Every Leonardo DiCaprio Movie Ranked Worst To Best

The Basketball Diaries is a wasted opportunity in which DiCaprio is its sole saving grace. Though professing to take a long, hard look at the drug addiction of writer Jim Carroll, the film's execution makes the entire story feel oddly muted.

Meandering and confused, the drama is heavy-handed and far too angsty to really capture the heartbreak and tragedy of Carroll's life, but DiCaprio saves the day with a performance that's as sullen as it begging to break out into a better film. He probably would've played the role better in a few years, but he nonetheless shines.

Looking back, it would have been brilliant to see more care going into Carroll's story, but it's hard to hate what DiCaprio pulls from its sloppy script. Three films in, and you can already feel him becoming a star, waiting for his moment to strike.