnacle of his work with Leonardo DiCaprio. This epic crime story featured top-tier performances from everyone involved, with DiCaprio embroiled in a tense game of cat-and-mouse alongside the likes of Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson.

DiCaprio played Billy Costigan, an undercover cop infiltrating the Boston mob, in this paranoia-laden story of deceit and distrust. As a loose remake of the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs, The Departed provided DiCaprio with one of his most complex and emotionally demanding roles.

This engrossing gangster story spanned decades, and The Departed marked a turning point in DiCaprio’s career, as he shifted his cinematic persona from a handsome young heartthrob to grittier and darker performances. The complexity of this performance opened the door for DiCaprio and Scorsese to push the boundaries of acceptability together in later movies like The Wolf of Wall Street.

One Battle After Another (2025)

It appears Leonardo DiCaprio has outdone himself, as One Battle After Another stands out as an extraordinary achievement and a landmark film for both the actor and director, Paul Thomas Anderson. Despite having a daunting 162-minute runtime, this is a film that hooks you in from the moment it begins and doesn’t let up until the credits roll.

DiCaprio played a former revolutionary who must go on a quest to save his daughter after his group’s old enemies reappear after 16 years. To try to describe the overall plot would do it a disservice, as the best course of action for viewers is to go in as blind as possible and just be swept away by its power.

While Leonardo DiCaprio’s lead performance was both exciting and hilarious, it was Sean Penn’s villainous supporting role that truly stood out. As a film shot on 35 mm VistaVision, One Battle After Another looks absolutely incredible and will surely go on to be remembered as one of the most acclaimed and essential movies of the 2020s.