Robert De Niro’s new gangster thriller from Goodfellas writer is now streaming at home

The two-time Oscar winner stars in a dual role.

The film was penned by Goodfellas co-writer and The Irishman producer Nicholas Pileggi, with director Barry Levinson (Bugsy, Rain Man) bringing the screenplay to the screen.

De Niro plays a dual role in the crime drama, portraying both Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, two of New York's most notorious organised crime bosses.

The movie tells the story of the Italian American Mafiosi in the mid-20th century and Genovese’s attempted hit on Costello in 1957.

Also part of the cast is Debra Messing (Will and Grace) as Costello’s wife Bobbie, Kathrine Narducci (The Sopranos) as Genovese’s wife Anna and Cosmo Jarvis (Calm with Horses) as mobster Vincent Gigante.

The Alto Knights marked De Niro's first gangster film since 2019's The Irishman, in which he played Irish American enforcer Frank Sheeran.

Released in cinemas in March 2025, Levinson's movie earned mixed reviews from critics and was a box office bomb.

That said, De Niro's central turn received some praise, while others found the film interesting within the context of gangster cinema.

You can read some of these positive reviews below:

Chicago Sun-Times: "It’s a privilege to witness one of the best actors of all time, still at the top of his game."

Empire: "It all feels like handsomely crafted Scorsese-lite, but enjoyably so, like sinking into a shabby but much-loved armchair."

HeyUGuys: "The Alto Knights is a compelling, well-acted crime drama that, while not without its flaws, stands as a worthy addition to the mob movie canon. It is a gripping, stylish, and often electrifying piece of cinema that fans of the genre won’t want to miss."

Mark Kermode: "It's solid. Seen it all before, but I kind of enjoy this gangster fare."

New York Times: "While it’s inevitable that some, maybe many, viewers will find the dual role a distraction, those who hunger for De Niro in mobster mode will get more than their fill."

The New Yorker: "Unfair as it would be to compare The Alto Knights to The Irishman, some of Scorsese’s mournful grandeur does cling to Levinson’s film by association. In both films, it’s De Niro’s frankness that keeps you watching."

Time Out: "Comparisons won’t serve anyone well. But if you take it on its own terms—as an eccentric but entertaining curio--there’s still plenty of fun to be had."

The Alto Knights is currently streaming in Ireland and the UK through the service NOW.

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