The Godfather trilogy, directed by legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, is one of the most decorated and well-received movie series of all time. While it has been over half a century since the series started, the movies boast lasting relevance and appeal. For those interested in delving into the Oscar-winning series, this guide will explain how and where to watch all The Godfather movies in order using popular streaming services like Paramount+, Netflix, Max and many more!
The trilogy kicked off in 1972 with the release of The Godfather. The film follows Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), the youngest son of crime boss Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), who faces pressure to join the family business. It gained high critical acclaim for the phenomenal performances of Brando and Pacino, the rich storytelling of a hero’s fall, and the larger-than-life villains. Most importantly, it revolutionized the film industry by demonstrating just how sophisticated and artful the gangster genre could be.
It was no surprise that the film received a sequel, The Godfather Part II, which continued tracking Michael’s deterioration into one of cinema’s greatest villains. The movie is also partially a prequel and examines the life of a younger Vito (Robert de Niro). Once again, the film was a huge critical success and is often considered one of the best movie sequels ever made.
After the successful sequel, the film series took a 16-year hiatus before concluding the trilogy with The Godfather III, which wrapped Michael’s story. While the film boasted strong performances and allowed Michael’s story to come full circle, the absence of Robert Duvall, the controversial casting of Coppola’s daughter Sofia Coppola, and the lack of a strong script kept it from receiving the same universal acclaim as its predecessors.
In 2020, Francis Ford Coppola released The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone, a recut version of the third film, which he considers the “definitive” version. While working on the final film, the director struggled for creative control with Paramount Pictures, so he decided to release what he described as the version he and co-screenwriter Mario Puzo originally intended to make.
Where to watch The Godfather movies online
Watching The Godfather movies in order is simple as the release date and chronological order are the same. If viewers wish, they can watch the recut after the trilogy to compare it to the original movie. See below for where to stream The Godfather trilogy in order in the United States!
