All 3 Godfather Movies, Ranked Worst to Best

The strongest worst-to-best order is The Godfather Part III, The Godfather Part II, then The Godfather. The first film is the most complete and compelling entry; Part II is a close second whose sweeping structure gives it a strong case for the top spot. This ranking is an argument, not an objective verdict.

3. The Godfather Part III (1990)

In the trilogy’s closing chapter, an older Michael Corleone tries to separate his family from crime and secure a legitimate successor. That aim gives the film a natural place in the saga, but the story’s effort to resolve Michael’s past and set up a new generation can feel less focused than the earlier films’ central conflicts. Rotten Tomatoes’ critics’ aggregate registered 67% for the film on October 4, 2026, the lowest of the three scores in the snapshot; the site’s consensus also points to underwhelming performances and a confused tone.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		The Godfather Trilogy [Blu-ray]	$38.10	Buy on Amazon
2		The Godfather Coppola Restoration [Blu-ray] [1972] [Region Free]	$32.99	Buy on Amazon
3		The Japanese Godfather Trilogy [Blu-ray]	$35.72	Buy on Amazon
4		The Godfather Trilogy [Blu-ray] [2022] [Region Free]	$40.87	Buy on Amazon
5		The Godfather Trilogy [Blu-ray] [2022] [Region Free]	$94.96	Buy on Amazon

For viewers revisiting the finale, The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone is Coppola’s 2020 recut of Part III, not a fourth film. Paramount describes it as a new edit and restoration, with changes to the opening and ending as well as scenes, shots, and music cues. Coppola called it “a more appropriate conclusion to The Godfather and The Godfather: Part II,” in words reproduced on Paramount’s official Coda page.

2. The Godfather Part II (1974)

Part II tells two stories at once: Michael’s later reign and the early life and rise of his father, Vito. The parallel timelines make the film more formally ambitious than its predecessor, connecting the family’s origins to Michael’s increasingly isolated rule. That structure is also why some viewers may rank it first: it expands the saga while deepening its central themes of power, inheritance, and personal cost.

#1 Best Overall

The Godfather Trilogy [Blu-ray]

• The disk has French audio and subtitles.

$38.10

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It lands second here because the original has a more self-contained arc, while Part II’s scale depends on the first film’s foundations. Paramount lists a 200-minute runtime and six Academy Awards, including Best Picture of 1974, on its film page. Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer was 96% on October 4, 2026.

1. The Godfather (1972)

The original earns the top spot through the clarity and force of Michael’s transformation: he begins reluctant to enter the family business and becomes its most consequential leader as power passes from Vito. The film establishes the trilogy’s moral and emotional center, yet it also works as a complete story on its own. That combination gives it the edge over Part II’s greater structural ambition.

Rank #3

The Japanese Godfather Trilogy [Blu-ray]

• A sprawling epic based on the true story of Japan's largest crime syndicate, featuring a cast of genre legends

$35.72

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Paramount identifies Mario Puzo’s novel as the source material and lists a 175-minute runtime and three Academy Awards, including Best Picture of 1972, on its film page. Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer was 97% on October 4, 2026—one percentage point above Part II in that dated snapshot.

How the ranking weighs the trilogy

• Story structure: Part II’s dual timeline is the boldest design, but the original’s focused arc is more immediately complete.
• Michael’s trajectory: The first film makes his transformation the trilogy’s defining movement; Part II follows the consequences of that change.
• Standalone strength: The original can be experienced as a full story without requiring a sequel to finish its central arc.
• Closure: Part III gives the saga an ending, but its attempt to resolve Michael’s legacy is less assured than the earlier films’ storytelling.

The Tomatometer percentages above are critics’ aggregate scores, not audience ratings or a universal measure of quality. Rotten Tomatoes scores can change, so the figures describe its title pages as observed on October 4, 2026.

Rank #4

The Godfather Trilogy [Blu-ray] [2022] [Region Free]

$40.87

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Which versions to watch

Paramount’s 50th-anniversary trilogy collection describes restored 4K UHD versions with HDR-10 and Dolby Vision. Its bonus discs include both the theatrical and 1991 cuts of Part III, alongside Coda. Packaging, stock, and regional compatibility may vary; check the current listing for the edition available where you live. Paramount’s collection page is here.

All three films are based on Mario Puzo’s work; the original film’s Paramount page identifies the novel as its source. Streaming availability depends on region and can change, so check local platform catalogs for current options.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1

The Godfather Trilogy [Blu-ray]

The disk has French audio and subtitles.

$38.10

Bestseller No. 2

The Godfather Coppola Restoration [Blu-ray] [1972] [Region Free]

Collectors Edition Godfather Blu-Ray Set; Excluxive Collectors Edition Box Not Found In Stores

$32.99

Bestseller No. 3

The Japanese Godfather Trilogy [Blu-ray]

$35.72

Bestseller No. 4

The Godfather Trilogy [Blu-ray] [2022] [Region Free]

$40.87

Bestseller No. 5

The Godfather Trilogy [Blu-ray] [2022] [Region Free]

$94.96

Best Value

The Godfather Trilogy [Blu-ray] [2022] [Region Free]

$94.96

Buy on Amazon

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.