Leonardo DiCaprio is no stranger to the spotlight. For decades, he’s graced the silver screen with performances that have defined a generation—think Titanic, Inception, The Revenant, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. But even icons have moments they look back on with a twinge of regret. In a candid new interview, DiCaprio, now 50, has revealed the one career decision that still haunts him: turning down the lead role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 drama Boogie Nights.
According to The Independent and IGN, DiCaprio’s regret surfaced during a recent conversation with Anderson himself, published in Esquire in mid-August 2025. The two sat down to discuss their careers and, inevitably, the roles that got away. When Anderson asked about any lingering regrets, DiCaprio didn’t hesitate. “I’ll say it even though you’re here: my biggest regret is not doing Boogie Nights,” DiCaprio confessed. “It was a profound movie of my generation. I can’t imagine anyone but Mark [Wahlberg] in it. When I finally got to see that movie, I just thought it was a masterpiece. It’s ironic that you’re the person asking that question, but it’s true.”
For those who need a refresher, Boogie Nights is a gritty, stylish drama chronicling the rise of Dirk Diggler, a nightclub dishwasher who becomes a porn star in 1970s Los Angeles. The film, which also starred Julianne Moore, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly, Heather Graham, and the late Burt Reynolds, is widely regarded as a defining work of its era. Reynolds, who earned an Oscar nomination for his role, once described the film as “extraordinary” before his death in 2018, despite having initially distanced himself from the project.
But why did DiCaprio turn down such a meaty role in the first place? As fate would have it, he was already committed to another project: James Cameron’s Titanic. The two films were shot simultaneously, forcing DiCaprio to make a choice that would shape the trajectory of his career. “I would have been happy to do them both. And the truth is, if I'd not done Titanic, I wouldn't be able to do the types of movies or have the career I have now, for sure. But it would have been interesting to see if I had gone the other way,” DiCaprio reflected in a 2008 interview with GQ, as cited by IGN.
In an interesting twist, DiCaprio didn’t just bow out of the role—he played matchmaker. He recommended Mark Wahlberg, his co-star from The Basketball Diaries, for the part of Dirk Diggler. Wahlberg’s performance would go on to become one of his most iconic, cementing his own Hollywood legacy. DiCaprio, ever gracious, told Anderson, “Despite my regret over declining the part, I can’t imagine anyone in the role but Wahlberg.”
Looking back, it’s easy to wonder how things might have played out had DiCaprio chosen differently. Boogie Nights not only launched Anderson’s career after his 1996 debut Hard Eight, but also signaled a new era of ensemble-driven, character-rich storytelling in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Titanic became a cultural phenomenon, catapulting DiCaprio to superstardom and opening doors to the kinds of projects that would define his career for decades to come.
After Titanic’s record-shattering box office run, DiCaprio’s career soared. He starred in a string of acclaimed films, including The Beach, Gangs of New York, Catch Me If You Can, The Aviator, and many more. His first Oscar win came for his harrowing role in The Revenant in 2016, after six nominations spanning from his breakout as a troubled teen in What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993) to his performance in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). Few actors can claim such a consistently high-profile, critically lauded body of work.
Yet, as DiCaprio’s recent comments show, even the most successful careers are shaped as much by the roles not taken as those embraced. Boogie Nights remains, in his eyes, a “masterpiece”—one that left a lasting mark on him as both an actor and a fan. “When I finally got to see that movie, I just thought it was a masterpiece,” DiCaprio told Anderson, echoing the sentiments of many critics and moviegoers who have praised the film’s unflinching look at ambition, fame, and the dark side of the American dream.
Paul Thomas Anderson, for his part, went on to direct a roster of critically acclaimed films, including Magnolia (1999), There Will Be Blood (2007), and Phantom Thread (2017). His distinct storytelling style and ability to draw out complex performances from his actors have made him a favorite among cinephiles and industry peers alike. And now, after nearly three decades, Anderson and DiCaprio are finally joining forces.
Their much-anticipated collaboration, One Battle After Another, is set to hit theaters on September 26, 2025. The film, which Anderson has reportedly been developing for twenty years, follows a former member of a revolutionary group who seeks help from fellow revolutionaries to find his missing daughter. For both director and actor, the project marks a full-circle moment—a chance to finally work together after years of near-misses and what-ifs.
As the release date approaches, anticipation is running high. Fans and critics alike are eager to see what this powerhouse pairing will deliver. The project is already being hailed as one of the most exciting cinematic events of the year, with industry insiders speculating about its awards potential and cultural impact.
In the end, DiCaprio’s story is a reminder that even the brightest stars harbor regrets. But it’s also a testament to the unpredictable, serendipitous nature of Hollywood. Sometimes, the roles we don’t take shape us as much as the ones we do. And sometimes, if we’re lucky, the universe gives us a second chance.
With One Battle After Another on the horizon and a legacy already secured, Leonardo DiCaprio’s journey shows no signs of slowing down. For movie lovers everywhere, that’s something worth celebrating.
