Leonardo DiCaprio Needed This Steven Spielberg Film To Evolve Into the Movie Star We Know Him As Today

Widely considered one of the greatest actors and movie stars of his generation, Leonardo DiCaprio's Hollywood career has reached heights that few others have. Throughout it, he's made a name for himself and maintained an air of prestige by frequently working with the best directors in the industry. One iconic filmmaker in particular is owed a great deal of gratitude from DiCaprio for elevating his movie star persona at a crucial time in his career. Interestingly enough, it is not the legendary Martin Scorsese—who he has famously collaborated with six times—nor is it blockbuster king James Cameron, who launched DiCaprio’s fame into the stratosphere with the release of Titanic in 1997. Rather, it is Hollywood giant Steven Spielberg, whose 2002 film, Catch Me If You Can, boosted DiCaprio into the next phase of his career and allowed the actor to showcase his skills and shine in a way that he hadn't before, especially beside an older and more established performer like Tom Hanks.