Leonardo DiCaprio's 5 Greatest Drama Movies, Ranked

Leonardo DiCaprio’s best work blends comedy, drama and the occasional action turn, but his most memorable performances often come in heavier, dramatic films. His five greatest drama movies collect roles that helped define his career and showcase his dedication and versatility.

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is the film that first earned DiCaprio national acclaim. He plays Arnie, a young man with a mental disability so convincingly that, at 19, DiCaprio received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination after preparing by spending time with mentally disabled children and teens.

Titanic remains his most famous picture, a global breakthrough opposite Kate Winslet. The drama opens in the present with a recovered sketch and then flashes back to 1912, following Rose, a dissatisfied 17‑year‑old, and Jack, a poor artist who stops her from jumping off the ship; their chemistry and the film’s tragic romance made it one of the era’s defining love stories.

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