The Godfather is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films in cinema history, but Al Pacino was far from convinced during filming
The Godfather (1972) is widely considered one of the finest and most significant films ever made – yet not everyone involved shared that view while cameras were rolling. The American crime drama was helmed by Francis Ford Coppola, who collaborated with Mario Puzo on the screenplay, adapting Puzo’s bestselling 1969 novel.
The production boasted a stellar ensemble including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte and Diane Keaton. Pacino has confessed that during the initial filming period, he believed it would be the ‘worst movie ever made’ and feared it would destroy his career.
The American actor, who celebrates his 86th birthday on Saturday (April 25), found his concerns sparked by the turbulent shoot of the opening wedding sequence alongside co-star Diane Keaton.
Based on his autobiography Sonny Boy (2024) and earlier public discussions, following that particular day’s filming, Pacino and Keaton were so persuaded the project was doomed that they returned to Manhattan and proceeded to get intoxicated.
He remembers them declaring, “We’re done, it’s over! This is the worst film ever made!”
Meanwhile, Paramount bosses were openly challenging his casting and contemplating his dismissal, believing his portrayal lacked the required intensity for Michael Corleone.
Both Pacino’s and the studio’s opinions shifted only after he shot the iconic Italian restaurant scene in which Michael guns down Sollozzo and McCluskey. The sheer power of his performance convinced the studio to retain him, and the film went on to become a cinematic masterpiece.
Somewhat ironically, rather than derailing his career, the role transformed him into a Hollywood legend and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Despite Pacino’s early reservations, The Godfather currently holds the top spot as the number one film of all time on Rotten Tomatoes as of 2026, while sitting at number 2 on IMDb’s Top 250 list.
The American Film Institute also placed it as the second-greatest American film ever made, pipped only by Citizen Kane.
Critics laud its “perfect” blend of storytelling, cinematography, and direction, with particular praise reserved for Gordon Willis’s rich, atmospheric lighting and Nino Rota’s unforgettable score.
The film took home three Academy Awards at the 45th Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Brando), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Yet not everyone is convinced, with some film enthusiasts branding it the ‘worst’ movie ever made. One Reddit user fumed: “The Godfather is the WORST film ever made, and don’t get me started on the second one. Just watched it for the hype and people have the WORST TATSTE, WTF was that.”
Another confessed: “I think that The Godfather is long, hard to follow, often boring and ultimately overrated.”
A third added: “The Godfather wasn’t all that great, honestly.”
Yet many others rushed to the film’s defence, with one writing: “Al Pacino gives one of the greatest acting performances of all time. That alone makes it not the worst, even though this is clearly rage bait, what are your top films if your taste is clearly so superior to us mere mortals.”
Another chimed in: “Assuming this isn’t trolling, I think you’re very lucky if you think The Godfather is the worst film ever made.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
