The 50+ Best Danny Aiello Movies
Ranked By
783 votes
160 voters
Voting Rules
Vote for your favorite movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.
1Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby DeeBrooklyn's Bed-Stuy neighborhood, a sweltering summer day: the setting for Spike Lee's 1989 classic, Do the Right Thing. Conflict brews in this racially tense community, centering around Sal's Pizzeria, owned by Sal (Danny Aiello). Mookie (Spike Lee), a young African-American pizza delivery man, serves as our guide through this intricate urban tapestry. The narrative unfolds, exploring issues of race and prejudice with unflinching honesty. This provocative drama garnered two Academy Award nominations and remains a pivotal film in American cinema, embodying the struggle for racial harmony in an environment where doing the right thing is never black or white.More Do the Right Thing
- #295 of 399 onThe Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
- #240 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #29 of 83 onThe Best Movies Of 1989, Ranked
2Cher, Nicolas Cage, Vincent GardeniaMoonstruck, a romantic comedy set in New York City, showcases the charismatic Loretta Castorini (Cher), an Italian-American widow who's convinced she's cursed with bad luck. Loretta is engaged to Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello), a man she doesn't love. When Johnny leaves for Italy, he asks Loretta to invite his estranged brother, Ronny Cammareri (Nicolas Cage), to their wedding. A passionate love story ensues between Loretta and Ronny, infused with humor and heartfelt confessions. The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Cher.More Moonstruck- #238 of 399 onThe Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
- #657 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #166 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- 3Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie PortmanMathilda (Natalie Portman) is only 12 years old, but is already familiar with the dark side of life: her abusive father stores drugs for corrupt police officers, and her mother neglects her. Léon (Jean Reno), who lives down the hall, tends to his houseplants and works as a hired hitman for mobster Tony (Danny Aiello). When her family is murdered by crooked DEA agent Stansfield (Gary Oldman), Mathilda joins forces with a reluctant Léon to learn his deadly trade and avenge her family's deaths.
- #616 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #64 of 114 on50+ Movies That Need Sequels
- #61 of 379 onThe Best Movies Of The 1990s
4Danny Aiello, Anthony LaPaglia, Lainie KazanIn this fact-based film, happy-go-lucky Frank Pesce Jr. (Anthony LaPaglia) is lucky from the day of his birth, when his mother (Lainie Kazan) gives birth to him in a different hospital than planned -- only to have the first facility burn down. Growing up in an Italian neighborhood in Queens, Frank's irresponsible ways and good fortune irritate his hard-working but luckless father, Frank Pesce Sr. (Danny Aiello). When Frank Jr. is the New York State Lottery's first winner, he angers his dad.
5Danny Aiello, Edoardo Ballerini, Vivian WuOne unlucky evening, Louis Cropa (Danny Aiello), a part-time bookmaker, discovers that his restaurant has become a hotbed of conflicting characters. In addition to having to please a whiny food critic (Sandra Bernhard), Louis must fend off a hostile takeover from a pair of gangsters (Michael McGlone), to whom his sous-chef (Kirk Acevedo) is in debt. Further, Louis has an argument with his son (Edoardo Ballerini), the star chef, whose culinary creativity has brought success to the business.
6Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovernSweeping across decades, Once Upon a Time in America is a crime drama that explores the lives of Jewish ghetto youths who rise to prominence in New York's world of organized crime. The narrative oscillates between the 1920s, 1930s, and 1960s, focusing on David 'Noodles' Aaronson (Robert De Niro) and his lifelong friend-cum-rival, Maximilian 'Max' Bercovicz (James Woods). Directed by Sergio Leone, this film weaves a complex tapestry of friendship, betrayal, and regret. It is an epic saga of time's inexorable march, set against the backdrop of violent criminal underworld. This movie was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards.- #301 of 399 onThe Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
- #641 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
- #11 of 94 onThe 90+ Best Mafia Movies Of All Time
7Al Pacino, John Cusack, Bridget FondaTragedy strikes when a child is caught in the crossfire between a cop and a mobster on the streets of New York City. Mayor John Pappas (Al Pacino) brushes the situation under the rug, causing his deputy mayor, Kevin Calhoun (John Cusack), to start asking questions. When Calhoun discovers that Pappas, his idol, is actually deeply involved in illegal activity between the police department and the Mafia, he is faced with a dilemma: Should he stay quiet, or expose his boss for who he really is?
8Josh Hartnett, Morgan Freeman, Ben KingsleyA case of mistaken identity puts a man named Slevin (Josh Hartnett) in the middle of a war between two rival New York crime lords: The Rabbi (Ben Kingsley) and the Boss (Morgan Freeman). While under the watchful eyes of Detective Brikowski (Stanley Tucci) and well-known assassin Goodkat (Bruce Willis), Slevin must quickly devise a plan to save his skin before his luck runs out.More Lucky Number Slevin- #36 of 101 onThe Best Movies Of 2006
- #47 of 63 onThe Very Best New Noir Movies
- #4 of 17 on17 Mid-Tier Action Movies With Surprisingly Stacked Casts
9Danny Aiello, Glenne Headly, Jeff DanielsDosmo Pizzo (Danny Aiello), an ordinary guy, finds himself involved in a murder-for-hire scheme. He is betrayed by his partner, the strangely serene Lee Woods (James Spader), who leaves him for dead. Suspecting that Woods will come back to finish him, Dosmo takes an obnoxious art dealer (Greg Cruttwell) and his sweet-natured assistant (Glenne Headly) hostage. Meanwhile, a rookie policeman (Eric Stoltz) investigating the murder begins to suspect that some kind of conspiracy is behind it.More 2 Days in the Valley- #100 of 117 onThe Best Movies Of 1996
- #20 of 47 onThe 45+ Best Charlize Theron Movies
- #15 of 35 onThe 30+ Best Glenne Headly Movies
- 10Tim Robbins, Elizabeth Peña, Danny AielloIn Jacob's Ladder, Jacob Singer (Tim Robbins), a Vietnam War veteran, struggles to maintain his sanity. Plagued by flashbacks and hallucinations, he teeters on the brink of reality and illusion. His girlfriend Jezzie (Elizabeth Peña) and his chiropractor Louis (Danny Aiello) provide support as he navigates his confusing existence. As Jacob delves deeper into his own mind, the line between life and death blurs. This psychological horror film, directed by Adrian Lyne, is an unnerving journey into the human psyche, laced with war-induced trauma and spiritual exploration.More Jacob's Ladder
- #77 of 252 onThe 200+ Best Psychological Thrillers Of All Time
- #234 of 379 onThe Best Movies Of The 1990s
- #169 of 397 onThe Best Horror Movies Of All Time
11Paul Newman, Ed Asner, Ken WahlDealing with everyday police work in a notoriously difficult area of New York, a policeman struggles to preserve a sense of moral decency despite his colleagues more ruthless methods. When a boy dies in suspicious circumstances, the cop refuses to let it go unchallenged and faces the wrath of his fellow officers.- #33 of 75 onThe Best Movies Of 1981
- #46 of 90 onThe 80+ Best Movies About Police, Ranked
- #29 of 66 onThe Best Cop Movies Of The 1980s
12Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, Danny AielloUnhappily married Depression-era waitress Cecilia (Mia Farrow) earns the money while her inattentive husband, Monk (Danny Aiello), blows their meager income on getting drunk and gambling. To assuage her loneliness, Cecilia escapes to the picture show and becomes transfixed with the movie "The Purple Rose of Cairo," and especially with its lead character, archeologist Tom Baxter (Jeff Daniels). When Tom literally steps off of the screen and into her life, both realities are thrown into chaos.- #372 of 399 onThe Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
- #77 of 96 onThe 90+ Best Movies Of 1985, Ranked
- #45 of 53 onThe Best Movies About Movies
13Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Redd FoxxIn the waning days of Prohibition, Sugar Ray (Richard Pryor) and his adopted son, Quick (Eddie Murphy), run a speakeasy called Club Sugar Ray. When gangster Bugsy Calhoune (Michael Lerner) learns that Sugar Ray's place is pulling in more money than his own establishment, the Pitty Pat Club, he pays corrupt cop Phil Cantone (Danny Aiello) to close Club Sugar Ray down. Quick doesn't exactly help the situation when he falls for Calhoune's gun moll, Miss Dominique La Rue (Jasmine Guy).More Harlem Nights- #351 of 399 onThe Best Movies Of The 1980s, Ranked
- #14 of 15 on15 Actor Passion Projects That No One Wanted To See
- #47 of 83 onThe Best Movies Of 1989, Ranked
14Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, Danny AielloRenata Bella (Holly Hunter) has no career prospects, her fiancé just broke up with her and she still lives with her parents although she is in her 30s. Desperate for direction in life, she attends a seminar on real estate sales. There she meets the brash, successful and arrogant salesman Sam Sharpe (Richard Dreyfuss). The two marry, but the brash quality that attracted her to Sam is off-putting her family, particularly with her strong-willed father, Joe (Danny Aiello).
15Robert De Niro, Michael Moriarty, Vincent GardeniaWhen hotshot pitcher Henry Wiggen (Michael Moriarty) is signed to the New York Mammoths, his confident ways quickly win over his teammates. He's quite the opposite of Bruce Pearson (Robert De Niro), the team's simpleminded catcher, who has difficulty connecting with others. But when Henry discovers that Bruce has been hiding that he was recently diagnosed with a fatal form of cancer, the unlikely pair become close. Despite Henry's efforts to look out for Bruce, however, team tensions rise.
16Carol Burnett, Alan Arkin, Jack WardenFlash (Alan Arkin) was once a major league pitcher at the top of his form. Then he started drinking. Though he's now homeless, he suddenly gets a chance to play minor league ball in Minnesota, but he has to pay his way there. He takes to selling watches on the street, where he meets Emily (Carol Burnett), a music teacher of little talent who does a flamboyant busking routine for extra cash. Together, they discover a suitcase full of classified documents and try to make some money from it.
17Robert Wuhl, Martin Landau, Robert De NiroStruggling filmmaker Marvin Landisman (Robert Wuhl) gets a surprise phone call from Jack Roth (Martin Landau), an ex-Hollywood executive who wants to turn one of Marvin's screenplays into a movie. Marvin thinks his life's ambition is about to become a reality, until he meets the film's financial backers (Robert De Niro, Danny Aiello, Eli Wallach). Each investor has a young girlfriend whom they force Marvin to offer a role to, and then they also re-write the script until it's unrecognizable.
18Vincent Spano, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Danny AielloA young man (Vincent Spano) learns the truth about his father's death.
19Kevin Kline, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Susan SarandonDisgraced ex-policeman Nick Starkey (Kevin Kline) is brought back to the force by his brother Frank (Harvey Keitel) to help find a serial killer loose in New York City. Unconventional and misunderstood, Nick figures out the killer's patterns while wooing both his own sister-in-law, Christine (Susan Sarandon), and the mayor's daughter Bernadette (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). The police arrest a suspect, but Nick thinks they have the wrong man, so he attempts to find the murderer on his own.
20Sarah Boyd, Rainbow Harvest, Danny AielloLonnie (Sarah Boyd) a 12-year-old with a privileged life, comes from an upper-class family. When she meets Karen (Rainbow Harvest), a teen with a working-class background, Lonnie discovers an entirely different world from the one she grew up in. On the other end, Karen also learns a few things from Lonnie as their friendship develops through the course of the summer. Joining the pair, Karen's brother, Johnny (Neill Barry), shows signs of romantic interest in Lonnie, which she returns.
21Michael Moriarty, Andrea Marcovicci, Paul SorvinoA private detective investigates a new consumer taste treat that's absolutely delicious and just possibly lethal.
22Bruce Willis, Danny Aiello, Andie MacDowellHudson Hawk (Bruce Willis) is a renowned cat burglar, freshly released from prison and drawn back into the life of crime. Alongside his partner Tommy Five-Tone Messina (Danny Aiello), they navigate through an intricate web of danger and deception. Their mission: to steal works by Leonardo Da Vinci, at the behest of sinister siblings Minerva and Darwin Mayflower (Sandra Bernhard and Richard E. Grant). This action comedy, filled with unexpected twists, takes viewers on a wild ride across Europe's grandest locales, blending high-stakes heists with comedic flair. A unique cinematic experience, Hudson Hawk offers a blend of suspense and humor that defies traditional genre boundaries.More Hudson Hawk- #15 of 15 on15 Actor Passion Projects That No One Wanted To See
- #49 of 86 onThe Best Movies Of 1991, Ranked
- #66 of 81 onThe Most Rewatchable Action Movies
23David Duchovny, Sherilyn Fenn, Danny AielloRuby is a feature film, released in the United States on March 27, 1992, about Jack Ruby, the Dallas, Texas nightclub owner who shot and killed Lee Harvey Oswald in the basement garage of a Dallas city police station in 1963. The film was directed by John Mackenzie and stars Danny Aiello, Sherilyn Fenn, and Arliss Howard. It is based on a play written by British screenwriter Stephen Davis. Ruby was released three months after Oliver Stone's movie JFK.
24Jackie Chan, Danny Aiello, Roy ChiaoThe Protector is a 1985 Hong Kong-American action film directed by James Glickenhaus, and starring Jackie Chan, Danny Aiello and Roy Chiao. It was Chan's second attempt at breaking into the American film market, after 1980 film The Big Brawl, a film which had been a disappointment at the box office. Conflicts between Glickenhaus and Chan during production led to two official versions of the film: Glickenhaus' original version for American audiences and a Hong Kong version re-edited by Jackie Chan. Chan later directed Police Story as a response to this film.
25Jane Curtin, Danny Aiello, Heather BurnsBrooklyn Lobster is a 2005 American drama film "presented" by Martin Scorsese and written, produced, and directed by Kevin Jordan. The screenplay is based on Jordan's family's efforts to salvage their Brooklyn-based wholesale and retail seafood operation when the bank defaulted on a loan they had secured to finance a restaurant extension to the business.
26Danny Aiello, William Forsythe, Vincent PastoreHitman's Journal is a 2001 crime drama film written by Michael Hogan and directed by Danny Aiello III.
27Julia Roberts, Sophia Loren, Kim BasingerPrêt-à-Porter, released in the US as Ready to Wear, is a 1994 American satirical comedy film co-written, directed, and produced by Robert Altman and shot during the Paris, France, Fashion Week with a host of international stars, models and designers.
28Woody Allen, Zero Mostel, Herschel BernardiIn the 1950s, restaurant cashier Howard Prince (Woody Allen) is apathetic toward the politics around him. When a blacklisted screenwriter (Michael Murphy) asks Howard to sell a script under his own name, Howard sees an opportunity to make a profit and becomes a "front" for several blacklisted writers. But after he witnesses the social destruction of a comedian (Zero Mostel), Howard sees the corruption of McCarthyism and decides to do something to make a difference.More The Front- #32 of 60 onThe Best Woody Allen Movies
- #160 of 166 onThe Best Intelligent Comedies Of All Time
- #299 of 419 onThe 400+ Best Movies Produced By Columbia Pictures
29Molly Ringwald, Robert Downey, Dennis HopperSerial pick-up artist and commitment-phobe Jack Jericho (Robert Downey Jr.) takes lessons in the art of seduction from aging player Phil Harper (Danny Aiello). Jack finds a formidable opponent in Randy Jensen (Molly Ringwald), a fiery tour guide who has a retort for his every line. Though she initially spurns his advances, Jack finds a way in when Randy's alcoholic, compulsive gambler father, Flash (Dennis Hopper), ends up in serious debt and deep trouble with gangsters in Atlantic City.More The Pick-up Artist- #75 of 89 onThe Best Movies Of 1987, Ranked
- #17 of 26 onThe Best Brat Pack Movies
- #157 of 220 on'80s Movies We Wish Would Finally Get Sequels
30Mia Farrow, Seth Green, Dianne WiestA middle-aged man looks back on his childhood in Rockaway, N.Y., in a series of vignettes focused on the golden days of radio. Joe (Woody Allen), who narrates, is portrayed as a teenager in the film by Seth Green. Eccentric relatives and radio personalities inhabit various stories, including an unlucky aunt (Dianne Wiest), a cigarette girl (Mia Farrow) with career ambitions, and two burglars with excellent timing. Young Joe involves his friends in a scam to earn a decoder ring.More Radio Days- #401 of 675 onThe Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four Stars
- #56 of 89 onThe Best Movies Of 1987, Ranked
- #6 of 60 onThe Best Woody Allen Movies
