Over half a century after it first hit cinemas, The Godfather still sits near the very top of every greatest-films list. Francis Ford Coppola's saga of the Corleone family turned a bestselling crime novel into a sweeping story about power, loyalty and family, and it made stars of a young cast who would dominate Hollywood for decades.
Here's everything you need to know about the trilogy, from the casting to the Oscars. Fans can find tribute designs in our movies collection.
The Godfather Fact File
| Released | March 1972 (Part II: December 1974; Part III: December 1990) |
|---|---|
| Director | Francis Ford Coppola |
| Based on | The Godfather (1969) by Mario Puzo |
| Screenplay | Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola |
| Producer | Albert S. Ruddy |
| Studio | Paramount Pictures |
| Main cast | Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, John Cazale, Talia Shire |
| Running time | 175 minutes |
| Music | Nino Rota |
| Setting | New York and Sicily, 1945–1955 |
Key Films
| Year | Release | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | The Godfather | 3 Oscars from 10 nominations, including Best Picture |
| 1974 | The Godfather Part II | 6 Oscars from 11 nominations; Robert De Niro as young Vito |
| 1990 | The Godfather Part III | 7 Oscar nominations |
| 2020 | The Godfather Coda | Coppola's recut of Part III with a new beginning and ending |
Across the trilogy the films won nine Academy Awards from 28 nominations.
From Novel to Screen
Mario Puzo's novel was a publishing sensation, and Paramount hired Coppola to direct the film adaptation, with Albert S. Ruddy producing. Puzo and Coppola co-wrote the screenplay. The casting of Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone and a then little-known Al Pacino as Michael became one of the most famous gambles in film history.
The film premiered in New York in March 1972 and became a huge box-office hit.
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The Corleone Family
Brando's Vito is the quiet, calculating head of the family, but the heart of the story is Michael's transformation from reluctant war hero to ruthless successor. James Caan's hot-headed Sonny, Robert Duvall's loyal consigliere Tom Hagen and John Cazale's fragile Fredo complete one of cinema's great ensembles, with Nino Rota's haunting score tying it all together.
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Part II and Beyond
The Godfather Part II (1974) told two stories at once: Michael's reign and the young Vito's rise in early 20th-century New York, with Robert De Niro winning an Oscar for the role. It became the first sequel ever to win Best Picture. Part III followed in 1990, and in 2020 Coppola released a recut version, The Godfather Coda.
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Awards
Academy Awards
- The Godfather: Best Picture, Best Actor (Marlon Brando) and Best Adapted Screenplay
- Part II: six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor (Robert De Niro)
Honours
- Selected for the US National Film Registry (1990)
- Ranked No. 2 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies list (2007)
Behind the Scenes
Most of the film was shot in and around New York, with the Sicilian scenes filmed in the villages of Savoca and Forza d'Agrò. Brando declined his Best Actor Oscar, with Sacheen Littlefeather speaking on his behalf at the ceremony in protest at Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans. The making of the film was later dramatised in the 2022 series The Offer.
FAQs
When did The Godfather come out?
The film premiered in New York on 14 March 1972 and opened across the US later that month.
Who directed The Godfather?
Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with the novel's author, Mario Puzo.
Where was The Godfather filmed?
Mostly in New York City and its suburbs, with the Sicily scenes shot in Savoca and Forza d'Agrò.
How many Oscars did The Godfather win?
The 1972 film won three, including Best Picture. Part II won six, and the trilogy won nine in total.
How many Godfather films are there?
Three: The Godfather (1972), Part II (1974) and Part III (1990), plus the 2020 recut The Godfather Coda.
Who played young Vito Corleone?
Robert De Niro, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for The Godfather Part II.
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Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Scarface (1983): The Story, the Cast and the Legacy and Rocky: The Story of the Films, the Cast and the Oscars.
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