Robert de Niro couldn’t resist poking fun at Ben Stiller while promoting the next sequel in the Meet the Parents series.
The franchise began with 2000’s Meet the Parents, where Stiller’s Gaylord “Greg” Focker tries to win the approval of his girlfriend Pam’s intensely suspicious father, Jack Byrnes (de Niro). Jack’s protectiveness is heightened by the fact he’s a retired CIA agent who’s determined to figure out what Greg is really like.
After a chaotic run of mishaps, Greg ultimately earns Jack’s respect and successfully proposes to Pam (Teri Polo).
The story continued in 2004 with Meet the Fockers, as Greg and Pam’s engagement leads to an awkward meeting between their families. Jack and Dina arrive to meet Greg’s parents—played by Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand—whose laidback lifestyle clashes with Jack’s rigid approach.
In 2010, the series returned with Little Fockers, pushing Greg and Jack back into conflict again as the pressure rises with kids in the mix.
Now, a fourth installment is on the way: Focker-In-Law, with Ariana Grande joining the cast.
This time around, the dynamic is flipped. Stiller’s character is set to become the skeptical parent, while Grande plays the prospective daughter-in-law trying to win him over.
Stiller and de Niro appeared onstage together to discuss the new film—and de Niro took the opportunity to land a couple of playful blows.
During the conversation, de Niro praised the Wicked star, calling Grande “probably the single most talented screen partner I’ve been lucky to share the screen with”.
Stiller then added: “In a way, she’s kind of like the new Ben Stiller.”
De Niro immediately shot back with: “She got an Oscar nomination. How many of those do you have?”
While Stiller has earned major recognition over the years—including a Bafta and an Emmy—he hasn’t been nominated for an Academy Award.
The two continued trading jokes as they compared their filmographies, with Stiller quipping that his equivalent of Raging Bull was the animated hit Madagascar, where he voiced Alex the lion.
De Niro countered with a dig aimed at a competing animation series, replying: “I prefer the one with the Minions.”
In recent years, Stiller has spent less time acting on camera, focusing more on directing and producing.
That includes his work on Apple TV’s thriller Severance, which is expected to return for a third season in 2027.
De Niro, meanwhile, is set to appear in the upcoming thriller The Whisper Man, based on the novel of the same name.