The Godfather (1972)

Drama Crime
→ Influenced 13 films ← Inspired by 4 films

Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be killers, launching a campaign of bloody revenge.

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Connections

← Inspired By

The Bad Sleep Well
The Bad Sleep Well (1960)1
 Le Père Goriot
Le Père Goriot (1835)2
 The Brotherhood
The Brotherhood (1968)3
 The Conformist
The Conformist (1971)4

→ Influenced

Scarface
Scarface (1983)5
 Goodfellas
Goodfellas (1990)6
 Sarkar
Sarkar (2005)7
 Donnie Brasco
Donnie Brasco (1997)8
 The Brutalist
The Brutalist (2024)9
 Old School
Old School (2003)10
 Lincoln
Lincoln (2012)11
 The Untouchables
The Untouchables (1987)12
 Swingers
Swingers (2002)13
 Point Break
Point Break (1991)14
 Dog Day Afternoon
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)15
 Miller's Crossing
Miller's Crossing (1990)16

Sources

Influenced By

  1. The Bad Sleep Well (1960)
    "Akira Kurosawa's film, which explores themes of corruption and revenge, was one of Coppola's favorites and influenced the atmosphere and opening scene of "The Godfather."" 10 Movies To Watch if You Love 'The Godfather' Anja Djuricic Collider
  2. Le Père Goriot (1835)
    "Honoré de Balzac's novel inspired notable lines in "The Godfather," such as the epigraph: "Behind every great fortune there is a crime."" The Godfather %28novel%29 Wikipedia
  3. The Brotherhood (1968)
    "This earlier gangster film's failure influenced the casting decisions in "The Godfather," leading to a focus on authenticity by hiring Italian-American actors." Npr source
  4. The Conformist (1971)
    "Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, this film's visual style and themes significantly influenced "The Godfather." The cinematography by Vittorio Storaro, known for its unique lighting and composition, impacted the aesthetic choices in Coppola's film." The Conformist %281970 film%29 Wikipedia

Influenced

  1. Scarface (1983)
    "While *Scarface* aimed to distinguish itself from *The Godfather*, the latter's depiction of organized crime and its impact on family dynamics influenced the portrayal of the criminal underworld in *Scarface*." Far Out Magazine source
  2. Goodfellas (1990)
    "Directed by Martin Scorsese, this film delves into the life of mob associate Henry Hill. It shares thematic elements with "The Godfather," such as the intricacies of organized crime and the personal costs of a criminal lifestyle. The American Film Institute ranked "Goodfellas" as the second-best gangster film, following "The Godfather."" Goodfellas Wikipedia
  3. Sarkar (2005)
    "An Indian political crime thriller directed by Ram Gopal Varma, "Sarkar" is an unofficial remake of "The Godfather." It follows Subhash Nagre, a powerful political figure, and his family's dynamics, echoing the Corleone family's saga." Sarkar %282005 film%29 Wikipedia
  4. Donnie Brasco (1997)
    "Starring Johnny Depp and Al Pacino, this film is based on the true story of an FBI agent infiltrating the mafia. It explores themes of loyalty and betrayal, reminiscent of those in "The Godfather."" 10 Gangster Movies That Pay Homage to The Godfather Odyssey Gohain MovieWeb
  5. The Brutalist (2024)
    "Francis Ford Coppola's epic portrays the complexities of power and identity within an immigrant family, themes that are also central to "The Brutalist."" ‘The Brutalist’ and Its Subtle Critique of the American Dream - Hue Watched It Marc Rob Hue Watched It -
  6. Old School (2003)
    "Mitch is referred to as "The Godfather," drawing a parallel to the iconic character from "The Godfather."" Movie Connections IMDb
  7. Lincoln (2012)
    "The film's opening scene, introducing Lincoln from behind, mirrors the introduction of Vito Corleone in *The Godfather*. Cinematographer Janusz Kamiński's choices in *Lincoln* have been compared to Gordon Willis' work on the Corleone trilogy." The Niles Files: Guiding Light: Lincoln as Spielberg's Other Extra-Terrestrial Nilesfilmfiles
  8. The Untouchables (1987)
    "As a seminal gangster film, "The Godfather" set a precedent for the genre, influencing the narrative and stylistic elements of "The Untouchables."" The Best Gangster Movies and TV Shows Ben Rosenstock TIME
  9. Swingers (2002)
    "In "Swingers," Trent uses the phrase "bone me a Fredo," referencing a line from "The Godfather" where Mo Green comments on Fredo Corleone's behavior." Swingers (1996 film) Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
  10. Point Break (1991)
    "Subtle nods to this crime saga appear in "Point Break," such as a scene where a character offers oranges—a motif in "The Godfather" symbolizing impending doom. This reference adds depth to the film's narrative layers." Movie Connections IMDb
  11. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
    "The real-life bank robbers, whose story inspired "Dog Day Afternoon," watched "The Godfather" just before their attempted heist. They were so influenced by the film that they wrote "This is an offer you can't refuse" on their ransom note." Dog Day Afternoon: The Wild Real-Life Robbery Behind the Movie Amanda Mannen Cracked.com
  12. Miller's Crossing (1990)
    "Directed by the Coen Brothers, this film pays homage to classic gangster movies, including "The Godfather." The opening scene, where a character confronts the mob boss, is noted as an "obvious nod to the opening of The Godfather."" Miller%27s Crossing Wikipedia