If you’re still buzzing from the 98th Academy Awards, April is looking like a goldmine for Leonardo DiCaprio fans with a Paramount+ subscription.
Hot on the heels of "One Battle After Another's" Best Picture win, Paramount+ is adding a triple-threat of the actor's most iconic roles to its library. From the high-flying ambition of "The Aviator" to the entirely too smooth, mid-century charm of "Catch Me If You Can" and the mind-bending thrills of "Shutter Island," these three films are worth revisiting for DiCaprio's powerhouse performances alone. Granted, it would still be years after these films came out before DiCaprio won his hard-fought Oscar for Best Actor, though he first earned the nomination with "The Aviator" for his portrayal of a troubled visionary unraveled by the very obsession that made him.
If you want to binge some of the greatest hits of his career, here are the three Leo classics you need to stream this month on Paramount+. For even more streaming recommendations, be sure to check out our round-up of everything new on Paramount+ in April.
'Catch Me If You Can'
The vibe: Sun-drenched MCM style and witty banter
"Catch Me If You Can" is one of those movies that always had me sat down whenever it came on cable growing up. The high-stakes, cat-and-mouse chase between DiCaprio's lovable schiester Frank Abagnale Jr. and Tom Hanks' crochety FBI agent Carl Hanratty is addictive to watch unfold, even when you already know how it's going to end. A brilliant con artist, Frank hops around the world bluffing his way into one industry after another to keep one step ahead of the law. He poses as a pilot, doctor, and lawyer — and all before his 19th birthday — with enough pizzazz and charm that no one ever thinks to call his bluff. That is, until the FBI catches wind, led by Hanks playing against type as the buttoned-up straight man bureaucrat on Frank's heels. This standout film from Steven Spielberg showcases the natural charisma that helped propel Leo to worldwide stardom and cement his status as a major force in Hollywood.
Stream "Catch Me If You Can" on Paramount+ now
'The Aviator'
The vibe: High-energy drama tailor-made for cinephiles
Directed by Martin Scorsese, this sweeping 2004 biographical drama charts the life of Howard Hughes (DiCaprio), a brilliant yet deeply troubled visionary who redefined both Hollywood and the aviation industry. The film follows his meteoric rise from a wealthy oil heir to a ground-breaking aviator and filmmaker. As Hughes relentlessly maps out new frontiers in technology and cinema, he must also battle a debilitating obsession that threatens everything he holds dear. "The Aviator" is a stunning look at the ambition and drive that have come to define DiCaprio’s real-life career, which wouldn't pay off with an Oscar win for another 12 years with "The Revenant" in 2016.
Stream "The Aviator" on Paramount+ now
'Shutter Island'
The vibe: Horror-tinged thrills that mess with your head
If you loved the satirical edge of "One Battle After Another," you should definitely revisit Leo's iconic psychological thriller now that it's on Paramount+. DiCaprio reunites with director Martin Scorsese for a chilling descent into madness and mystery with an ending that'll haunt your mind long after the credits roll. As U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, Leo heads to a fortress-like hospital for the criminally insane on a remote island to investigate the disappearance of a patient. He soon realizes he's walked headfirst into a web of conspiracies while a hurricane on the horizon threatens to cut him off from the rest of the world. A rising sea of doubts sends him spiraling until he's left questioning his own memory and the facility's true purpose. "Shutter Island" is a masterclass in tension that proves why Leo remains the king of psychological thrillers.
Stream "Shutter Island" on Paramount+ now
