The electrifying chemistry between Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci has produced some of the most memorable roles and iconic scenes in cinema history. Ever since they first shared the screen in Raging Bull, their seemingly effortless onscreen rapport has mesmerized audiences.
Across seven unforgettable collaborations, De Niro and Pesci exhibited the improvisational magic they brought out in one another, whether facing off as mob associates and playing lifelong friends. Their riveting performances often pushed each other's dramatic talents to staggering new heights.
In this piece, we revisit the powerful films headlined by this dynamic duo of De Niro and Pesci which represent some of the finest acting showcases from these two legends of American cinema.
| Sr. No. | Movie Name | IMDb Rating |
| 1 | 8.1 | |
| 2 | 8.3 | |
| 3 | 8.7 | |
| 4 | 7.8 | |
| 5 | 8.2 | |
| 6 | 6.7 | |
| 7 | 7.8 |
1 - Raging Bull (1980)
- All Cast: Robert De Niro (Jake LaMotta), Cathy Moriarty (Vickie LaMotta), Joe Pesci (Joey LaMotta), Frank Vincent (Salvy), Nicholas Colasanto (Tommy Como), Theresa Saldana (Lenore LaMotta), Mario Gallo (Mario), Frank Adonis (Patsy), Joseph Bono (Guido), Frank Topham (Toppy)
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Network: Chartoff-Winkler Productions, United Artists
- Release Date: November 14, 1980
- IMDb Rating: 8.1
- Country: USA
- Audience: R
- Budget: $18 million
- Revenue: $23.4 million
- Run Time: 129 minutes
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Digital Rental / Purchase
Raging Bull is a 1980 American biographical sports drama starring Robert De Niro as volatile boxer Jake LaMotta. Joe Pesci plays Jake's brother and manager Joey LaMotta. De Niro's intense method acting transforms him both physically and emotionally into the troubled LaMotta across decades.
De Niro and Pesci developed an easy rapport playing contentious siblings foreshadowing their future collaborations. Their naturalistic dynamic grounds the gritty film eliciting empathy for LaMotta amidst his self-destructive nature. Both men received Academy Award nominations launching a powerful actor-director partnership with Scorsese. Raging Bull is regarded as one of cinema greatest films and performances.
2 - Once Upon a Time in America (1984)
- All Cast: Robert De Niro (David 'Noodles' Aaronson), James Woods (Maximilian 'Max' Bercovicz), Elizabeth McGovern (Deborah Gelly), Joe Pesci (Frankie Minaldi), Burt Young (Joe), Tuesday Weld (Carol), Treat Williams (James Conway 'Jimmy O'Donnell'), Danny Aiello (Police Chief Vincent Aiello), Richard Bright (Chicken Joe)
- Director: Sergio Leone
- Network: The Ladd Company, Warner Bros.
- Release Date: May 23, 1984
- IMDb Rating: 8.3
- Country: Italy, USA
- Audience: R
- Budget: $30 million
- Revenue: $5.3 million
- Run Time: 229 minutes
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Digital Rental / Purchase
Once Upon a Time in America is a 1984 epic crime drama film starring Robert De Niro and James Woods as Jewish gangsters in 1920-60s New York. De Niro plays Noodles and Joe Pesci plays his friend Frankie as the story spans five decades through flashbacks.
Though it underperformed upon release due to heavy editing, America gained reappraisal as a sprawling masterpiece. De Niro haunting turn as the guilt-ridden Noodles represents some of his finest work. He and Pesci capture a poignant lifelong friendship rooted in their authentic onscreen rapport. The film cemented Leone as one of cinema's great visionaries.
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3 - Goodfellas (1990)
- All Cast: Robert De Niro (Jimmy Conway), Ray Liotta (Henry Hill), Joe Pesci (Tommy DeVito), Lorraine Bracco (Karen Hill), Paul Sorvino (Paul Cicero), Frank Sivero (Frankie Carbone), Tony Darrow (Sonny Bunz), Mike Starr (Frenchy), Frank Vincent (Billy Batts), Chuck Low (Morrie Kessler)
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Network: Warner Bros.
- Release Date: September 19, 1990
- IMDb Rating: 8.7
- Country: USA
- Audience: R
- Budget: $25 million
- Revenue: $46.8 million
- Run Time: 145 minutes
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: AMC+
Goodfellas is a 1990 American biographical crime film depicting the rise and fall of Lucchese crime family associate Henry Hill between 1955 to 1980. Robert De Niro plays veteran gangster Jimmy Conway while Joe Pesci earned an Oscar for his role as unhinged Tommy DeVito.
De Niro and Pesci build explosive criminal camaraderie as mentor and protege. Their improvised Funny how? scene cemented Pesci's place in pop culture. Scorsese's most acclaimed film, Goodfellas is considered the high point of his collaborations with De Niro and Pesci, thanks to their electrifying performances capturing the allure and manic energy of the mob lifestyle.
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4 - A Bronx Tale (1993)
- All Cast: Robert De Niro (Lorenzo Anello), Chazz Palminteri (Sonny), Lillo Brancato (Calogero Anello), Francis Capra (Calogero 'C' Anello (age 9)), Taral Hicks (Jane Williams), Kathrine Narducci (Rosina Anello), Clem Caserta (Jojo), Alfred Sauchelli Jr. (Eddie Mush), Joe Pesci (Carmine)
- Director: Robert De Niro
- Network: Savoy Pictures, Tribeca Productions
- Release Date: September 29, 1993
- IMDb Rating: 7.8
- Country: USA
- Audience: R
- Budget: $14 million
- Revenue: $17.3 million
- Run Time: 121 minutes
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Digital Rental / Purchase
A Bronx Tale is a 1993 coming-of-age crime drama film adapted from Chazz Palminteri play and directed by Robert De Niro in his directorial debut. It follows young Italian-American youth Calogero growing up admiring local mob boss Sonny amidst the social tumult of 1960s Bronx. De Niro plays his father Lorenzo and Pesci plays Sonny.
The two legends convincingly play childhood friends who end up on opposite sides of the law. De Niro assured direction balances gritty realism with poignancy. His subtle performance as family man Lorenzo plays beautifully against Pesci's flashier charm as gangster Sonny. Their heartfelt dynamic encapsulates the film's resonant themes on father figures and life choices.
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5 - Casino (1995)
- All Cast: Robert De Niro (Sam 'Ace' Rothstein), Sharon Stone (Ginger McKenna), Joe Pesci (Nicky Santoro), James Woods (Lester Diamond), Frank Vincent (Frank Marino), Don Rickles (Billy Sherbert), Alan King (Andy Stone), Kevin Pollak (Phillip Green), L.Q. Jones (Pat Webb), Dick Smothers (Senator)
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Network: Universal Pictures, Cialis D.A. Lée, Légende Entreprises
- Release Date: November 22, 1995
- IMDb Rating: 8.2
- Country: USA, France
- Audience: R
- Budget: $52 million
- Revenue: $116.1 million
- Run Time: 178 minutes
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Digital Rental / Purchase
Casino is a 1995 American epic crime film starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci. De Niro plays Sam Ace Rothstein, a sports handicapper sent by the Mob to run the Tangiers Casino in increasingly volatile Las Vegas. Longtime friend Nicky Santoro is dispatched to protect Sam operations.
Their riveting performances drive this sprawling chronicle of greed and power corrosive effects. De Niro and Pesci play off each other flawlessly from volatile outbursts to subtle gestures conveying their complex brotherly bond and building tension. The pair earned instant acclaim in another iconic gangster portrait by Scorsese, their collaborative powers still in peak form.
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6 - The Good Shepherd (2006)
- All Cast: Matt Damon (Edward Wilson), Angelina Jolie (Margaret 'Clover' Wilson), Alec Baldwin (Sam Murach), Tammy Blanchard (Laura), Billy Crudup (Arch Cummings), Robert De Niro (Bill Sullivan), Keir Dullea (Senator John Russell), William Hurt (Philip Allen), Timothy Hutton (Thomas Wilson), Joe Pesci (Joseph Palmi)
- Director: Robert De Niro
- Network: Morgan Creek Productions, Tribeca Productions, Universal Pictures
- Release Date: December 22, 2006
- IMDb Rating: 6.7
- Country: USA
- Audience: R
- Budget: $90 million
- Revenue: $99.9 million
- Run Time: 167 minutes
- Release Platform: Theatrical
- Where to Watch: Tubi
The Good Shepherd is a 2006 spy film directed by Robert De Niro and starring Matt Damon depicting the formation of the CIA through the eyes of operative Edward Wilson. De Niro plays his mentor General Sullivan while Pesci appears as mafia boss Joseph Palmi who helps fund the CIA.
De Niro and Pesci brief yet potent scenes embody the film themes of deception and moral compromises. Their wary rapport oozes subtext about collusion between the mob and intelligence community. Though initially receiving mixed reviews for its dense plot, The Good Shepherd has garnered reconsideration as an absorbing slow-burn drama.
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7 - The Irishman (2019)
- All Cast: Robert De Niro (Frank Sheeran), Al Pacino (Jimmy Hoffa), Joe Pesci (Russell Bufalino), Ray Romano (Bill Bufalino), Bobby Cannavale (Skinny Razor), Anna Paquin (Peggy Sheeran), Stephen Graham (Anthony Provenzano), Stephanie Kurtzuba (Irene Sheeran), Jack Huston (Robert Kennedy), Kathrine Narducci (Carrie Bufalino)
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Network: Netflix, Tribeca Productions, Sikelia Productions, Winkler Films
- Release Date: November 1, 2019
- IMDb Rating: 7.8
- Country: USA
- Audience: R
- Budget: $159–250 million
- Revenue: $8 million
- Run Time: 209 minutes
- Release Platform: Netflix
- Where to Watch: Netflix
The Irishman is an American biographical crime film directed and produced by Martin Scorsese and written by Steven Zaillian based on Charles Brandt's book I Heard You Paint Houses. It follows Frank Sheeran, a truck driver who becomes a hitman involved with mobster Russell Bufalino and union leader Jimmy Hoffa.
Marking Scorsese's return to the gangster genre, The Irishman allowed De Niro, Pacino and Pesci to play to their strengths as iconic actors. De Niro and Pesci especially pick up right where they left off conveying rich history between their characters through minimalist acting. The Irishman stands as one of Scorsese's late-career triumphs despite its digital de-aging effects proving controversial.
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Final Verdict
The exhilarating collaborations between Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci represent the pinnacle of what happens when two perfectly matched actors join creative forces repeatedly over decades. Together they produced some of the most fascinating characters and memorable scenes committed to celluloid. Their seemingly telepathic onscreen rapport made them one of cinema's great pairings.
Whether inhabiting ruthless criminals and life-long friends, De Niro and Pesci always elevated each other's work into a masterclass of acting. Their seven movies contain many indelible portraits of masculinity, violence and the American mob experience. Watching this duo consistently spur each other to new heights remains an electrifying movie-viewing experience.
FAQs
Q: How many films have Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci been in together?
Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci have appeared in 7 films together over 4 decades from Raging Bull in 1980 to The Irishman in 2019.
Q: Are Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci friends?
Yes, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci are lifelong friends and collaborators on-screen and off-screen. Their natural chemistry developed from their long-time friendship.
Q: What is the new movie with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci?
As of now, the most recent movie starring Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci together is The Irishman released on Netflix in 2019. They have not announced any future projects together since then.
Q: Which director worked with De Niro and Pesci the most?
Acclaimed director Martin Scorsese directed Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci together in 4 films: Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino and The Irishman.
Q: When did De Niro and Pesci first work together?
Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci first appeared in a movie together in Raging Bull in 1980 which marked the beginning of their legendary collaborations spanning decades.
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