Let’s rewind to the late ’90s: Leonardo DiCaprio was hotter than a sidewalk in July after Titanic, with teenage hearts (and studios) pounding in sync. And then came American Psycho knocking — offering him the razor-sharp role of Patrick Bateman. But instead of slicing into the part like a steak tartare, the actor backed off.

At the time, it might’ve looked like cold feet. But looking through the rearview mirror of culture — with TikTok memes and gym rats quoting Bateman like he’s their life coach — DiCaprio’s ‘no’ feels more like divine intervention. Ironically, years later, he accepted the role in The Wolf of Wall Street — a satire that, instead of cautioning, accidentally handed frat boys a blueprint for bad behavior.

So let’s unpack why walking away from American Psycho wasn’t just a good move — it was a career-saving, legacy-preserving, meme-preventing masterstroke.

Leonardo DiCaprio nearly played...