Steven Spielbergremains one of the greatest living filmmakers working in Hollywood. After getting his start withJaws(1975), the director would continue to find success with a host of films, includingRaiders of the Lost Ark(1981),E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial(1982), and twoIndiana Jonessequels. Spielberg didn’t slow down in the ’90s, releasing some of his most acclaimed and beloved films.
Jurassic Park(1993) still stands as one of the most iconic blockbusters ever made, and Spielberg followed that movie up with releases likeSchindler’s List(1993), a lesser dinosaur sequel inThe Lost World: Jurassic Park(1997), andSaving Private Ryan(1998). Since the ’90s, Spielberg has continued to excel with films likeMinority Report(2002),War of the Worlds(2005),Lincoln(2012), andThe Fabelmans(2022). The director has now set his sights on a UFO blockbuster starring Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Wyatt Russell, and Josh O’Connor, with a release slated for 2026.
Steven Spielberg Names The Godfather The Best American Movie Ever
The Director Shares His Praise For The Francis Ford Coppola Crime Epic
Spielberg dubsThe Godfatherthe greatest American movie of all time. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the 1972 film stars Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, James Caan, and Robert Duvall, with a story that follows an aging crime boss as he transfers power over his empire to his reluctant son.The Godfather, which is widely considered one of the most important movies in Hollywood history, was followed byThe Godfather Part II(1974) andThe Godfather Part III(1990).
During a recent American Film Institute ceremony, as reported byVariety, Spielberg and George Lucas awarded Coppola the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award. Both directors shared kind words about the legendary filmmaker, with Spielberg calling him “fearless” and “a warrior for independent artists.” After recalling a meeting with Coppola about an early, five-hour cut ofApocalypse Now(1979),Spielberg reveals that he thinksThe Godfatheris the “greatest American film ever made.“Check out Spielberg’s full comment below:
“‘The Godfather,’ for me, is the greatest American film ever made. Many artists can and do take a bow from their work on a page, on a canvas, on a screen, but our applause for you Francis, is from a different kind of audience. When we’re young, it’s our parents we want to make proud, and then it’s our friends, and then it’s our colleagues, and finally, it’s our peers, but you, sir, are peerless. You have taken what came before and redefined the canon of American film, and in so doing, you’ve inspired a generation of storytellers who want to make you proud of their work, proud of our work, and I always want to make you proud of my work.”
A post on X fromVarietyeditorJazz Tangcayis included below, showing the moment Spielberg delivered his speech:
What This Means For The Godfather
The Film’s Legacy Explained
Spielberg’s comments aboutThe Godfatherecho a common sentiment, with Coppola’s crime epic considered a truly monumental achievement in filmmaking.The movie was nominated for 11 Oscars and ultimately won two for Best Picture and for Best Actor, with Brando memorably choosing to send Sacheen Littlefeather on his behalf to refuse the award due to the poor treatment of Native Americans in the world of entertainment. OnRotten Tomatoes,The Godfather’s critical acclaim earned the movie a 97% critics’ score, with the audience-driven Popcornmeter score coming in one point higher at 98%.
The Godfatheris largely responsible for launching Pacino’s acting career, paving the way for roles in movies likeDog Day Afternoon(1975) andScarface(1983). For Brando, the film stands as one of the most memorable performances in the latter part of his career alongside his performances inLast Tango in Paris(1972) andApocalypse Now. Spielberg callingThe Godfatherthe greatest American film ever made, then, isn’t an outlier or a radical opinion, but it does further cement the film’s impressive legacy.
The Godfather
Cast
The Godfather chronicles the Italian-American Corleone crime family from 1945 to 1955. Following an assassination attempt on family patriarch Vito Corleone, his youngest son Michael emerges to orchestrate a brutal campaign of retribution, cementing his role in the family’s illicit empire.
