Who Had The Better ’90s: Robert De Niro Or Al Pacino?

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It’s hard to say exactly why, but in the 1990s, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino were often seen as connected. This might be because they both appeared in Francis Ford Coppola’s classic film, The Godfather Part II, back in the 1970s.

I’ve always felt a strong connection between De Niro and Pacino, and I think a lot of it comes down to their shared history in gangster films. Pacino, of course, is iconic in Scarface, and De Niro built a legendary career with Scorsese on films like Casino and Goodfellas. For those of us who were watching movies back in the ’90s, it was hard to think of one without the other – they just seemed permanently linked in the public consciousness.

Both of these actors had memorable careers in the ’90s. But which one had the more impressive decade? We’re about to compare them and see.

Robert De Niro Made Far More Films In The ’90s Than Pacino

Robert De Niro was incredibly busy in the 1990s, appearing in a total of twenty-five films! Some of his biggest hits from that decade included classics like Goodfellas, Backdraft, Cape Fear, Casino, Heat, The Fan, and Analyze This. He also starred in a number of well-regarded films, such as Awakenings, This Boy’s Life, A Bronx Tale, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Wag the Dog, Sleepers, Jackie Brown, and Ronin.

Robert De Niro has starred in a remarkable number of films, many of which are considered classics. He’s delivered truly memorable performances in about 15 major roles, including his iconic work in Goodfellas, often cited as one of the best films of the 1990s. But his total filmography actually includes 25 movies, and you might not be familiar with all of them. Some lesser-known titles include Stanley & Iris, Mistress, Night and the City, Mad Dog and Glory, Cop Land, and Flawless – and that’s just a small sample.

I’m not dismissing other films – I really enjoy Cop Land, for example – but when an actor appears in a lot of movies, you start to question how involved they really were in each one.

Think about it this way: while Robert De Niro is in films like Goodfellas and Jackie Brown, are those the first movies that come to mind when you think of those films? Is he the main star, or a key supporting actor? These are the things we need to consider when deciding who had the stronger performance record over the decade.

That Said, Pacino Might Have Had More To Do In This Same Time Period

Let’s talk about Al Pacino’s work in the 1990s. He appeared in 14 films during that decade, and generally, his roles were more substantial than Robert De Niro’s. Some of his biggest movies included The Godfather Part III, Scent of a Woman, Carlito’s Way, Heat, Donnie Brasco, The Devil’s Advocate, The Insider, and Any Given Sunday. He also took on smaller parts in films like Dick Tracy, Glengarry Glen Ross, and City Hall.

Pacino’s work extends beyond film, unlike De Niro, he continued to perform on stage in the 1990s with plays like Chinese Coffee, Salome, and Hughie, which he also directed. Beyond acting, he ventured into documentaries – while De Niro narrated Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth, Pacino contributed to Madonna: Truth or Dare and Looking for Richard, a documentary he wrote and directed himself.

This highlights how Pacino took more risks with his roles in the 1990s, while De Niro largely stuck to acting. While The Godfather Part III wasn’t as groundbreaking as films like Goodfellas or Casino – and Casino deserves more recognition, in my opinion – Pacino really held that movie together. Conversely, in those great De Niro films, Pesci did a lot of the heavy lifting.

That’s a key observation. Aside from films like Cape Fear and Ronin, I think De Niro largely played supporting roles throughout the ’90s – very strong ones, definitely, but not typically the lead. Pacino, on the other hand, was usually the main star.

De Niro Made His Directorial Debut In The ’90s

Robert De Niro directed his first feature film, A Bronx Tale, a few years before Al Pacino. De Niro’s debut came out in 1993, while Pacino’s first feature directorial effort, Chinese Coffee, wasn’t until 2000. Chinese Coffee was adapted from a one-act play he’d previously performed in, back in 1992.

While Chinese Coffee feels limited in scale – likely similar to the original play, which I haven’t seen – A Bronx Tale is much more expansive and shows the skill of an experienced director.

Based on Chazz Palminteri’s one-man play (which he also performed and which inspired his role as the mob boss Sonny in the film), A Bronx Tale follows Calogero, a young man torn between the allure of a criminal lifestyle and the desire to live an honest life, guided by the example of his hardworking father, played by Robert De Niro. The film also explores the racial conflicts between the Italian and Black communities in the Bronx, making for a powerful and moving story.

Years later, the story was adapted into a Broadway musical. While the musical is closer to the original play, Robert De Niro actually co-directed the Broadway production in the 2010s. It seems this story continues to be a rewarding project for him. And with that…

Pacino Won Best Actor In The ’90s

I recently wrote about how the 1980s were Martin Scorsese’s strongest decade, and I feel the same way about Robert De Niro. It was during this decade that De Niro won his Academy Award for Best Actor for Raging Bull, and he also starred in one of my favorite Scorsese films, The King of Comedy.

The 1980s were a great decade for De Niro, featuring three of my personal favorite movies: Brazil, Once Upon a Time in America, and The Mission. Overall, I believe his work in the ’80s was more impactful than in the ’90s, even though he made fewer films during that time.

He didn’t receive any Best Actor awards during the 1990s, but Al Pacino did! He won for his role in the 1992 film Scent of a Woman, a story about a retired, blind Army lieutenant colonel who forms a close friendship with a student, Chris O’Donnell, during the holiday season.

To be honest, I’m not a fan of Scent of a Woman. The fact that even Elaine on Seinfeld jokes about it—remember the “Hoo-ah” bit?—tells you a lot. However, Al Pacino did win an Oscar for his performance, and that’s a huge accomplishment for any actor. So, that’s something.

I Guess It All Comes Down To Heat

It was only a matter of time before we talked about Al Pacino and Robert De Niro’s on-screen collaborations, wasn’t it? They’ve shared the screen in four movies – The Godfather Part II, Heat, Righteous Kill, and The Irishman – but most people remember 1995’s Heat best, largely because it features a direct and intense rivalry between the two legendary actors.

Robert De Niro portrays a criminal mastermind, and Al Pacino is the detective trying to catch him. The film sparks a debate: who is the more impressive and composed character?

While Pacino is fantastic, I think De Niro’s performance as Neil McCauley is even better. It’s arguably his most iconic role, and that’s why I’d say he defined the ’90s in film.

What do you think? Would you give it to Pacino? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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2025-11-03 16:10