Movie director Steven Spielberg has named Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 crime drama, “The Godfather,” as the greatest American film ever made. Spielberg expressed this view during the 50th American Film Institute Life Achievement Award ceremony honoring Coppola on April 26 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
Spielberg and longtime friend George Lucas presented Coppola with the prestigious award in front of an audience that included Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, Adam Driver, and Spike Lee, among others.
Spielberg, who first met Coppola in 1967, described the filmmaker as “fearless” in his tribute speech. He recounted viewing an early five-hour cut of “Apocalypse Now” with other filmmakers, highlighting Coppola’s openness to their feedback.
Spielberg shared how Coppola invited them to provide input on where they felt lost and found in the film, noting his admiration for Coppola’s willingness to receive feedback.
Following this reflection, Spielberg made his definitive statement regarding “The Godfather,” which featured Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan in the story of the Corleone Mafia family.
“‘The Godfather,’ for me, is the greatest American film ever made,” Spielberg declared to the audience, prompting Coppola to cover his face with his hands in response to the praise.
Spielberg continued his tribute by acknowledging Coppola’s impact on the film industry, noting his redefinition of the canon of American film and inspiration for a generation of storytellers.
Lucas, who co-founded the production company American Zoetrope with Coppola in 1969, also shared warm words for his friend and mentor. He recalled encouraging Coppola to make “The Godfather” to support their production company. Lucas reflected on their partnership and expressed admiration for Coppola’s teaching of not fearing “jumping off cliffs,” a philosophy Lucas has embraced throughout his life.
De Niro, who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar as the young Vito Corleone in “The Godfather Part II,” spoke about Coppola’s influence on his career. De Niro remarked that he was grateful for not being cast in the original “Godfather,” as it allowed him to participate in the sequel, which transformed his career.
Pacino, who portrayed Michael Corleone in the trilogy, discussed Coppola’s dedication to his vision and advocacy for the actors during the film’s production.
Although Spielberg considers “The Godfather” the greatest American film ever made, it does not top all authoritative lists. The American Film Institute ranks “The Godfather” as No. 2 on its list of The 100 Greatest American Films of All Time, with “Citizen Kane” taking the top spot. On Sight & Sound’s list of the greatest films of all time, “The Godfather” is at No. 12, with “Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles” at the top.
Upon receiving the award from Spielberg and Lucas, Coppola delivered an emotional acceptance speech. He likened the experience to returning to his old neighborhood, describing it as familiar yet changed.
Coppola concluded his speech by expressing gratitude toward his colleagues, explaining that he now understood that the place that created him was not a physical location but the friends, colleagues, teachers, family, and neighbors who welcomed him back.
The AFI Life Achievement Award is the highest honor given by the American Film Institute. Previous recipients include Orson Welles, Bette Davis, Alfred Hitchcock, Gene Kelly, Sidney Poitier, Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, and Denzel Washington. Last year, Nicole Kidman received the honor.
The AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Francis Ford Coppola will be televised on TNT on June 18, 2025, with an encore airing on TCM on a later date.
Coppola’s notable filmography includes not only “The Godfather” trilogy but also “The Conversation,” “Apocalypse Now,” and “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.” His recent film, “Megalopolis,” was self-financed and released earlier this year to mixed reviews, though many critics praised his continued artistic ambition.
The tribute event also included a posthumous Franklin J. Schaffner alumni medal tribute to director David Lynch, who praised the AFI for helping filmmakers discover their unique cinematic voice.
Spike Lee, another director in attendance, shared that he still has his ticket stub from when he was first in line to see “Apocalypse Now” when it opened in 1979. He described the experience as profoundly impactful.
