Movie News

5 Times Al Pacino and Robert De Niro Almost Played Each Other’s Roles

Published by
Tim Molloy

Robert De Niro Turned Down the Al Pacino Role in Any Given Sunday

Levy writes that De Niro also turned down the role of Miami Sharks coach Tony D’Amato, which turned out to be a layered and sympathetic performance by Al Pacino. But we never got to see DeNiro give the “inch by inch” speech. 

Another aside: De Niro appeared in the comedy Meet the Parents a year after Any Given Sunday, which turned out to be a very good financial decision. Meet the Parents was a huge hit, and its sequel, Meet the Fockers, earned nearly $280 million domestically. Joker is the only De Niro movie to perform better at the box office, but De Niro had a bigger financial stake in the Meet the Parents films, because he was a producer.

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Tim Molloy

View Comments

  • De Niro is known more now for his political garbage than his movies. I wouldn't cross the street to see him in a movie.

  • I can see the comments section is infested with alt-right cult members following the link from the Drudge Report.

  • Pacino has had a much wider body of excellent work (see Scent of a Woman, Devil's Advocate). DeNiro is good in Mob roles, but ordinary in others.

    I also wouldn't mind seeing him stick to movies and away from politics.

  • I agree. Al Pacino has more breath and depth as an actor. DeNiro's ascent into that rarefied air was made possible through Scorcese's directorial balls and know how. Al Pacino's success can be directly related to Pacinos talent. Look at the movie historical perspective. Pacino worked with many talented directors. The same cannot be said of Mr. DeNiro

  • de Niro is an airhead with 5 great performances, each playing someone with brain damage. this is not that hard to do. otherwise he mugs and schticks, and for some reason everyone swoons.

    Pacino hasn't had enough good roles for his talent, and has made some strange choices, but his is the greater talent, by far.

  • "The Irishman" is the third time Pacino and De Niro are united on screen. They never shared the screen in "The Godfather Part II". And to say "only" the fourth is stupid. Most stars aren't ever in the same movie much less four!

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