Robert De Niro might be one of the greatest movie actors of all time, but he’s never really crossed over onto the small screen. That is, until this year, when his political thriller series Zero Day became one of Netflix’s top global streaming draws in 2025 so far. De Niro was involved in getting the miniseries off the ground, serving as one of its executive producers, and it’s seen as an important project for the actor, given that it’s the first time he’s gone all in for a TV show.
However, Zero Day isn’t actually De Niro’s first appearance in a television-based project. His other small-screen roles may have been few and far between, but they are worth revisiting to see how they compare to his latest release. After all, De Niro’s best movies are too many to reel off in one go, so it’s fair to expect that his three significant TV show roles have something of note to offer us. Although the actor’s big-screen output of late has been a distinctly mixed bag, there’s still plenty of joy to be had in discovering TV performances.
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Zero Day
2025 Miniseries
Zero Day
5/10
- Release Date
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2025 – 2024
- Network
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Netflix
The lowest ranked De Niro TV project has to be Zero Day itself, not because the show is bad, but because its competitors are too good to compete with. The miniseries isn’t De Niro’s finest work, but the actor himself still delivers the central performance demanded of him as former US president George Mullen. Its problems lie in an overwrought plot that never fully settles into its stride, akin to late-era House of Cards with its unresolved threads, as well as the detached tone it strikes despite the mayhem unfolding in its story.
Zero Day‘s critical reception has been hit-and-miss, as illustrated by its 54% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, there’s still a lot to enjoy in the show, and De Niro’s performance as Mullen in particular. The character’s attempted reconciliation with his daughter is very moving, and De Niro’s climactic speech at a critical point in the story is worth waiting for.
2
The Wizard of Lies
2017 TV Movie
Fraudster Bernie Madoff’s story is ideal streaming territory these days, with Netflix’s 2023 true-crime documentary MADOFF: The Monster of Wall Street predictably faring well on the platform. HBO beat them to the punch by six years, though, with this made-for-TV movie about the criminal behind history’s biggest Ponzi scheme. The Wizard of Lies stars De Niro as Bernie Madoff, and with the requisite hair and makeup, he looks unerringly similar to the man he’s playing.
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De Niro’s portrayal of the real-life figure is spot on, too, playing Madoff sympathetically and pulling as much depth out of the character as he can. The movie itself is mostly a straight-down-the-line dramatization of the Madoff family’s true story, including the heartbreaking moment when Bernie calls the family conference he’s been dreading. It’s likely the best place to start for anyone who wants to know more about one of the crimes of the century and a must-watch for any disciples of De Niro.
1
Nada
2023 Miniseries
The Argentine comedy-drama Nada’s ingenious incorporation of a guest appearance by Robert De Niro is par for the course in this brilliant 2023 series. De Niro serves as the show’s narrator, and it becomes apparent as to why when he appears in its final episode. He plays Vincent Parisi, the longtime friend of series protagonist Manuel Tamayo Prats, and the two men have an uncannily similar sensibility and demeanor.
Nada sees Robert De Niro taking an unlikely back seat, allowing the wicked wit of Luis Brandoni to shine.
In the show’s funniest scene, Manuel, who’s a food critic, has De Niro test out his Argentine-Spanish pronunciation on some breakfast items. The rest of the episode is tonally very similar to Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan’s best moments in The Trip, with the old amigos catching up and ribbing each other in between trying exquisite local delicacies and cultural haunts, before Nada bids an emotional farewell. Inevitably, it’s De Niro who has the final word.
As moving as it is generously amusing and gently amusing, Nada sees Robert De Niro taking an unlikely back seat, allowing the wicked wit of Luis Brandoni to shine. There’s just enough De Niro throughout to get the best out of the actor and justify his inclusion, while his role never once feels forced or overplayed. This miniseries is a genuinely heartwarming watch and a real treat for any Robert De Niro fans.