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This August, Prime Video is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the much-anticipated release of the final season of the comedy series, Utopia, to The Terminal List‘s prequel series. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Prime Video this month and have an 85% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the 7 best films that are coming to Prime Video in August 2025 with an 85% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Blow Out (August 1) Rt Score: 88% Credit – Viscount Associates

Blow Out is a neo-noir mystery thriller film written and directed by Brian De Palma. The 1981 film follows Jack Terry, a sound engineer for a slasher film, who accidentally records evidence that proves that a seemingly ordinary accident is actually murder, and he soon finds himself hunted because of it.

Two giants of cinema, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, share a bond forged in the fire of 1970s Hollywood. Recently, Pacino singled out one of De Niro’s performances as the greatest in film history—a bold claim from a man who’s seen it all. That role was Jake Lamotta in the 1980 masterpiece ‘Raging Bull’.

‘Raging Bull’ is a raw, unflinching look at the life of Lamotta, a middleweight boxing champion whose personal demons outpunched his ring opponents. Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film dives into Lamotta’s rise, fall, and search for redemption, fueled by jealousy, violence, and guilt. De Niro’s transformation was staggering—he packed on 27 kilograms to show Lamotta’s later years, earning him an Oscar for Best Actor. Pacino called it ‘mind-blowing’, saying De Niro’s work as the troubled fighter set a bar no one’s touched.

Pacino and De Niro go way back,...

How This Sports Drama Altered Martin Scorsese’s Life & Robert De Niro’s Looks! (Photo Credit – YouTube)

When Raging Bull dropped in 1980, it didn’t just shake up boxing films. It shook up Martin Scorsese’s entire life. Now sitting at a proud 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, the biographical drama captured Robert De Niro in his rawest, most unhinged form as middleweight boxer Jake Lamotta. The performance won De Niro his first Oscar. But behind the scenes? It nearly broke both him and Scorsese.

Scorsese didn’t even want to direct Raging Bull at first. He turned it down multiple times. De Niro, however, wouldn’t let go. He’d gotten obsessed with Lamotta after reading his memoir on the set of The Godfather Part II. Scorsese thought it was just another sports story until it wasn’t.

Martin Scorsese

& Robert De Niro

on vacation

writing Raging Bull pic.twitter.com...

Back in 1980, Robert De Niro starred in a biographical sports drama that would go on to receive lukewarm response from the critics. However, its value only grew in time, and now, the film is considered to be one of the greatest in the industry. With 8 Oscar nominations, 2 wins, and a spot at the United States National Film Registry, Raging Bull is one of the finest works we have seen from Robert De Niro.

And while Raging Bull is memorable for a lot of reasons, actor Joe Pesci has a unique memory attached to its filming. As the two actors sparred in the ring, he ended up getting his ribs cracked at the hands of Robert De Niro. Ouch.

How Robert De Niro Broke Joe Pesci’s Rib Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci in Raging Bull (1980) | Credits: United Artists

Raging Bull is a film based on both the professional and...

The 1980s were a wild ride for film fans, with a wide variety of different genres represented at the box office. But in the wake of the success that movies like "Jaws" and "Star Wars" had in the late 1970s, there was an increased focus on the family-friendly blockbuster, which you'll certainly see reflected in most "best of" lists for the decade. But just because the 1980s had more than their fair share of fun action-adventure films doesn't mean that you won't find plenty of classic dramas, terrifying horror films, and side-splitting comedies. 

From both the biggest names in the business (some of which are still prominent and working today) to more niche productions, these are the best of the best. We apologize beforehand if your faves aren't here, but with only 15 slots, some tough decisions had to be made. Some films that just missed out, for example, include the...

Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese might now be known as the iconic actor-director duo for their recent films like The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon—but prior to these modern classics, there were epics like Raging Bull. The 1980 movie that didn’t just save De Niro’s career, but also quite literally saved Scorsese’s life.

Back in the late ’70s, when Martin Scorsese was spiraling, Robert De Niro was desperate for a win, and Hollywood was not ready for a black-and-white boxing movie based on a violent, self-destructive athlete. But somehow, against all odds, these two legends pulled off one of the greatest cinematic comebacks ever. So today let’s explore the journey of making the 1980s classic.

Robert De Niro saved Martin Scorsese’s life with Oscar-nominated film

Fans who are into Hollywood classics know how Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese have always been the favorite tag team,...

Robert De Niro Honored At Cannes 2025 ( Photo Credit – Amazon Prime Video)

Robert De Niro has long established his status as one of Hollywood’s most legendary actors. He began his acting career in the early 1960s and has spent nearly six decades in the industry. He has been part of some of the most acclaimed films, earning critical acclaim and commercial success. More recently, he also received the prestigious Honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

To celebrate legendary actor Robert De Niro and his decades of unforgettable performances, we’ve curated a list of his top-rated films that you can stream right now. This list includes only those titles where De Niro played a significant role and are currently available on Indian Ott platforms. We’ve ranked them based on their Rotten Tomatoes critics’ scores — so get ready to binge on some cinematic brilliance

10. The King of Comedy...

What about Bob?

The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival launched with lots of politics and a special tribute to Robert De Niro that saw the Oscar-winning legend slam Donald Trump as “America’s philistine president.”

On the red carpet, the main attraction — the French musical comedy “Partir un Jour,” which ended up earning a five-minute standing ovation — took a backseat to paparazzi scrambling to land a shot of De Niro, who made the trek to France to accept an honorary Palme d’Or from Leonardo DiCaprio. Past winners of the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top prize, such as Quentin Tarantino and Sean Baker, walked through a gauntlet of photographers, along with Eva Longoria, Julia Garner, Heidi Klum, and Alessandra Ambrosio. But Tom Cruise, who is in town to premiere “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,” was nowhere to be found.

Juliette Binoche, who serves as jury president,...

The Academy Awards are an odd tradition. Every year, voters from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (becoming one of these voters is itself a somewhat mystified bureaucratic nightmare) nominate and award feature films in a number of categories.

Even ignoring the flaws in the process -- such as potential mis-categorization (see co-leads Zoe Saldaña and Kieran Culkin breezing their way to Oscar wins by competing as "supporting actors") -- the prestige and preeminence of the Oscars gives way to a false air of objectivity regarding its honorees. It creates the illusion that winning films are inarguably the best, rather than the beneficiaries of the aggregation of the subjective opinions of a relatively small and unavoidably biased stable of Hollywood elites.

This is all to say, while the Academy Awards are a lot of fun, they are simply unable to honor every film that deserves an award. Below,...

Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese’s duo shaped the cinematic landscape of America, and amongst their many collaborations, Raging Bull is an unforgettable gem. However, many might not know that Scorsese approached the movie with the recklessness of a man who had nothing to lose.

It features De Niro as Jake Lamotta, a volatile boxer, and the director pushes this character’s arc to his creative and emotional limits. To the point that he was almost uncertain about his future in filmmaking.

Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese | Still Watching Netflix / YouTube

So how did the Scorsese directorial become a massive success and is remembered decades after its release? The answer lies in the raw and unfiltered journey behind its creation.

Martin Scorsese’s desperate gamble on Raging Bull Robert De Niro in Raging Bull | Chartoff-Winkler Productions, In.

In 2021, during the Tribeca Festival, Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro...

How Much Did Robert De Niro Pay To Fix His Teeth After Ruining Them For Cape Fear Role? (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Only a few actors have gone to greater lengths for a role than Robert De Niro. The Hollywood legend didn’t just transform his body or learn new skills; he literally ruined his own teeth. It cost a cool $5K to wreck them, then another $20K to fix them.

De Niro went all in for Cape Fear (1991), grinding his teeth down for $5K to perfect Max Cady’s menacing look – then dropping $20K to fix them afterward. That’s dedication but also a costly smile transformation. The transformation didn’t stop at his teeth. De Niro bulked up, hitting the gym to sculpt a terrifyingly muscular frame. He also covered himself in fake tattoos, adding to Cady’s menacing presence. The result? A performance so intense it earned...

One of the greatest sports films of all time, crafted by the legendary duo of Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, lands on a new streaming home. Subscribers can now watch the acclaimed biographical drama, Raging Bull, on Amazon Prime Video.

Prime Video is the most recent streamer to acquire Raging Bull. The film is also available for fans on the free-to-watch streaming service, Tubi, and via Hulu. It's also the latest Scorsese-De Niro classic to become available on streaming after the beloved Taxi Driver debuted in January.

Related52 Years Later, Martin Scorsese & Robert De Niro's First Gangster Movie Is Still Perfect in Every Way

Martin Scorsese's first film with Robert De Niro is an underrated masterpiece of the crime genre.

Released in 1980, Raging Bull continues to be mentioned among the best sports biopics ever. The film sees De Niro portray former middleweight boxing champion Jake Lamotta, chronicling...

Stephen King never held back when he disliked something, but one of his most brutal rejections remained a mystery. When asked about a certain Robert De Niro movie, he shut it down with a simple “Sorry, no.”

Author Stephen King | Credits: CBS News (@YouTube)

The film wasn’t some forgotten flop, though. It was widely praised and had a devoted fanbase. Yet, King wanted nothing to do with it. Fans speculated, theories popped up, but the horror legend never budged.

Stephen King vs. Raging Bull: A two-word knockout Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese on the set of Raging Bull | Credits: Chartoff-Winkler Productions, Inc.

Stephen King never hesitated to share his opinions, but when it came to Raging Bull, he kept it short and sharp — “Sorry, no.” No explanation, no elaboration. Just a plain rejection of what many consider Robert De Niro’s greatest performance.

The 1980 Martin Scorsese-helmed biopic,...

One of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro's most iconic movies is getting a new streaming home soon. Pacino rose to fame portraying the youngest son of the Corleone family in The Godfather trilogy. His follow-up performances in Scarface and Dog Day Afternoon further cemented his status as a formidable actor. De Niro’s career formed along similar genre lines with gritty roles in mob films like Goodfellas, while winning Best Actor for his gripping portrayal of Jake Lamotta in Raging Bull. The two have thus defined the crime genre with unparalleled talent and their brooding on-screen presence in action-packed dramas.

Though the two legends have often worked separately, their collaborations have nonetheless brought about some significant films. Their time in The Godfather Part II, where De Niro plays a young Vito and father to Pacino's Michael, solidified both actors' reputations as masters of the crime and gangster genres,...

Robbie Williams needs no introduction. Unless you live in America, in which case, let’s bring everyone up to speed: Born in 1974, Stoke-on-Trent’s favorite son was initially the designated bad boy in Take That, Britain’s late ’80s answer to New Kids on the Block. He lived up to his reputation as a kid who loved a good time not wisely but too well, which eventually got him booted from the band. Williams’ subsequent solo career was stratospheric — without getting too Wikipedia-page about it, let’s just...

Martin Scorsese has directed some of the greatest films of all time and served as the catalyst for countless astounding acting careers. While viewers will be well aware of Scorsese’s incredible collaborations with actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, this barely scratches the surface when it comes to the litany of famous names who have performed across the vast spectrum of his filmography. While Scorsese has worked with many established stars, he’s never shied away from taking a chance on an unknown and giving them their big break.

Several of Scorsese’s best films boasted breakout performances from actors who went on to become major names in Hollywood. From child stars like Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver right through to those who came to acting much later, such as Joe Pesci in Raging Bull, it was Scorsese’s unmatched direction that helped them carve out their...

“Raging Bull” vibes abound in actor-turned-writer/director Jack Huston’s first feature behind the camera. Huston reunites with his “Boardwalk Empire” co-star Michael C. Pitt for the 2023 out-of-competition Venice premiere “Day of the Fight.” The black-and-white drama follows a formerly renowned boxer Mike Flannigan (Pitt) now fresh out of prison and heading into his first fight since he was incarcerated.

Falling Forward Films — which this year released “Goodrich,” “Reagan,” and will soon debut “Los Frikis” — opens “Day of the Fight” in theaters on December 6. Below, IndieWire shares an exclusive clip from the film, which shows Mike asking his onetime best friend Patrick (John Magaro), now a Catholic priest, about the path toward redemption for his past. (The difference here from Martin Scorsese’s own black-and-white boxing classic being that of course Robert De Niro’s Jake Lamotta was seeking no redemption of any kind.)

Watch the clip in the video above.

Nicole Kidman took a dig at Martin Scorsese when she hinted that the legendary director doesn’t make films with strong female characters. It has been a criticism that was leveled against Scorsese a few other times. Meryl Streep echoed the same sentiments earlier in 2011 when she shared that she would like to see Scorsese interested in a female character once in a while.

Nicole Kidman with Harris Dickinson in Babygirl | Credits: A24

However, the whole drama brings up another interesting perspective about female directors. Kidman had pledged to work with more female directors since 2017 and fans can safely say that she kept her word. In a truly iconic moment, Spider-Man actress Kirsten Dunst once told her fellow actresses that they had to start looking for women-led projects.

Kirsten Dunst’s Take On Female Directors Gain Relevance Amid Nicole Kidman-Martin Scorsese Drama Kirsten Dunst in The Power of the Dog...

The hype around Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fizzled out faster than cheap fireworks. While everyone expected sparks, what we got felt more like a snooze fest wrapped in disappointment. But let’s rewind the clock to a time when boxing wasn’t just about punches—it was about heart. A 44-year-old boxing movie delivered a knockout combo of grit, soul, and storytelling, reminding us why this sport captures imaginations.

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul | Youtube (@JakePaul)

Unlike today’s flashy showdowns, this cinematic gem gave us real stakes, raw emotion, and characters you’d root for till the final round. Forget the gimmicks; this film’s a standing ovation to what boxing—and storytelling—should always be about: pure, unfiltered passion.

Raging Bull: The Undisputed Champion of Boxing Movies and Cinematic Masterpieces Robert De Niro in Raging Bull | Credits: Chartoff-Winkler Productions

Forget the Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul...

Both of Robert De Niros Oscar wins were weirdly predicted by an iconic scene from The Godfather, eight years before he would complete his dual Academy Award victory. Throughout his career, De Niro has been nominated for a grand total of nine Oscars. He was nominated for Best Actor for Taxi Driver, The Deer Hunter, Raging Bull, Awakenings, and Cape Fear; he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for The Godfather Part II, Silver Linings Playbook, and Killers of the Flower Moon; and he was nominated for Best Picture as a producer of The Irishman.

But De Niro has only ever won two Oscars. His first Academy Award win was Best Supporting Actor for Francis Ford Coppolas The Godfather Part II, in which he played the younger version of Vito Corleone in the prequel timeline filling in his backstory. Then, six years later, he earned Best Actor for his sobering...

From the moment he first appeared on the scene, actor Joe Pesci's mouth has always been about ten times the size of his body. While the man might be diminutive, he's also got a mile-long "tough guy" streak, one he's used to extravagant effect in movies like Goodfellas, Casino, and My Cousin Vinny. However, as much as audiences remember Joe Pesci for his street-wise and gangster-like roles, his first big role was something a little different from all of that.

In 1980, Joe Pesci burst onto the silver screen as Joey Lamotta, the younger brother of Robert De Niro's boxer Jake Lamotta, in Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull. Pesci's emergence in this film didn't just announce him as one of Hollywood's most promising talents; it also marked the start of one of cinema's most cherished on-screen partnerships alongside Robert De Niro.

Related 10 Best Movies of All Time, According to...

Roger Ebert was not a movie critic who was easily impressed. The Pulitzer Prize winner did not dole out praise recklessly, so when he called Martin Scorsese's drama Taxi Driver a "masterpiece" and a "brilliant nightmare," he meant it. And those words came from his 1976 review of the film, not a retrospective quote influenced by decades of praise from film fans. He also recognized Robert De Niro's generational performance from the first watch, and beginning November 1, you can appreciate Taxi Driver once more when it arrives on Paramount+.

Nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actress (Jodie Foster), Taxi Driver was a critical and box office hit, perfectly capturing the moral ambiguity that marked the social turmoil of the 1970s, set against a gritty New York City backdrop. The film is still controversial, with its stark depiction of violence, and storyline that features Foster's character,...

Robert De Niro Broke Joe Pesci’s Rib During an Improvised Fight Scene in Raging Bull—Here’s What Happened! ( Photo Credit – Facebook )

Have you ever heard of method acting? Try getting your rib broken for a role! That’s precisely what happened on the set of Raging Bull, where Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci threw actual punches to nail the fierce chemistry of the Lamotta brothers. De Niro went for a hit in one intense sparring scene, and Pesci ended up with a cracked rib! But don’t worry, folks—the pain made the final cut. Now, that’s what we call dedication!

Now, Raging Bull isn’t just about boxing; it’s a brutal reflection on toxic masculinity and the demons we all wrestle with. When Jake Lamotta saw the film, he turned to his ex-wife, Vikki, and asked, “Was I like that?” Her response? “You were worse.

Sandra Bullock is one of the most successful actresses in Hollywood, and any movie with her name included in its cast can be blindly considered a hit. Well… let’s say not all of them. Either way, Bullock has racked up millions over the years acting in projects like Bird Box, The Blind Side, Miss Congeniality, and many more.

Sandra Bullock in Gravity | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

Despite living at the peak of the mountain of success, Bullock’s run has had a couple of nasty bumps that nearly took her out of the game. Having spent over 30 years in the industry, the Gravity actress was bound to star in a couple of movies that didn’t find much success among fans or critics and there is one film she absolutely regrets saying yes to.

Sandra Bullock regrets doing Speed 2: Cruise Control Sandra Bullock and Jason Patric in Speed 2...

Sandra Bullock's name above the title has meant mega-bucks for movie studios over the last 37 years. Combined, her movies have grossed billions of dollars at the global box office, making her one of the most bankable stars of her generation. She's done it by mostly exhibiting good taste in material and, of course, being her irresistibly bubbly self. Everyone, it seems, loves Sandy.

Bullock has a lot to be proud of (most notably the Best Actress Oscar she won for 2009's "The Blind Side"), but when it comes to her bombs, she'll be the first to tell you how lousy they are. She's earned the right to dish on disappointments like "All About Steve," "Two If By Sea" and, dear god, George Sluizer's Hollywoodized remake of his masterful Dutch thriller "The Vanishing." Hang around long enough in the film industry, and you're bound to appear in a stinker or two.

Film director Martin Scorsese put rumors of retiring to rest recently. The 81-year-old director spoke at the National Museum of Cinema in Turin, Italy. There, he addressed speculation about stepping away from filmmaking.

“I have no plans to retire,” Scorsese stated clearly. The acclaimed director wants to continue creating movies. His comments come after two upcoming projects were delayed. But Scorsese explained the projects are still in development with adjusted timelines.

Some wondered if Scorsese would retire after a biopic on singer Frank Sinatra and a film about Jesus were postponed. The Sinatra movie has been in development for 15 years. It may star Leonardo DiCaprio as Sinatra and Jennifer Lawrence as Ava Gardner. Securing rights from Sinatra’s estate has caused challenges.

As for the Jesus film, Scorsese said “I am working on it.” He wants to bring a unique perspective inspired by his Catholic upbringing in New York. At a February event,...

Martin Scorseses boxing drama masterpiece Raging Bull has long been revered by critics as not only one of the best sports or Scorsese films, but as one of the greatest films of all time. It's a combination of deft character work exploring the broken psychology of real-life prize-fighter Jake Lamotta, and beautiful black-and-white cinematography that highlights the brutality of the sport that makes for quite the cinematic experience. However, were all of those boxing scenes merely movie magic to make Robert De Niro look like he could slug it out like Lamotta, or did De Niro actually train in the sweet science of how to land a blow in preparation for the film?...

Martin Scorsese was not really interested in boxing or any sports for that matter and couldn’t relate to Jake Lamotta’s memoir Raging Bull: My Story. Robert De Niro introduced the book to Scorsese who wasn’t “affected” by it. However, he came around to the idea of a Raging Bull movie after some time, particularly after he hit a low point in his life.

Robert De Niro in the Martin Scorsese film Raging Bull | Credits: United Artists

Scorsese immersed himself in the film, expecting it to be his last major film. From finding the sport as boring, Scorsese went on to make one of the finest sports dramas in Hollywood. The film went on to earn eight Academy Award nominations, winning two for Best Actor for Robert De Niro and Best Editing.

Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-Nominated Film Almost Didn’t Happen Because He Found The Subject Boring Martin...

Robert De Niro has been one of Hollywood’s most critically and commercially successful actors. Thanks to his acting skills and collaborations with director Martin Scorsese, he has an extremely well-decorated filmography. But, when his Heat co-star Al Pacino chose Raging Bull as his favorite De Niro film, the choice surprised most fans.

Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in The Irishman | Credits: Netflix

Al Pacino and the Taxi Driver star have been frequent collaborators and seen together in 4 films yet: The Godfather: Part II, Heat, Righteous Kill, and The Irishman. When Robert De Niro was asked about his favorite Pacino film, he could not think about anything but The Godfather I and II. However, hardly anybody expected Pacino to name De Niro’s 1980 sports drama as his favorite.

Al Pacino picked an underrated Robert De Niro classic Robert De Niro in Raging Bull | Credits: United Artists

Except for Righteous Kill,...

Hollywood has always been filled with actors going the extra mile just for the sake of their roles and nothing more. Actors like Christian Bale and Joaquin Phoenix have been highly revered for taking this to the extremes.

Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro in The Score | Mandalay Pictures

However, before these two actors, Robert De Niro was the only one. Putting on weights, changing styles, and trying out different walks, De Niro would do this on a regular basis for every movie that he was cast in!

Robert De Niro Would Change With Every Movie

Not in a shape-shifter way but the actor would actually put on or lose a few pounds depending on the role. De Niro was known to change his persona for every different role that he was offered.

Robert De Niro in Raging Bull | Credits: Chartoff-Winkler Productions, Inc.

In the earlier days, the Taxi Driver...

Fans who thought Martin Scorsese's 2019 The Irishman would be his last film were wrong. In 2023, Scorsese upped the ante by re-uniting two of his most loyal collaborators, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, for another three-and-a-half-hour period epic with Killers of the Flower Moon. With a huge budget of $200 million-$215 million and the screenwriter behind classics such as Schindler's List and Forrest Gump, the legendary director seemed set for another hit under his belt.

Releasing on October 20, 2023, and later going to streaming, Killers of the Flower Moon was met with instant acclaim from critics. Richard Brody of The New Yorker said: "The movie raises the idea of silence to a nearly transcendent pitch of passion." Stephanie Zacharek from Time Magazine called Scorsese's adaptation of the source material "somber" and "poetic." Despite some critics pointing out its flaws, Killers of the Flower Moon was hailed as another late-stage triumph in...

Raging Bull almost never made it to the big screen despite Robert De Niro's best efforts. Scorsese was completely disinterested despite having made three previous movies with De Niro, but a life-changing drug overdose would change the director's life (and film schedule). Despite lots of struggles and a lackluster box office reception, Raging Bull is now hailed as a cinematic masterpiece.

One of Robert De Niro's most beloved films (and the last one he won an Oscar for) is Raging Bull, the 1980 classic directed by Martin Scorsese. It was the duo's fourth film together and an adaptation of former middleweight boxing champion Jake Lamotta's 1970 memoir, Raging Bull: My Story. At the time of its release, it was a box office disappointment and received mixed reviews despite eight Oscar nominations, but today it is regarded as a modern classic and one of the best films by everyone involved in its production.

During the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival, Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese discussed their fourth film together, "Raging Bull," with moderator Leonardo DiCaprio. It's a brutal piece of cinema that uses black-and-white cinematography to reflect middleweight boxer Jake Lamotta's grim outlook on the world as he finds success and quickly loses it. Violence and anger course through his veins, and Lamotta barrels through life outside the ring like a bull in a china shop — destroying everything and everyone in his path. Although it became regarded as one of Scorsese and De Niro's finest works, "Raging Bull" had a rocky journey to the screen.

De Niro first became fascinated with Jake Lamotta's story after reading his memoir, "Raging Bull: My Story," and approached Martin Scorsese with the idea of adapting it all the way back in 1974, but they were both unsure of how it would be received. How could a...

Grudge Match fulfills a 33-year-old movie dream for viewers, pitting Stallone against De Niro in a final boxing match-up. Despite mixed reviews, Grudge Match is worth watching for fans of Stallone, De Niro, and boxing movies at large. Stallone and De Niro's best team-up is in the 1997 film Cop Land, but Grudge Match showcases their iconic boxing chops.

Grudge Match, an under-the-radar sports-comedy film featuring Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro, weirdly pays off a 33-year-old movie dream for viewers. Directed by Peter Segal (Tommy Boy), Grudge Match centers on two aging boxers, Henry "Razor" Sharp (Stallone) and Billy "The Kid" McDonnen (De Niro), who step into the ring for a final match-up. Back in their glory days, the Pittsburgh-based boxers became storied rivals after a couple of fights. Kid and Razor each lost one fight during their long careers to each other.

With their rivalry tied one-to-one, Kid wants...

In David Hinton’s new documentary “Made in England: The Films of Powell & Pressburger,” Martin Scorsese talks about the profound influence the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger had on him.

A young, asthmatic Scorsese grew up largely an indoor child when American films weren’t licensed to television, so he feasted on the duo’s great British films like “The Red Shoes” and “Tales of Hoffmann.” Co-written and narrated by Scorsese, “Made in England” makes direct connections between a Powell and Pressburger film like “The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp” and Scorsese’s “The Age of Innocence” and “Raging Bull.” In one remarkable sequence, Hinton even crosscuts between Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) from “Taxi Driver” and Boris Lermontov (Anton Walbrook) from “The Red Shoes,” as Scorsese narrates, “They’re both characters on the edge of things, listening, observing other people, always on the verge of exploding.

Everybody loves painter Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, including Tilda Swinton.

“I messaged her a while ago, saying I was making this film. She said: ‘I’m on fire for Willie,’” Mark Cousins, director of biographical documentary “A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things,” tells Variety.

“Willie didn’t live a dramatic life, she wasn’t going to fancy parties. Then there was the sexism of the art world and agism. She changed her style, too, and the art world doesn’t like that. The film world doesn’t like that either. It wants a Hitchcock film to be like a Hitchcock film.”

“Abbas Kiarostami told me once he wanted his films to be pure on the outside and rich on the inside. Willie’s life seemed undramatic but inside, there was a raging fire.”

In his Karlovy Vary Film Festival winner “A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things,” Cousins peeks inside the mind of the forgotten artist,...

Given the sense of wonder and promotion of emotion over reason that courses through Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s work, it’s appropriate that David Hinton’s Made in England: The Films of Powell & Pressburger starts with a recollection of a defining childhood moment. The film’s narrator and one of its executive producers, Martin Scorsese describes himself as an asthmatic child confined indoors and thunderstruck by these old films he was seeing on television. Giddy with the memory of being a young boy accidentally coming across fantastical mindblowers like The Thief of Baghdad, Scorsese says there was simply “no better initiation” into what he calls “the mysteries of Michael Powell.”

The film that follows does a thoroughly commendable job of providing that same initiation for unwashed viewers. But because Made in England is structurally a somewhat staid illustrated lecture from Scorsese on Powell’s directing career, and to...

Martin Scorsese is acknowledged for his multiple collaborations with two of Tinseltown’s finest leading men, Leonardo DiCaprio & Robert De Niro. As giants in their field, they’ve individually contributed to Scorsese with masterful performances that have shaken audiences and critics alike.

Yet, having already gifted us cinematic treasures like Mean Streets and Taxi Driver, Scorsese once found himself at a harrowing crossroads. Is a masterpiece really born out of a personal crisis? Well, the answer lies in Scorsese’s own phoenix-like rise from the ashes of adversity, as he faced a dire period marred by substance abuse, depression, and the chilly reception of his bold musical New York, New York.

Leonardo DiCaprio & Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon/Paramount Pictures

It took a hospital bed realization and the profound intervention of his artistic compatriot, Robert De Niro, to channel his turbulent experience into the creation of Raging Bull.

Throughout the 2010s, Jeremy Renner’s career was mostly dictated by his stint in the MCU as Hawkeye, overshadowing some of his most acclaimed performances outside the cinematic giant. Fortunately, thanks to Taylor Sheridan’s Mayor of Kingstown, which marked the actor’s small screen debut, the Mission: Impossible star was once again able to put his acting chops to the display.

While fans and critics stand on opposite poles regarding the verdict on the overall show’s quality, one thing everyone can agree on is Renner’s brilliance as Mike McLusky. Co-creator Hugh Dillon even went as far as to compare Renner’s performance with one of Robert De Niro’s most iconic roles to date, which is another reason to get excited for season 3.

Jeremy Renner’s Performance Reminded Hugh Dillon of Robert De Niro in Raging Bull

Raging Bull (1980) | United Artists

Shortly after Jeremy Renner suffered a life-threatening blow last year,...

Some of the most famous scenes in the very best Martin Scorsese masterpieces are not planned. The auteur has made a career of capturing things on film that were never in the script but materialized from putting his characters in place and letting the film roll. Scenes like Robert DeNiro's unforgettable "You talkin' to me?!" moment as the downward-spiraling loner Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver, and DeNiro again with the Jake Lamotta "Who asked you?!" rant from yet another classic Raging Bull have come from Scorsese giving his enormously gifted players' leeway with the words on the paper.

Raging Bull is one of the best films in actor Robert De Niro’s career. The 1980 sports-drama film is based on the book Raging Bull: My Story, based on the life of boxer Jake Lamotta. The film was a critical success and won De Niro several accolades. However, the film’s production wasn’t exactly smooth sailing.

Robert De Niro as Jake Lamotta in Raging Bull

Irwin Winkler, who produced the film, has revealed the argument he had with the legendary actor while filming the movie. The argument involved the dramatic physical transformation De Niro had to undergo for the role and how it ultimately impacted the final product for better or worse. Here is what Winkler said about his argument with De Niro while they were working on Raging Bull.

Raging Bull Producer Reveals His Only Argument With Robert De Niro Robert De Niro after gaining weight (Source: Raging...

It's hard to fathom what you would need to do with your life for it to be interesting enough that one day, along with countless moviegoers, you'd have an opportunity to see it acted out on a movie screen. Of course, there are a select few out there who have actually gotten to see this happen. However, usually the person being featured has long passed away and never had an opportunity to see how they were portrayed. This was not the case for professional boxer Jake Lamotta, who in 1980 got to watch Robert De Niro play him in the movie Raging Bull, the story about his life.

In terms of how many biographical performances they each include, the 2023 and 2024 acting Oscar lineups are staggeringly different. Whereas only two portrayals of real people (Austin Butler as Elvis Presley in “Elvis” and Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe in “Blonde”) were recognized last year, a whopping 10 are presently nominated, constituting the highest such rate (50%) in five years. What’s more, this is only the third time in almost a century of Oscars history that real-life characters aren’t outnumbered by fictional ones.

This year’s near-record biographical performance rate ranks only behind the 60% ones of 2016 and 2019. Unsurprisingly, three of the four eventual winners in both previous cases belonged to those majorities. This includes leads Leonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass, Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury, and Olivia Colman as Queen Anne as well as supporting players Mark Rylance as Rudolf Abel, Alicia Vikander as Gerda Wegener, and Mahershala Ali as Don Shirley.

If Martin Scorsese is the greatest living filmmaker, then Thelma Schoonmaker is the greatest living film editor. It takes great craft and an understanding of film rhythm to assemble threeish-hour cuts that never run out of energy, and that's what Schoonmaker has done time after time with "Goodfellas," "The Departed," "The Wolf of Wall Street," and so forth.

Scorsese and Schoonmaker are an inseparable creative duo; they've been working together for more than 50 years. They met at New York University in the 1960s and she edited his feature debut, "Who's That Knocking at My Door." Schoonmaker has since edited every film that Scorsese directed going back to 1980's "Raging Bull." That hiatus in the 1970s wasn't due to a falling out; it was because Schoonmaker wasn't willing to play ball with member requirements for the Motion Picture Editors Guild. Specifically, the Guild demanded an aspiring member spend eight years total as an apprentice/assistant,...

"Raging Bull" knocked audiences flat on their backs when it premiered over four decades ago. The boxing biography, which is still considered among director Martin Scorsese's best films, unfolds as a rags-to-riches-to-rags story about a brutal middleweight fighter whose personal life never quite matches up to his success in the ring. Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Cathy Moriarty headlined the film's wildly talented ensemble, while late "Cheers" star Tommy Como played a local mobster and actress Theresa Saldana, who passed away in 2016, played protagonist Jake's second wife Lenora.

While time has taken some of these talented actors away from us, and the real Jake Lamotta died in 2017, each member of the "Raging Bull" core trio is still acting today. To present a "where are they now" about an actor as famous and prolific as De Niro would be silly, but if you're looking for another great De Niro...

The last cork has been popped and the final flute of Kirkland Signatures sparkling wine drained down to the last drop. Old Man 2023 has gathered his sash about his withered frame and slunk into the night, clearing the way for cherubic New Year 2024–giggly, chubby and brimming with promise.

Or something. In reality, years don’t flip on and off like a light switch. They smear into each other like paint, until everything is the same weird shade of brownish-purple. But still: we all strive to make each new chapter in the Gregorian filing system a fresh start–a chance to break bad habits and begin good ones.

The traditional way of kickstarting these self-improvement reboots is through the maddeningly self-deceptive ritual of setting New Year’s Resolutions–80% of which are inevitably abandoned by February 1, according to most studies. But hey! A sustainable 20% is still pretty good. And for cineastes,...

An actor's body is their instrument, and depending on one's versatility, that instrument can produce all kinds of music. To cite a pair of extreme examples, Robert De Niro famously packed on 70 pounds to play post-retirement Jake Lamotta in "Raging Bull," while Christian Bale dropped 60 pounds to play the emaciated main character of "The Machinist."

For the most part, though, actors are cast according to physical type, which means they shouldn't have to drastically alter their appearance to play a specific role (because there's a bevy of talented actors who fit a variety of types). Still, there are parts that require rigorous training, like action movies. If you're going to play a character who can take out multiple adversaries at once with their bare hands, you've got to look convincing on camera. This means loads of combat training in different martial arts disciplines. Above all, this means getting in shape.

Robert De Niro has been working in Hollywood for almost six decades now, with eight Oscar nominations to his name and two wins. His most noted collaboration has been with director Martin Scorsese, with whom he has done 10 films, including their latest partnership on “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which was released October 20 through Apple Original Films. In celebration of the western crime epic, let’s take a look back at De Niro’s eight Oscar nominations in 45 years; seven for acting and one for producing.

His first Oscar nomination and victory came on the heels of Francis Ford Coppola’s epic crime film “The Godfather” with the equally successful second installment “The Godfather Part II” (1974), in which De Niro plays a young Vito Corleone, played by Oscar winner Marlon Brando in the first movie. Just like Brando, De Niro triumphed at the 1975 Oscars for the character, albeit in the...

Michael Westmore is ready for his career closeup.

The Mask Oscar winner and nine-time Emmy winner will receive the Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild’s 2024 Vanguard Award at the 11th annual Muahs Awards in February.

Westmore’s five-decade résumé includes a record 45 Emmy noms and ranges from the breathtaking beauty of Elizabeth Taylor to the bloody Rocky series and the Romulans in multiple Star Trek series. His artistry has captivated audiences and set the standard for makeup and hairstyling in film and TV.

Related: 2023-24 Awards Season Calendar – Dates For Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, Tonys, Guilds & More

The Vanguard Award is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions to the make-up and hair styling industry and has left a lasting impact on the craft.

“His contributions and expertise to our industry are unparalleled,” Muahs Business Rep Karen J. Westerfield said of Westmore. “IATSE Local 706 Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild.

"Killers of the Flower Moon" is Martin Scorsese's first movie featuring both Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, despite working with them separately in the past. De Niro turned down roles in two Scorsese and DiCaprio movies, "Gangs of New York" and "The Departed," before finally collaborating in "Killers of the Flower Moon." While they didn't star in a Scorsese film together until now, DiCaprio and De Niro previously shared the screen in the films "This Boy's Life" and "Marvin's Room" years earlier.

Killers of the Flower Moon is the new epic Western crime drama directed by Martin Scorsese, which marks an unexpected first for the acclaimed director. The Killers of the Flower Moon cast features Leonardo DiCaprio as Ernest Burkhart, whose insatiable greed drives him to hurt the ones he loves most in his pursuit of wealth. Staring alongside DiCaprio is another sensational actor, Robert De Niro, who plays William King Hale,...