The actors who starred in The Godfather trilogy have had very successful careers outside of Francis Ford Coppola’s masterful crime saga, and their best movies prove that. The cast of The Godfather was filled with both established actors and new stars that the trilogy created. The actors who made The Godfather work proved time and again that it wasn’t just the franchise’s incredible scripts and legendary directing that made it one of the best movies of all time, but also their performances.
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The sheer range and quality of movies that the stars of The Godfather made after their time with the Corleone family is quite impressive. From some of the best romantic comedies ever made to iconic sports movies, legendary war dramas, and even horror films, there was essentially no limit to what the cast could accomplish. Still, however, only 10 films can be considered the best of each of The Godfather‘s actors’ careers outside the franchise. These 10 more than stepped out of The Godfather‘s shadow, and they made quite a name for themselves and their actors.
10 Al Pacino – Heat (1995)
Pacino’s Vincent Hanna Is A Much More Intense & Unnerving Performance Than Michael
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The Godfather turned Al Pacino into one of the most recognizable and beloved actors in Hollywood, so it’s no surprise that he has a long list of great movies that came after 1972. Of Al Pacino’s best movies, however, there’s one that stands out among the rest, both because of its quality on its own and because of how different his role in it is from Michael Corleone. In 1995’s Heat, Pacino played Vincent Hanna, a high-strung and intensely unnerving LAPD detective tasked with tracking down Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) and Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer), two professional thieves.
What makes Heat the best Al Pacino movie outside The Godfather trilogy is its ability to showcase the actor’s more ostentatious acting abilities.
What makes Heat the best Al Pacino movie outside The Godfather trilogy is its ability to showcase the actor’s more ostentatious acting abilities. As Michael, Pacino was able to show he could command a scene with nothing more than nuance, subtlety, and a well-tempered performance. As Vincent, Pacino proved he could command a scene through sheer force, and that his screams and eccentric facial movements could combine to make an endlessly compelling character. Pacino’s role in Heat couldn’t be more different from The Godfather, and it proves just how much range he has.
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9 Marlon Brando – Apocalypse Now (1979)
Brando’s Filmography Is Filled With Classics, But Apocalypse Now Comes Closest To The Godfather
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Quite a few actors who appeared in The Godfather trilogy also appear on the list of the best actors of all time. Marlon Brando is one such entry, and he proved he belonged on that list well before and well after his Oscar-winning performance in The Godfather. One of the best examples of why Brando is considered one of the greats is Apocalypse Now, another Francis Ford Coppola film. As Colonel Walter E. Kurtz, Brando commanded even more darkness than Vito Corleone did, and he sealed the dark view of the atrocities of war that Apocalypse Now was trying to convey.
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In one key way, The Godfather and Apocalypse Now are very similar movies for Brando. In both films, he appeared in about 15 minutes of screen time, yet he stole the show in both. With just a few scenes as Vito, Brando was able to secure a Best Actor win, and with just a few minutes as Kurtz, he was able to deliver one of the greatest monologs in film history. Both Apocalypse Now and The Godfather showed that Brando was one of the most efficient and effective actors to ever take to the screen.
8 James Caan – Misery (1990)
Though Kathy Bates Stole The Show, Caan Was Superb In Misery
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Stephen King’s Misery launched Kathy Bates’ career, for good reason, but it also featured a stunning performance from James Caan. Bates gets most of the recognition for playing Annie Wilkes, the obsessive, unnerving, and hauntingly frightening stalker. Caan, however, also deserved his flowers for playing novelist Paul Sheldon, and for giving Bates the room she needed to make Annie such an iconic horror villain. It’s hard to quantify the ability to make another actor better, but that’s an important part of acting that Caan absolutely nailed in Misery.
It’s hard to quantify the ability to make another actor better, but that’s an important part of acting that Caan absolutely nailed in
Misery
.
Misery also gave Caan a chance to broaden the outer limits of his range. For years both before and after The Godfather, Caan was known for Westerns like El Dorado, comedies like Silent Movie, and actioners like Rollerball. His performance in Misery, however, showed that he could do much more than tough and funny guys: he could play a horror victim and keep up with the best to ever do it. Caan’s growing fear and desperation made Misery work, and there are very few actors who were up to the task other than him.
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7 Diane Keaton – Annie Hall (1977)
Keaton Worked Extensively With Woody Allen To Great Effect
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Diane Keaton had a close relationship with comedy legend Woody Allen throughout the 1970s, and the best product of their partnership was Annie Hall. In one of the best romantic comedies ever made, Keaton played the eponymous Annie Hall, Alvy Singer’s (Allen) former lover. Keaton’s performance as Annie was incredibly real, human, and endlessly endearing, and Annie Hall is often touted as her greatest film, sometimes even above The Godfather. That’s a bold claim, and while Annie Hall isn’t a better movie than The Godfather, it may well be a better Keaton performance.
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Another reason Annie Hall is one of Diane Keaton’s best movies, aside from her performance, is how special it was among the romantic comedy genre. Annie Hall features a wildly original format of showing Alvy reexamining his relationship with Annie after it has ended, and it features an equally original and bittersweet ending of the two agreeing that they’re not right for each other. It was a special moment in the history of rom-coms, and for that alone, it’s one of Diane Keaton’s best works outside The Godfather trilogy.
6 Richard Bright – Once Upon A Time In America (1984)
Bright Played Al Neri In All Three Godfather Movies & Chicken Joe In Once Upon A Time In America
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Most people may not recognize Richard Bright among the cast of The Godfather, but he was one of the few actors to appear in all three films in the trilogy. Bright played Al Neri, one of the most underrated and important parts of Michael’s rise to power. It’s fitting, then, that Bright also played an underrated role in Sergio Leone’s gangster epic Once Upon a Time in America. Bright portrayed hitman Chicken Joe, and Once Upon a Time in America actually gave him a chance to showcase his acting talents and put his reputation as a tough guy to good use.
Even though he’s not the most prominent character in Once Upon a Time in America, Richard Bright used his screen time to tremendous effect.
Even though he’s not the most prominent character in Once Upon a Time in America, Richard Bright used his screen time to tremendous effect. From his introduction of trying to burn a man to death to his drive-by shooting, Chicken Joe was a great part of the movie. It highlights something The Godfather trilogy understood: even just a little bit of Bright goes a long way. He was a master of elevating a scene just through his presence, and Once Upon a Time in America showed that almost as well as The Godfather did.
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5 Talia Shire – Rocky (1976)
Shire’s Career Lost No Momentum Thanks To The Rocky Franchise
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Talia Shire is one of the few actors in The Godfather who was in another equally successful franchise later on. Shire appeared in five of the Rocky movies as Adrian Balboa, the eponymous boxer’s love interest and later wife. The original Rocky, however, was probably Shire’s best performance in the franchise. The beginning of Adrian’s relationship with Rocky saw her shy, timid, and withdrawn and ended with her being daring enough to run out into the ring and embrace him. It was a great transformation in Adrian, and Shire’s acting made it work.
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Shire’s performance as Adrian also rivaled her work in The Godfather trilogy because it showcased such a different side of the actor. Connie changed quite a bit over the course of the three films, and not necessarily for the best, as she eventually became one of the Corleone family’s dons for a time. Adrian, on the other hand, only got better as Rocky continued, and Shire was able to show that she can act just as well in a wholesome role as she can in a gritty and dark performance.
4 John Cazale – The Deer Hunter (1978)
The Deer Hunter Finished Out Cazale’s Impressive 5-Movie Run
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John Cazale had one of the most impressive acting streaks ever, and the trend that started with The Godfather ended with The Deer Hunter. Of the five feature-length films Cazale appeared in, all five of them were nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. That makes it hard to pick just one of Cazale’s movies to call the best other than The Godfather, but The Deer Hunter eked out its competition. Alongside Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, and Robert De Niro, Cazale created a masterful exploration of PTSD, the price of war, and the effect it has on people who never even saw a gunfight.
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John Cazale’s Best Picture Nominated Movies |
|
|---|---|
|
Title |
Role |
|
The Godfather |
Fredo |
|
The Conversation |
Stan |
|
The Godfather Part II |
Fredo |
|
Dog Day Afternoon |
Sal |
|
The Deer Hunter |
Stan |
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As for Cazale personally, The Deer Hunter was also impressive in a few key ways. While his role as Stanley was as smarmy and weasely as his role as Fredo, Cazale proved once again that he could play the role well. The Deer Hunter also gave Cazale a chance to show much bigger and more emphatic emotions than The Godfather did, such as when De Niro’s character nearly shoots him in the head. Plus, rounding out such a historic acting streak is no small feat, but The Deer Hunter brought Cazale’s record home in spectacular fashion.
3 Robert Duvall – The Great Santini (1979)
Duvall’s Performance As Bull Meechum Is Often Cited As One Of His Best
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The Great Santini PGDrama
The Great Santini is a comedy-drama film directed by Lewis John Carlino, based on the novel by Pat Conroy. The film follows Bull Meechum, a charismatic and self-centered ex-fighter pilot, played by Robert Duvall, as he moves his family to a small South Carolina town, where his antics and obsessions lead to humorous and poignant consequences.
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*Availability in US Director Lewis John Carlino Release Date October 26, 1979 Studio(s) Bing Crosby Productions , Orion Pictures , Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Lewis John Carlino Cast Robert Duvall , Blythe Danner , Michael O’Keefe , Lisa Jane Persky , Julie Anne Haddock Runtime 115 Minutes Budget 4000000.0 Main Genre Drama Expand
The list of Robert Duvall’s best movies is quite long, and features quite a few compelling films to choose from. Arguably one of his best performances after The Godfather, however, was in The Great Santini, where he played Bull Meechum. Duvall’s performance as Meechum was a far cry from the calculating and logical role Tom Hagen played as the Corleone family’s consigliere, but he expertly conveyed Meechum’s eccentricities. In fact, Meechum’s personality is so distant from Tom’s that it seems like they’re played by two different actors, which is entirely due to Duvall’s acting skills.
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Duvall’s performance as Meechum was so different from the roles he normally played, from the authoritative and often morally ambiguous characters he’s known for.
While Duvall does have some impressive roles under his belt, such as Euliss Dewey in The Apostle and Bill Kilgore in Apocalypse Now, his role in The Great Santini brought something to the table that his other movies didn’t. Duvall’s performance as Meechum was so different from the roles he normally played, from the authoritative and often morally ambiguous characters he’s known for. It’s also one of Duvall’s most heartwarming and simultaneously heartbreaking films, which is an accomplishment that deserves credit.
2 Andy Garcia – Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Garcia Played Casino Owner Terry Benedict In George Clooney & Brad Pitt’s Heist Movie
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Andy Garcia joined The Godfather in the trilogy’s final movie, but despite his late arrival, he would still go on to make a few acclaimed movies after. One of his best and most beloved movies was Ocean’s Eleven, the George Clooney and Brad Pitt-led heist movie where Garcia played Terry Benedict. Terry was the target of the heist both due to the casino he owned and operated and because he was in a relationship with Tess (Julia Roberts), Danny Ocean’s (Clooney) ex-wife.
Garcia is a thoroughly compelling and intimidating villain in
Ocean’s Eleven
, and the heist movie essentially works as proof that he could have played the don of the Corleone family to tremendous effect, if The Godfather Part III had only given him more time.
Part of why Ocean’s Eleven is such a great Andy Garcia movie is because it accomplished what The Godfather Part III failed to in many ways. As Terry, Garcia was able to play a mobster-adjacent role that wasn’t overshadowed by Al Pacino’s presence and wasn’t held back by outside factors. Garcia is a thoroughly compelling and intimidating villain in Ocean’s Eleven, and the heist movie essentially works as proof that he could have played the don of the Corleone family to tremendous effect, if The Godfather Part III had only given him more time.
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1 Robert De Niro – Goodfellas (1990)
De Niro Is Responsible For Some Of The Best Gangster Movies Of All Time
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Robert De Niro is one of the most acclaimed actors of all time, so it’s not easy to pick one of his films that’s just as good as The Godfather Part II. From gangster movies like Casino to dramas like Raging Bull and Taxi Driver, there’s more than enough gold in De Niro’s filmography. Goodfellas, however, is possibly De Niro’s next best gangster movie after The Godfather Part II, which is really saying something. The fact that he could star in not one, but two of the best gangster movies ever made is endlessly impressive, and it shows just how dominant of an actor De Niro is.
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De Niro’s performance as Jimmy Conway in Goodfellas also gave him a chance to completely reinvent the idea of a gangster that he had helped create with The Godfather Part II. Gone was the stoic, almost emotionless young Vito Corleone, and he had been replaced by a nervous, emotional, and human man who cared about his friends and feared for his life and safety. It was a stellar performance that was only bolstered by the way it elevated both Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta, and it’s arguably Robert De Niro’s best movie outside The Godfather trilogy.
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The Godfather
The Godfather is one of the most iconic and influential film franchises in cinematic history. Based on Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel of the same name, the series chronicles the rise and fall of the powerful Corleone crime family. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the franchise consists of three films that explore the complex dynamics of organized crime, loyalty, and family. The films are celebrated for their outstanding performances, direction, and thematic depth, especially regarding power, betrayal, and morality within the Mafia world. The first two films, in particular, are widely regarded as some of the greatest films ever made.
Created by Mario Puzo , Francis Ford Coppola First Film The Godfather Latest Film The Godfather Part III Cast Marlon Brando , Al Pacino , James Caan , Robert Duvall , Diane Keaton , John Cazale , Talia Shire , Andy Garcia , Sofia Coppola Character(s) Vito Corleone , Michael Corleone , Sonny Corleone , Fredo Corleone , Kay Adams , Tom Hagen , Connie Corleone , Vincent Corleone , Peter Clemenza , Salvatore Tessio Video Game(s) The Godfather
Summary
The Godfather is one of the most iconic and influential film franchises in cinematic history. Based on Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel of the same name, the series chronicles the rise and fall of the powerful Corleone crime family. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the franchise consists of three films that explore the complex dynamics of organized crime, loyalty, and family. The films are celebrated for their outstanding performances, direction, and thematic depth, especially regarding power, betrayal, and morality within the Mafia world. The first two films, in particular, are widely regarded as some of the greatest films ever made.
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