You and your friends can debate what is the best U.S. film ever made. But Steven Spielberg, a filmmaker who’s made some classics himself – “Jaws,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Schindler’s List” to name three – has weighed in.
Spielberg made his pronouncement at a tribute to director Francis Ford Coppola held by the American Film Institute on April 26.
His pick: “The Godfather,” the famous 1972 film directed by Coppola.
Before Spielberg and George Lucas presented Coppola with the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award, Spielberg talked about meeting Coppola in 1967 and being asked to watch and critique an early cut of “Apocalypse Now,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Then, Spielberg said he considered “The Godfather,” as “the greatest American film ever made,” a remark which led Coppola to cover his face with his hands.
“Many artists can and do take a bow from their work on a page, on a canvas, on a screen, but our applause for you Francis, is from a different kind of audience. When we’re young, it’s our parents we want to make proud, and then it’s our friends, and then it’s our colleagues, and finally, it’s our peers, but you, sir, are peerless.” Spielberg said, Variety reported. “You have taken what came before and redefined the canon of American film, and in so doing, you’ve inspired a generation of storytellers who want to make you proud of their work, proud of our work, and I always want to make you proud of my work.”
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What other films are considered GOATs?
The American Film Institute lists “The Godfather” as No. 2 on its list of The 100 Greatest American Films of All Time. Atop the list: “Citizen Kane.”
On Sight & Sound’s list of the greatest films of all time, “The Godfather” rests at No. 12. At the top: 1975’s “Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles.”
Stars honor Francis Ford Coppola
Lucas, who encouraged Coppola to make “The Godfather” to spur on the production company American Zoetrope they had co-founded in 1969, told Coppola, “You’re our hero, Francis.” In recalling their early days in the film industry, Lucas said, “We had no rules – we wrote them with you holding the pen. Thank you for creating an era of filmmakers who loved the movies.”
Lucas and Spielberg sat next to Coppola as he listened to tributes from actors including Al Pacino, who played Michael Corleone in The Godfather films, Robert De Niro, who won a best supporting actor Oscar for his part of the young Vito Corleone in “The Godfather II,” and Harrison Ford, who appeared in several Coppola-directed films including “The Conversation” and “Apocalypse Now.”
“Francis, you changed my career, you changed my life. We’re all here tonight because of you. We love you,” said De Niro, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
After Lucas and Spielberg presented the award to Coppola, the honoree said, “I feel as if after many years I’ve returned to the old neighborhood where I grew up, and everything around me is so familiar and yet it’s all changed.”
He concluded, “Now I understand here, this place that created me, my home, isn’t really a place at all but you friends, colleagues, teachers, playmates, family, neighbors – all of the beautiful faces are welcoming me back because I am and will always be nothing more than one of you.”
How to watch ‘A Tribute to Francis Ford Coppola’
The event, “The AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Francis Ford Coppola,” will be shown on TNT on June 18.
This story was updated to fix an inaccuracy.
Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY’s Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steven Spielberg says ‘Godfather’ is greatest American film ever made
