So, you’re looking for a straight answer on how many Godfather movies were there. If you ask a casual fan, they’ll say three. If you ask a film historian or someone who spent way too much time in the “Special Features” menu of a DVD in 2004, they might start counting on both hands and mumbling about chronological re-edits and 2020 directors' cuts.
The short version? There are three primary films. But honestly, if you want to actually see everything Francis Ford Coppola shot, the rabbit hole goes much deeper than a simple trilogy.
The Core Trilogy: The Movies Everyone Knows
Basically, the "official" count is three. These are the theatrical releases that defined American cinema, won a mountain of Oscars, and made sure no one ever looks at a cannoli or an orange the same way again.
- The Godfather (1972): The one that started it all. Marlon Brando as Vito, the introduction of Michael Corleone, and that haunting Nino Rota score. It’s perfect.
- The Godfather Part II (1974): Often called the greatest sequel ever made. It’s both a prequel (Robert De Niro as young Vito) and a sequel (Al Pacino’s Michael losing his soul).
- The Godfather Part III (1990): The black sheep. Released sixteen years after the second one, it follows an aging Michael trying to go "legit" through the Vatican. People have... feelings about this one. Usually not great ones.
The 2020 Re-edit: Is It a Fourth Movie?
In 2020, Coppola did something kinda bold. He went back to the much-maligned third film and completely overhauled it. He renamed it The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone.
Is it a new movie? No. But it’s not just a "deleted scenes" version either.
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Coppola rearranged the beginning and the ending. He trimmed the dialogue to make his daughter Sofia’s performance a bit tighter. The new title actually reflects what he and author Mario Puzo wanted to call it originally—an epilogue rather than a "Part III." If you’re counting "distinct viewing experiences," a lot of fans treat Coda as its own beast because it changes the emotional landing of the entire saga.
The Godfather "Epics" and TV Versions
This is where the math gets weird. Back in the late 70s, Coppola needed cash to finish Apocalypse Now. To raise the funds, he sold a special version of the first two movies to NBC.
It was called The Godfather Saga (1977).
This wasn’t just the two movies played back-to-back. Coppola’s team took all the footage from Part I and Part II and edited it into chronological order. It starts with young Vito in Sicily in 1901 and moves forward linearly until the end of the 1950s.
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They also added back about 75 minutes of deleted scenes that weren't in the theaters. You see more of the hit on Don Fanucci; you see Michael’s revenge on the men who killed his first wife in Sicily. Over the years, this has been released under different names:
- The Godfather: The Complete Epic
- The Godfather: A Novel for Television
- The Godfather Trilogy: 1901–1980 (This one includes the third movie tacked onto the end of the chronological cut).
So, if you see a box set that looks like it has ten hours of footage, you’re likely looking at one of these "Epics." It’s the same story, just told in a completely different rhythm.
What About Godfather 4?
You might have seen some "concept trailers" on YouTube with Leonardo DiCaprio or Robert De Niro looking grumpy in a suit. Those are fake. Total fan-made clickbait.
There was, however, a real plan for a fourth movie. Coppola and Mario Puzo talked about a story that mirrored Part II—half the movie would follow Vincent Corleone (Andy Garcia) running the family into the ground in the 80s/90s, while the other half would be a prequel showing Sonny Corleone’s rise in the 1930s.
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When Puzo died in 1999, Coppola killed the project. He felt he couldn't do it without his partner. The prequel portions of that idea eventually turned into a novel called The Family Corleone by Ed Falco, but as far as the silver screen goes, it’s a dead end.
Summary of the "Watchable" Versions
If you want to be a completionist, here is your checklist:
- The Theatrical Trilogy: Part I, Part II, Part III.
- The "Coda" Cut: The 2020 version of Part III.
- The Epic: The 7-hour chronological cut (if you can find it on streaming or old media).
Honestly, the best way to experience it is to start with the first two theatrical films. They are masterpieces for a reason. Once you’ve finished those, decide if you want the "clunky but classic" 1990 ending or the "leaner and meaner" 2020 Coda ending.
To get started with the best possible experience, look for the 4K Restored Trilogy released for the 50th anniversary; it includes both versions of the third film and looks better than the movies ever did in the 70s.