Leonardo DiCaprio Admits He Rarely Watches His Own Movies — But Reveals the One Film He Can’t Stop Revisiting, Calling It a Defining Turning Point in His Career and Life

Leonardo DiCaprio may be one of the most celebrated actors of his generation, but when it comes to revisiting his own work, the Oscar winner admits he almost never hits play.

In a recent interview, DiCaprio confessed that he doesn’t spend time rewatching his movies — with one major exception: The Aviator, the 2004 Martin Scorsese epic in which he portrayed the eccentric aviation pioneer and filmmaker Howard Hughes.

“If I’m being honest, there’s one that I have watched more than others.

It’s The Aviator,” DiCaprio said.

“That’s simply because it was such a special moment to me.”

The film, which earned DiCaprio a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination, holds a unique place in his career.

At the time, the actor was just 30 years old and already coming off his first collaboration with Scorsese on Gangs of New York.

Yet The Aviator offered him something different: a deeper sense of ownership over the creative process.

“I had been toting around a book on Howard Hughes for ten years,” DiCaprio explained.

“I almost did it with Michael Mann, but there was a conflict, and I ended up bringing it to Marty.

It was the first time as an actor I got to feel implicitly part of the production, rather than just an actor hired to play a role.

I felt responsible in a whole new way.”

That sense of responsibility, he said, was a turning point.

Unlike previous projects, The Aviator wasn’t just a role handed to him — it was a passion project he had carried for years.

“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,” he reflected.

Why The Aviator Still Matters

For DiCaprio, the film represents more than just another box office success or awards contender.

It was the project that cemented his partnership with Scorsese — a creative relationship that would go on to define much of his career, yielding The Departed, Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Killers of the Flower Moon.

It also marked the moment when he began to transition from a former teen idol to a mature leading man with serious industry clout.

By investing himself not just in performance but also in development, DiCaprio stepped into a new chapter — one where he was no longer just Hollywood’s golden boy but a true collaborator with vision.

A Glimpse Into DiCaprio’s Process

Actors often differ in how they approach watching their own work.

Some, like Meryl Streep, famously avoid revisiting performances, while others study them closely as a learning tool.

DiCaprio falls into the first category, but The Aviator remains the exception — not because of vanity, but because of the personal journey it represents.

“It wasn’t just about playing Howard Hughes,” he noted.

“It was about stepping up to a level of responsibility I hadn’t felt before.”

That sense of responsibility still informs his approach two decades later, as he continues to balance blockbuster roles with passion projects — often collaborating with the directors he trusts most.

The Legacy of Howard Hughes on DiCaprio

Howard Hughes, the enigmatic billionaire plagued by both genius and mental illness, was a figure DiCaprio had long been fascinated by.

His obsession with Hughes mirrors, in some ways, his own perfectionism as an actor and producer.

By embodying Hughes, DiCaprio wasn’t just acting — he was wrestling with the contradictions of ambition, obsession, and vulnerability.

That connection explains why the film resonates so deeply with him, even after years of acclaimed performances.

More Than a Film, A Milestone

Nearly two decades after its release, The Aviator still stands as one of the most important works in DiCaprio’s career.

For audiences, it’s a masterful portrayal of a complicated figure in American history.

For DiCaprio, it’s something even greater: the moment he truly began to see himself not just as an actor, but as a collaborator, a creative force, and a professional willing to shoulder responsibility for the stories he brings to life.

While he may continue to avoid watching his other films, the fact that The Aviator remains his personal touchstone speaks volumes.

It is, in his own words, the film that marked his “growing up in this industry.”

And for a star who has defined an era of modern cinema, that makes it more than just a movie — it makes it a milestone.