Robert de Niro Reveals Which Performance He Considers Awful

Robert De Niro is widely regarded as one of the most disciplined actors in cinematic history, but his commitment to the craft occasionally comes with a sharp tongue for those he believes fall short of the mark.

While he rose to prominence in the late 1960s, it was the 1970s that defined his legacy through a legendary partnership with Martin Scorsese, starting with the 1973 crime drama Mean Streets.

This era launched a streak of brilliance that included The Godfather: Part II and the haunting Taxi Driver, where his portrayal of Travis Bickle became a cultural touchstone. Despite the monumental success of his early work, De Niro has often surprised fans by naming the 2009 family drama Everybody’s Fine as his personal favorite performance.

However, his obsession with certain roles remains undeniable, particularly his towering turn as Al Capone in the 1987 film The Untouchables. De Niro admitted he was drawn to the character because he was bigger-than-life, and he had previously told director Brian De Palma he would only step into the shoes of the infamous gangster if the script was ever written right.

In a candid moment with Playboy, the actor famously took aim at Paul Muni’s performance in the original 1932 version of Scarface, a role that was also inspired by Capone.

De Niro didn’t hold back, labeling the classic performance as awful and describing the five-time Academy Award nominee as the biggest ham. He criticized Muni for being over the top in several of his films, suggesting that his stage background didn’t translate well to the subtlety required for the big screen.

When the conversation shifted to Al Pacino’s iconic 1983 remake of Scarface, De Niro’s tone changed completely to one of professional respect. He revealed that he had actually been interested in remaking the film himself with Scorsese at the helm before learning of Pacino’s plans.

De Niro recalled telling his friend that if you don’t do it, I’m gonna do it, though he noted that his version would have stayed closer to the original writing rather than the neon-soaked Miami setting chosen by De Palma.

As of February, the 82-year-old De Niro is showing no signs of slowing down, recently finding a new wave of success on streaming platforms. His 2025 biographical crime drama The Alto Knights—in which he pulled off the rare feat of playing two rival mob bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese—has become a massive hit despite a rocky initial theatrical release.

Fans have praised his ability to give each character distinctive treatment, mannerisms, and voices, a testament to the meticulous nature that has defined his sixty-year career. Television has also become a new frontier for the actor, who recently starred in the Netflix political thriller Zero Day.

In the series, he plays a former U.S. President tasked with investigating a devastating cyberattack, appearing alongside an ensemble cast that includes Jesse Plemons and Lizzy Caplan. Additionally, Apple TV+ has announced a June premiere for a limited series reimagining of Cape Fear.

Do you think Robert De Niro’s critique of the “hammy” acting styles of the 1930s is a fair assessment of how cinema has evolved, or do you believe those theatrical performances still hold a unique charm that modern films are missing? Share your thoughts in the comments.