The Godfather Film Series backdrop

Complete Watch Order · 3 films · 1972–1990

The GodfatherComplete Watch Order Guide

Francis Ford Coppola’s trilogy films about the everyday life of a New York mafia family. With its star-studded cast these films would go down in history as some of the greatest Hollywood has ever produced.

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3
Films
5h 15m
Total Runtime
8.2/10
Avg Rating
2
Eras / Phases

The Saga Timeline

The Godfather Release Timeline

Release order

What order should you watch the The Godfather movies?

Release order — click any era to expand or collapse. All 3 movies shown below.

2 films released between 1972 and 1974.

1 film released between 1990 and 1990.

Every Film

Watch The Godfather in Order

Watch the The Godfather movies in release order, starting with The Godfather (1972) and continuing through The Godfather Part III (1990). The series spans 3 films, released between 1972 and 1990. Audiences rate the franchise 8.2/10 on average.

What order should you watch The Godfather?

For most viewers, release order is the recommended way to watch The Godfather. This is how the story was crafted and revealed to audiences — earlier films seed details, callbacks, and twists that pay off in later entries. Watching in release order preserves those reveals and matches the pacing the filmmakers intended.

The Godfather largely tracks its own in-universe chronology, so release order and chronological order overlap closely. You can use either without losing much, though release order is still the safest first watch.

About The Godfather

Francis Ford Coppola’s trilogy films about the everyday life of a New York mafia family. With its star-studded cast these films would go down in history as some of the greatest Hollywood has ever produced.

Each film builds on the previous one, rewarding viewers who watch in sequence.

The Godfather Fun Facts & Trivia

1

The The Godfather franchise spans 18 years, from 1972 to 1990.

2

The highest-rated entry is The Godfather with a 8.7/10 audience score.

3

Across all films, the franchise averages a 8.2/10 rating from audiences.

4

The Godfather films have collected over 45k audience ratings combined.

5

Watching all 3 The Godfather films back-to-back takes well over a full day's viewing commitment.

6

The most recent entry, The Godfather Part III (1990), continues a franchise that began 18 years earlier.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best order to watch The Godfather?
The recommended The Godfather watch order is release order: 1. The Godfather (1972), 2. The Godfather Part II (1974), 3. The Godfather Part III (1990). This is how the story was crafted and delivers the best experience for new viewers.
What is the first The Godfather movie?
The first The Godfather movie is The Godfather, released in 1972. It's the best starting point for any new viewer.
What is the most recent The Godfather movie?
The most recent The Godfather movie is The Godfather Part III (1990).
How many The Godfather movies are there in total?
There are 3 main The Godfather films. This guide covers all of them in order.
How long does it take to watch all The Godfather movies?
Watching all 3 The Godfather films takes approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes of total runtime.
What is the highest-rated The Godfather movie?
The highest-rated The Godfather movie is The Godfather, with an audience score of 8.7/10 on TMDB.
Can I watch The Godfather movies without watching them in order?
Most The Godfather films can be enjoyed standalone, but watching in release order gives you the full character development and story payoff across all 3 entries. First-time viewers should start with The Godfather.
Where can I watch The Godfather movies online?
Most The Godfather movies are available on Amazon Prime Video. Each movie card on this page has a direct "Watch on Amazon" link.

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