Leonardo DiCaprio is known for his impressive filmography but rarely watches his own movies, which is understandable given how personal that experience could feel. However, he makes an exception for The Aviator, a film he revisits more than any other. This biographical drama, centered on Howard Hughes—a plane engineer and film producer struggling with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder—holds a unique significance for DiCaprio. His connection to the project goes beyond just acting; it marks a defining moment in his career.
In an interview with Esquire, DiCaprio described the film as
“such a special moment to me,”
reflecting on his long journey to bring Howard Hughes’s story to the screen. He explained,
“I had worked with Marty [Scorsese] on ‘Gangs of New York,’ and I’d been toting around a book on Howard Hughes for ten years. I almost did it with Michael Mann, but there was a conflict and I ended up bringing it to Marty.”
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Deep Involvement in Producing The Aviator
DiCaprio was more than just the lead actor in The Aviator; he took on a responsible role to ensure the film’s completion after the success of Romeo + Juliet and Titanic. Reflecting on the experience, he said,
“I felt responsible in a whole new way,”
and added,
“I’ve always felt proud and connected to that film as such a key part of my growing up in this industry and taking on a role of a real collaborator for the first time.”
This close bond explains why he keeps revisiting the film—not as mere admiration for his performance but as a reminder of his growth in a tough industry.
Critical Acclaim and Awards Recognition for The Aviator
The Aviator was a major success, securing 11 Academy Award nominations and winning five Oscars. DiCaprio earned a best actor nomination, though he did not win until a decade later for The Revenant. Cate Blanchett, who played Katherine Hepburn, won an Oscar for best supporting actress. The film still holds an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes over twenty years after its release, praised especially for Martin Scorsese’s direction and the detailed costume design that vividly brought the era to life.
Stephen Hunter of The Washington Post highlighted DiCaprio’s portrayal, writing,
“In Leonardo DiCaprio, Scorsese has found a perfect vessel to express Hughes’s abundant contradictions. His hair slicked back, sporting one of those ’40s-style flyboy mustaches, DiCaprio looks enough like Hughes to pass the inevitable memory checks … DiCaprio fills him with life.”
Interestingly, it was DiCaprio who first brought the script to Scorsese, underscoring his passion for the project.
The Ongoing Collaboration Between DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese
The success of The Aviator helped cement the long-term partnership between Leonardo DiCaprio and director Martin Scorsese. Following this film, the two worked together on critically acclaimed projects such as The Departed, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Killers of the Flower Moon. Their creative alliance appears far from over, with reports indicating they are preparing to collaborate again on The Devil in the White City, a story about a serial killer at the 1893 World’s Fair.
Why The Aviator Remains a Touchstone in DiCaprio’s Career
Leonardo DiCaprio’s consistent return to The Aviator goes beyond nostalgia. It represents a milestone in his career, where he first took on significant creative control and deepened his relationship with an acclaimed director. The film’s critical success and the ongoing creative partnership it launched emphasize its importance not only to DiCaprio but also to the wider film industry. Fans and cinephiles alike can expect more collaborations from this duo, continuing a rich legacy of compelling storytelling.
