Robert De Niro’s newest film is a mafia story, and while he’s a talented actor, some wonder if this might be one of his final roles. Directed by Barry Levinson and written by Nicholas Pileggi – the writer behind hits like Goodfellas and Casino – the movie is a true crime drama focusing on the rivalry between powerful mafia bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello. The story follows Genovese’s attempt to take control of New York’s Five Families, while Costello plans to use an important meeting in Appalachia to protect his own position.
Despite an intriguing idea, The Alto Knights was a major box office disappointment in 2025. While it’s found some popularity on streaming services like HBO Max and Amazon Prime Video, the $50 million movie only earned $10 million in theaters. Critics haven’t been kind either, giving it a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Though Levinson’s latest film has some redeeming qualities, it ultimately shows how far the crime genre has come.
The Alto Knights Failed to Capitalize on Past Trends
The trailer for The Alto Knights immediately showcases two key strengths: a fantastic soundtrack by David Fleming, and a clear inspiration from classic gangster films. With its focus on complex characters, narration reminiscent of Goodfellas and The Irishman, and the presence of De Niro, director Levinson’s film feels like a loving tribute to the genre’s best works.
This film hits all the classic gangster movie notes – plenty of violence, a key crime, dramatic speeches, and stylish characters. Overall, The Alto Knights isn’t a bad movie; it has a compelling story, strong performances from the entire cast, and visually striking cinematography by Dante Spinotti.
Levinson’s crime drama unfortunately feels too much like classic gangster films, but doesn’t offer enough new ideas to make it truly unique. While the movie intentionally moves at a slow pace, it struggles to keep viewers engaged throughout. The characters are interesting, but ultimately feel underdeveloped.
Robert De Niro’s Double Role is an Unnecessary Gimmick
If you’re a fan of gangster films, The Alto Knights is a must-see. Robert De Niro plays two roles – Genovese and Costello – which leads to a unique dynamic where he spends much of the movie interacting with himself, debating inner conflicts, and even physically fighting with his own character.
Robert De Niro uses different hats and glasses to help tell his two characters apart, but their personalities are where they truly differ. While it’s a bold move for De Niro to play dual lead roles, it ultimately feels like the weakest part of The Alto Knights. The attempt comes across as showy rather than genuinely adding to the film, especially considering the wealth of talented actors available.
Genovese and Costello remain distinct characters. Though they embody contrasting sides of the mafia world, each needs a dedicated actor fully committed to the role. Relying on a single actor, even a talented one like De Niro, to play both roles risks spreading their efforts too thin.
The Alto Knights Confirms the End of Robert De Niro’s Mob Movies
De Niro’s work has undeniably shaped the gangster film genre. He, along with other great actors, has a natural ability to captivate audiences and fully embody his roles. What sets De Niro apart is his knack for bringing something fresh to each character, even when they share similar traits – often being complicated, violent, and morally ambiguous.
It’s probably time for Robert De Niro to retire from leading roles and for directors to start giving opportunities to other actors. At over 80 years old, he’s no longer the right fit for the kinds of characters that made him famous. Sadly, this is also true for Joe Pesci and Al Pacino.
A great example of this can be seen in The Irishman. The actors went to great lengths to physically transform for their roles, which sometimes resulted in unintentionally funny moments. Meanwhile, The Alto Knights, despite being a box office failure, feels like a fitting conclusion to De Niro’s long and successful career playing gangster characters.
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2026-01-26 02:17