The 1972 gangster classic The Godfather has been crowned the greatest film of all time by Rotten Tomatoes, boasting an impressive 97% rating. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and co-written with Mario Puzo, based on Puzo's best-selling 1969 novel, the American epic gangster film follows Michael Corleone, the war-hero youngest son of a powerful New York crime boss, who reluctantly joins the family business after his father is targeted for assassination.
The film's synopsis reads: "Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, this mob drama focuses on the powerful Italian-American crime family of Don Vito Corleone. When the don's youngest son, Michael, reluctantly joins the Mafia, he becomes involved in the inevitable cycle of violence and betrayal. Although Michael tries to maintain a normal relationship with his wife, Kay (Diane Keaton), he is drawn deeper into the family business."
It stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, and Richard Conte, among others. Upon its release, The Godfather was an instant success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1972. It won numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Marlon Brando), Best Adapted Screenplay for Coppola and Puzo, and Best Picture.
With a 97% rating from critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, the critics' consensus states: "One of Hollywood's greatest critical and commercial successes, The Godfather gets everything right; not only did the movie transcend expectations, it established new benchmarks for American cinema." One reviewer wrote: "This is not only grand entertainment, but an emotional and intellectual experience to rival any in cinema." Another added: "The Godfather works like a masterfully conducted orchestra, whose immaculate symphony is a meticulously crafted and extraordinarily integral thread in the fabric of cinema history."
Despite its accolades, some fans believe The Godfather Part II is an even better gangster film. The Godfather (1972) is available to stream on Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, and NOW TV.
