Martin Scorsese & Robert De Niro's Most Unlikely Gangster Movie Is Also Their Biggest Hit
By Published Apr 30, 2026, 12:18 PM EDT Cooper Hood is the Associate Editor for all new movie releases, in theaters and on streaming. In addition to writing articles about these titles and upcoming releases, he also oversees content planning for each, ensuring that ScreenRant continues to cover major releases for months after their release.
He has written various reviews for ScreenRant that appear on , coordinated Oscars and San Diego Comic-Con coverage, appeared on CNN to talk about Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and done select interviews with talent over the years. Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro are one of Hollywood's most . They've been working together for over 50 years, first linking up with Mean Streets. Over this time, De Niro has starred in 10 movies directed by Scorsese, as well as one short film, with both racking up multiple Oscar nominations across these collaborations.
The bread and butter of are gangster/crime films. Almost all their films together have some crime element, with Goodfellas, Casino, The Irishman, and Killers of the Flower Moon leaning more into the gangster/mobster side of criminal activities. Each of these titles is a pivotal release in their respective careers.
Goodfellas and Casino are considered classics of the genre, while The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon were heralded as modern masterpieces. All received Best Picture Oscar nominations except for Casino, which is also the only one to sit below 93% on Rotten Tomatoes with critics. This level of reception is why gangster movies often first come to mind whenever one thinks about Scorsese and De Niro's working relationship.
What is more often forgotten is that they teamed up for a fifth gangster movie in 2004. They both have acting roles in DreamWorks' animated film , and their castings reflect the film's existence in their most common genre. By reuniting the two legends of this space, the film stands out as an unusual entry.
Shark Tale Is Nothing Like Martin Scorsese & Robert De Niro's Other Gangster Movies
Thanks to its story, Shark Tale is undoubtedly a gangster movie. The plot revolves around a fish, Oscar (Will Smith), who becomes the enemy of the local shark mob after they believe he killed the leader's eldest son. as he plays the shark mob boss, Don Lino, and Scorsese slides into the role of a loan shark pufferfish named Sykes, who even has the director's signature eyebrows.
Despite the very gangster movie setting for Shark Tale, that is where the similarities to Scorsese and De Niro's other entries in the genre end. The 2004 film is a PG-rated animated movie made for the whole family that critics despised; it has a 35% on Rotten Tomatoes with critics, and audiences also weren't that fond of it, netting it a 47% score.
Scorsese and De Niro's gangster movies have always been live-action R-rated epics that viewers adore. Casino's 79% critics score is the lowest mark for any of their films on Rotten Tomatoes across critics and audiences. Even their worst collaboration in the genre is far greater than what Shark Tale has to offer.
It's no wonder the film is often overlooked when discussing the director and actor's films in this genre. It doesn't feel like a movie they would have ever done, even though it also includes another Goodfellas reunion with Michael Imperioli playing Don Lino's eldest son. For any interested parties, Shark Tale is currently streaming on Hulu.
Shark Tale Is Easily Martin Scorsese & Robert De Niro's Biggest Gangster Movie
While it's easy to forget about Shark Tale now, it was a huge hit when it came out. The movie grossed $374.6 million at the box office and only cost DreamWorks $75 million to make. That total is leaps and bounds ahead of any of Scorsese and De Niro's other gangster movies.
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The closest to its , but that is still over $200 million short of Shark Tale and not more than its massive budget. Casino was a big hit, making $116.1 million off a $40 million cost. Goodfellas made $47.1 million but cost $25 million. And since The Irishman only got a limited theatrical release from Netflix, it made a mere $8 million.
Shark Tale has remained the highest-grossing gangster movie from Scorsese and De Niro, and it made nearly 5x its budget. It might not be remembered quite as fondly or easily as the rest, but it is undoubtedly the biggest hit of the bunch.
Cast
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Oscar (voice) -
Don Lino (voice)
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