Leonardo DiCaprio said he is “slowing down a bit” as he enters a new phase of his career, calling his next chapter one of greater selectivity and an emphasis on work that endures.
Speaking at the Hollywood premiere of his new film One Battle After Another in Los Angeles on Sept. 8, the 50-year-old actor described a shift in how he chooses projects and praised writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson, with whom he reunited for the upcoming comedy.
“I’m slowing down a bit,” DiCaprio told People, adding that he still cannot say no when the right opportunities present themselves. He said his admiration for Anderson dates to early viewings of Boogie Nights and described Anderson as “the dude of our generation” for making films that linger in viewers’ minds and remain topics of conversation.
“Awards can come and go,” DiCaprio said. “Accolades, box office can come and go, but those pieces of art that you still talk about and still think about and still question — those are the films that we strive for as an actor.”
DiCaprio’s comments echoed a candid interview he gave earlier this year in a sit-down with Anderson for Esquire, in which he said he feels “emotionally 32” despite turning 50 and that the milestone prompted a desire to be more honest and to avoid wasting time in both personal and professional relationships. He pointed to his mother as an example of someone who says what she thinks and does not spend time “trying to fake it.”
The remarks come amid a career that has spanned three decades and includes numerous high-profile films and an Academy Award. DiCaprio has long been known for both prolific output and meticulous role selection; his recent comments indicate a recalibration toward projects he considers enduring rather than frequent.
He characterized the current moment as one in which artists consider legacy as much as immediate success, saying that the films he values most are those that persist as conversation pieces among friends and critics. That perspective informed his decision to work with Anderson again, he said, and it shapes how he views future opportunities.
DiCaprio did not outline a specific plan for how many films he intends to make going forward, but his remarks suggest a focus on quality and on collaborations that produce work he believes will stand the test of time. Industry observers have noted that many established actors narrow their output as they age; DiCaprio’s comments framed that narrowing as an intentional choice tied to artistic standards rather than merely a slowdown.
One Battle After Another is scheduled for release later this year, and DiCaprio’s appearance at the Los Angeles premiere highlighted both the actor’s continued box-office relevance and a personal shift toward prioritizing projects that he expects will remain influential in conversations about film. He reiterated that the right partnerships, such as the one with Anderson, are exceptions to a more selective approach: “When these opportunities come up, I mean, I can’t say no,” he said.
DiCaprio’s statements add to a broader public narrative about aging and careers in Hollywood, where performers weigh awards, commercial success and lasting artistic impact as they plan future work. In his comments, he emphasized honesty in relationships and in professional choices, saying that as more of life is behind than ahead, there is “almost a responsibility” to be direct and to avoid wasting time.