BBC iPlayer has added The Godfather to its streaming library, giving UK viewers the chance to watch what many consider the greatest film ever made. Francis Ford Coppola's 1972 masterpiece, based on Mario Puzo's novel, follows the Corleone crime family and remains a benchmark for gangster cinema.
Marlon Brando stars as Don Vito Corleone, with Al Pacino playing his youngest son Michael, who evolves from a reluctant outsider into a ruthless Mafia don. The cast also includes Diane Keaton as Michael's wife, Kay. The film chronicles the family's criminal empire and Michael's descent into organised crime.
The Godfather dominated the 1973 Academy Awards, winning Best Picture, Best Actor for Brando, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It also earned five Golden Globe awards, including Best Director and Best Picture. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 98% approval rating from critics and audiences alike.
Fans have praised the film's enduring impact. One reviewer called it 'the Old Testament of cinema', while another said it is 'the most memorable, most influential, most quoted, most beloved American movie ever made'. A third fan described it as 'cinema's holy scripture'.
The Godfather is available now on BBC iPlayer for viewers in the UK.
