Watch The Godfather (1972), The Godfather Part II (1974) and The Godfather Part III (1990) in order. Part II is both a sequel and a prequel, cutting between Michael in the late 1950s and young Vito Corleone in the 1900s to 1920s.
- Titles
- 3
- Films
- 3
- Watch time
- 9 hours
- Box office
- $484 million
- Avg IMDb
- 8.6
Godfather movies in release order
Here is every Godfather title in the order it came out, 1972 to 1990: 3 films.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Godfather | 1972 | Film | 2h 55m | 9.2 |
| 2 | The Godfather Part II | 1974 | Film | 3h 22m | 9 |
| 3 | The Godfather Part III | 1990 | Film | 2h 42m | 7.5 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
For The Godfather, release order and story order are the same thing: every film picks up after the one before it. There is no prequel to slot in early and no flashback to reshuffle, so the list above is the only order you need.
Where to start
Start with The Godfather and go in release order.
The whole thing is 9 hours. At two hours a night that is about 5 evenings.
The three highest rated: The Godfather (9.2), The Godfather Part II (9), and The Godfather Part III (7.5).
Every Godfather movie, explained
One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.
No. 01 · 1972 · Film · 2h 55m
The Godfather
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.
Why it matters: Michael Corleone joins the family business.
- Starring
- Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan
- Director
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Box office
- $245 million on a $6 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 9.2 · Rotten Tomatoes 97%
No. 02 · 1974 · Film · 3h 22m
The Godfather Part II
In the continuing saga of the Corleone crime family, a young Vito Corleone grows up in Sicily and in 1910s New York. In the 1950s, Michael Corleone attempts to expand the family business into Las Vegas, Hollywood and Cuba.
Why it matters: Michael's rule alongside young Vito's rise.
- Starring
- Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton
- Director
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Box office
- $103 million on a $13 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 9 · Rotten Tomatoes 96%
No. 03 · 1990 · Film · 2h 42m
The Godfather Part III
In the midst of trying to legitimize his business dealings in 1979 New York and Italy, aging mafia don, Michael Corleone seeks forgiveness for his sins while taking a young protege under his wing.
Why it matters: Michael's last attempt to go legitimate.
- Starring
- Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, and Talia Shire
- Director
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Box office
- $137 million on a $54 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 7.5 · Rotten Tomatoes 67%
Godfather box office and budgets
The 3 Godfather films with reported numbers have grossed $484 million worldwide on about $73 million in combined budgets, roughly 6.6 times what they cost. The biggest is The Godfather at $245 million, 51% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by The Godfather Part III ($137 million) and The Godfather Part II ($103 million).
Measured against what it cost, the best return belongs to The Godfather, which made 41 times its $6 million budget. The weakest was The Godfather Part III at 2.5 times its $54 million budget. As a rule of thumb, a film needs about two and a half times its budget at the box office to cover marketing and the theaters' cut.
The best and worst rated Godfather movies
Across 3 rated titles, The Godfather averages 8.6 on IMDb. The top of the list is The Godfather at 9.2, then The Godfather Part II (9) and The Godfather Part III (7.5). At the bottom: The Godfather Part III (7.5) and The Godfather Part II (9).
- The Godfather9.2 · RT 97%
- The Godfather Part II9 · RT 96%
- The Godfather Part III7.5 · RT 67%
Who appears in the most Godfather movies
Al Pacino leads with 3 appearances as Michael Corleone and Don Michael Corleone, ahead of Diane Keaton (3) and Talia Shire (3). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Pacino | Michael Corleone / Don Michael Corleone | 3 | The Godfather (1972) to The Godfather Part III (1990) |
| Diane Keaton | Kay Adams / Kay Corleone | 3 | The Godfather (1972) to The Godfather Part III (1990) |
| Talia Shire | Connie Corleone Rizzi / Constanzia 'Connie' Corleone | 3 | The Godfather (1972) to The Godfather Part III (1990) |
| Robert Duvall | Tom Hagen | 2 | The Godfather (1972) to The Godfather Part II (1974) |
Godfather directors and creators
1 filmmaker has directed or created The Godfather; Francis Ford Coppola has the most, with 3.
- Francis Ford CoppolaThe Godfather (1972), The Godfather Part II (1974), and The Godfather Part III (1990)
How long it takes to watch every Godfather movie
All 3 titles add up to 9 hours. That is about 5 two-hour evenings, or 1 days of ten-hour binges. The longest film is The Godfather Part II at 3h 22m.
The 3 best rated films: The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, and The Godfather Part III.
Everything takes about 9 days.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Godfather movies in?
Watch The Godfather (1972), The Godfather Part II (1974) and The Godfather Part III (1990) in order. Part II is both a sequel and a prequel, cutting between Michael in the late 1950s and young Vito Corleone in the 1900s to 1920s.
How many Godfather movies and shows are there?
There are 3 titles in the The Godfather franchise: 3 films and 0 series, released from 1972 to 1990.
How long does it take to watch all the Godfather movies?
About 9 hours for all 3 titles, counting every episode.
What is the first Godfather title in chronological order?
The Godfather, set in 1945–1955. In release order the first is The Godfather (1972).
What is the best Godfather movie?
By IMDb score, The Godfather (1972) at 9.2, followed by The Godfather Part II at 9.
What is the highest-grossing Godfather movie?
The Godfather (1972), with $245 million worldwide. The Godfather films have made $484 million in total.
Who has appeared in the most Godfather movies?
Al Pacino, in 3 of them as Michael Corleone.
What is the longest Godfather movie?
The Godfather Part II, at 3h 22m.
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