A classic 70s film, often hailed as one of the greatest ever made, is now streaming for free on BBC iPlayer.
Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is undeniably one of the most iconic films ever made, telling the story of the ruthless Corleone crime family.
The first installment of The Godfather trilogy, the gangster film features an all-star cast that includes Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, James Caan, Diane Keaton, and many more.
The Godfather largely follows patriarch Vito Corleone (Pacino) and his youngest son, Michael (Pacino), as he transforms from the family outsider to a ruthless mafia boss.
It is based on Mario Puzo’s best-selling novel of all time and was followed by two sequels, released in 1974 and 1990, respectively.
The film was an instant success upon its release in 1972, becoming one of the highest-grossing films ever made.
It racked up seven Oscar nominations, winning best picture, best adapted screenplay, and best actor for Brando.
The Godfather is often regarded as one of the most influential films ever made, as well as a ‘masterpiece’, so much so that it is ranked the second-greatest film in American cinema by the American Film Institute, following Citizen Kane
The film holds a whopping 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics’ consensus reading: ‘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.’
In their five-star review, Time Out said: ‘This is not only grand entertainment, but an emotional and intellectual experience to rival any in cinema.’
Where to stream all of The Godfather films in the UK
- The Godfather – BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Paramount+, Sky, and NowTV
- The Godfather Part II – Netflix, Paramount+, Sky, and NowTV
- The Godfather Part III – Paramount+, Sky, and NowTV
Echoing a similar sentiment, the Chicago-Sun Times wrote: ‘The Godfather is the most memorable, most influential, most quoted, most beloved, most discussed, most imitated, most revered and most entertaining American movie ever made.’
London Evening Standard added: ‘The Godfather shows that there is still life in the massive production engineering which made Hollywood studios the wonder of the entertainment world in their great days.’
Many heaped praise on Hollywood icon Brando, with the New York Daily News saying: ‘Despite Brando’s limited screen time, his presence overpowers the film. Yet it’s Pacino’s performance, as the idealistic war hero turned ruthless crime lord that takes on new meaning the second time around.’
Similarly, the Detroit Free Press wrote: ‘Maybe the secret of Brando’s power is that he, like maybe a handful of others, understands fully what stillness and repose and tentativeness mean in terms of impact on film.’
The San Francisco Chronicle simply surmised: ‘In scene after scene … Coppola crafted an enduring, undisputed masterpiece.’
The Godfather is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
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