The Godfather Part II (1974)

The Godfather Part II (1974)

10/10

Starring

Al Pacino

Robert Duvall

Diane Keaton

Robert De Niro

Talia Shire

                                                                          

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

The Godfather Part II stands among the greatest sequels ever made, thanks to the outstanding performances of two phenomenal actors. Al Pacino, as Michael Corleone, delivers such a masterful display of acting that you almost want to hail him as “The Godfather” through the screen. Equally exceptional is Robert De Niro, who plays young Vito Corleone. The film’s casting is unforgettable and remains one of its strongest assets.

The story explores the different paths taken by the Corleone family. Vito ruled with a sense of peace, building his empire through careful alliances, while Michael chose a path of ruthless violence, eliminating any threat the moment it appeared. With Michael, it didn’t matter who you were—friend or family—if you crossed him, you were dead.

Partially based on Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather, this 1974 sequel serves as both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather (1972). The film features two parallel narratives: one follows Michael Corleone’s reign as he tries to expand and secure the family business, while the other flashes back to young Vito Corleone’s rise from his childhood in Sicily in 1901 to his arrival in America and the founding of the Corleone family.

Michael’s storyline focuses on his efforts to expand into Las Vegas and Cuba. Along the way, an attempt is made on his life by someone close to him, which leads to even more ruthless retaliation. His relentless nature ultimately strains his family and friendships, isolating him further.

Being the first film to include “Part II” in its title, The Godfather Part II was both a box office hit and a critical success, widely regarded as one of the best films ever made. However, the production had early challenges—Pacino initially refused to participate, believing the script wasn’t strong enough. It took a rewrite from Coppola before Pacino agreed to join.

In the American Film Institute’s 10th-anniversary ranking of the greatest films, The Godfather Part II was placed at number 32. It is also ranked 3rd in IMDb’s Top 100 Movies of All Time, just behind The Godfather, which holds the 2nd spot.

The film received 11 Academy Award nominations and won Best Picture for that year. Out of those 11 nominations, it won six Oscars, including Best Director for Francis Ford Coppola, Best Supporting Actor for Robert De Niro, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Coppola and Puzo.

Al Pacino was nominated for Best Actor but didn’t win, though he did take home the BAFTA Award for Best Actor for the film.

The Godfather Part II is a classic sequel to one of the greatest films ever made. If you’re watching The Godfather, there’s no reason not to follow it up with the second—it’s the perfect continuation of an already legendary story.