Robert De Niro pulls the “good night, bro” trend on Martin Scorsese, octogenarian hijinks ensue (2025)

Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro have known each other for over five decades, so of course they casually call each other. Hey, what’s wrong with a couple good fellas chatting on the phone? But this is no ordinary case, as De Niro is taking part in a viral TikTok trend dubbed “good night, bro”, wherein one friend calls another to wish them a peaceful sleep. Yes, this is what social media has done to our legends.

In a video posted to the official TikTok for the Tribeca Film Festival (which kicked off on June 4th), we see Martin Scorsese answering a call from Robert De Niro, who says, “Calling to say good night…and sleep tight!” After some awkward reactions from Scorsese, the actor requests a FaceTime session, at which point he shows off to the director that he’s watching The Wiggles (his girlfriend, Tiffany Chen, had a baby in 2023, making De Niro one of the oldest fathers ever at 79). De Niro then tells Scorsese he’ll see him tomorrow before sending him off with a “Sleep well, dear.” Scorsese, finally playing along, replies, “OK, thank you, my love.” Only later does Scorsese find out it was all “a trend thing.”

Really, all of this could have been a text, but then De Niro wouldn’t be dragging Scorsese into the TikTok trend, which, while it may seem plenty silly through a screen, is actually being credited with promoting healthy bonds between males. Even better, De Niro very well could be on his way to dethroning Scorsese as the reigning film icon of TikTok.

When De Niro told Scorsese that he would see him tomorrow, he was serious, as the two are attending the Tribeca Film Festival in honor of Casino’s 30th anniversary. That film follows De Niro’s Sam “Ace” Rosenthal as he heads the Tangiers Casino, the earnings from which get kicked back to the mob, future wife Ginger (Sharon Stone) and mobster hothead Nicky (Joe Pesci), ultimately leading to the downfall of it all. Speaking at the annual fest, Scorsese said the film’s themes go back centuries. “You can go back to the ancient Greek tragedies…It’s a basic story of hubris and pride, with the pride taking us all down.”