Despite consisting of three movies, there’s an argument to be made that The Godfather isn’t really a trilogy at all. Francis Ford Coppola’s award-winning movies tell the story of crime boss Michael Corleone and his movements within the Corleone crime family. The first two movies consistently find themselves at the top of lists dictating the greatest movies of all time, and while the third isn’t as widely loved, the trilogy as a whole has become iconic for its rich atmosphere and deep character work. However, Coppola’s three films adopt a method of storytelling that isn’t common in regular trilogies.
The reason that The Godfather and its sequels are so undisputedly beloved is due to their importance in the history of the film industry; countless films that are adored today simply wouldn’t exist without Coppola’s trilogy coming first. The Godfather overshadowed every other crime movie of its era, essentially mastering the genre in a way that’s very rarely been replicated in the years since. It was among the first movies to try telling an epic story like this across three films, and while it achieved that feat, the result is very different from trilogies that are created today.
The Godfather Isn’t A Trilogy, It’s One Movie & An Epilogue
The First Two Parts Are One Story
Although it consists of three separate movies, The Godfather trilogy is best understood as one single story and its epilogue. This is exactly how Coppola has described the project over the years, with the filmmaker recently taking to Instagram to cement his stance on the debate. He wrote: “In my mind there is only one film known as The Godfather (Parts 1 & 2) and an epilogue or ‘Coda’, The Death of Michael Corleone.” This has been the director’s opinion since the films were first released, but the changed title of the final installment lends itself more simply to a trilogy.
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From a narrative perspective, it makes sense that The Godfather is considered one story and its epilogue: the first two parts have much more in common than the third, both in their setting and their characters, which is perhaps why the third has always felt so separate and arguably underwhelming in comparison. The Godfather: Part III didn’t live up to expectations because audiences were hoping for a third part in the story, when in reality, Coppola was merely offering a glimpse into what happens afterward.
Thinking Of The Godfather As One Movie & An Epilogue Makes The Series Better
It Fixes Many Of The Problems With Part Three
While there’s plenty of debate surrounding this question, thinking of The Godfather in this fashion actually makes the series much better. It essentially nullifies the age-old question of whether The Godfather Part 1 or 2 is better, merging them into a single story that’s more cohesive than either on their own. The first two movies share so much thematic material, character development, and complex storylines anyway that it’s always seemed pointless to separate them; considering The Godfather as one whole project makes everything flow together more effortlessly.
Coppola’s decision to label The Godfather: Part III as an “epilogue” is an extremely interesting one that speaks strongly to the purpose of the movie: it isn’t intended to be the huge, sweeping epic that parts one and two were, but rather a more constrained exploration of the characters after the main story. That’s why it’s much slower and less intense because it’s not trying to achieve the same purpose. There are still issues with the film that can’t simply be waved away, but the project’s existence makes a lot more sense when considered this way.
The Godfather Not Being A Trilogy Makes A Fourth Movie Less Likely
The Story Has Already Been Completed
Although Coppola hasn’t spoken on the topic for a while, there were discussions in the ‘90s surrounding the possibility of a fourth The Godfather movie, but the project ultimately didn’t go ahead. It was considered unnecessary, and the poor reception of the third movie likely deterred the studio from making such an enormous commitment. In the years that followed, audiences have been debating whether a fourth movie would be a good idea, but Coppola’s stance seems to dispel the idea of The Godfather 4.
It wouldn’t make sense for Coppola to continue this story when it’s been wrapped up for over 30 years, especially if he never considered parts two and three to be ‘sequels’ in the first place.
If it was always intended to be a single story, and the epilogue has already been completed, then there’s nothing more to be added to this project. It wouldn’t make sense for Coppola to continue this story when it’s been wrapped up for over 30 years, especially if he never considered parts two and three to be ‘sequels’ in the first place. The Godfather is a true work of art – a masterpiece that shouldn’t be expanded just for the sake of it.
The Godfather
The Godfather is one of the most iconic and influential film franchises in cinematic history. Based on Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel of the same name, the series chronicles the rise and fall of the powerful Corleone crime family. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the franchise consists of three films that explore the complex dynamics of organized crime, loyalty, and family. The films are celebrated for their outstanding performances, direction, and thematic depth, especially regarding power, betrayal, and morality within the Mafia world. The first two films, in particular, are widely regarded as some of the greatest films ever made.
- Character(s)
- Vito Corleone , Michael Corleone , Sonny Corleone , Fredo Corleone , Kay Adams , Tom Hagen , Connie Corleone , Vincent Corleone , Peter Clemenza , Salvatore Tessio
- Video Game(s)
- The Godfather
