Jon Bernthal confessed that he watched Goodfellas (1990) 40 to 50 times in public theatres during his youth. The acclaimed actor recently shared how a profound obsession with a classic crime movie fundamentally shaped his artistic journey. In fact, the extreme level of dedication eventually came full circle later in his professional career, seemingly having prepared him for the ultimate honor of collaborating directly with his filmmaking hero on a real Hollywood set.

The passionate performer described how his early theatre habits transformed into an intense masterclass in acting.

Jon Bernthal revealed in The Hollywood Reporter's Hollywood Firsts video interview that he watched Goodfellas (1990) 40 to 50 times in theatres during its original release. He explained that he and his best friend would routinely sit through multiple consecutive showings before returning the very next day.

“I’m such a huge Scorsese (Martin Scorsese) worshiper. When Goodfellas came into theaters, my best friend Dougie Thornell and I would go, sit through another showing, then another showing, and go back the next day,” he said.

“I’m talking about maybe seeing that movie in theaters 40 or 50 times,” he added. The young actor found himself completely captivated by the explosive on-screen performance delivered by Joe Pesci.

"I was blown away by the vitality, the life behind it, the storytelling, and how these groups of people were this beautiful stew of personalities," Bernthal stated. He deeply admired the authentic, lived-in atmosphere that defined the entire production. This intense fascination fuelled his early dream of participating in elite Hollywood storytelling.

The actor eventually secured the incredible opportunity to work directly on a project (The Wolf of Wall Street) directed by Martin Scorsese. Experiencing the meticulous care, immense attention to detail, and collaborative ensemble building in real life fulfilled a lifelong aspiration. He described the professional collaboration as the absolute honour of his lifetime.

“It was the honor of my lifetime to work with him,” he said during his Hollywood Firsts video interview.

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The celebrated production that inspired his career remains a definitive benchmark for the entire entertainment industry.

The biographical crime film Goodfellas (1990) officially debuted in the United States on September 21, 1990. The legendary project was directed by Martin Scorsese and adapted from the 1985 non-fiction book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi. The star-studded ensemble cast featured exceptional performances from Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, and Paul Sorvino, among others. 

The complex narrative chronicles the dramatic 3-decade rise and eventual fall of real-life mafia associate Henry Hill from 1955 to 1980. The story begins in Brooklyn, where a young Henry actively idolizes the powerful Lucchese crime family operating in his neighbourhood. He quickly climbs the criminal ranks alongside Jimmy Conway, a ruthless hijacker, and Tommy DeVito, a volatile psychopath.

Their luxurious lifestyle fractures following the massive Lufthansa heist as extreme paranoia and targeted executions destroy their inner circle. Henry becomes heavily addicted to trafficking illegal substances, which directly violates the strict orders of his mob boss, Paulie. By studying this very film dozens of times in theatres, Jon Bernthal developed a profound respect for the storytelling that defined his collaboration with Martin Scorsese.

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