10 Movies SIGNIFICANTLY Better Than The Book
2. The Godfather
First published in 1969, Mario Puzo's novel about the Corleone crime family and their war with the five families of New York introduced many Italian words to the English language, including consigliere and caporegime. It gave the world Don Vito Corleone, one of the most popular and influential characters in literary history.
Puzo was involved in the making of the 1972 film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. With infamously outstanding performances by all involved, the film is a triumph not just of storytelling, but also in battling with the studio. Coppola was challenged at almost every step of the way by Paramount Pictures, something which led to his having grave misgivings about returning for a sequel.
However, the impact of the film needs little introduction. It is the gold standard of mafia films and Marlon Brando's Don Vito is one of the most iconic characters in cinema history. Almost every scene of the film contains another quote that is used in the modern vernacular, though making someone an offer they can't refuse must be one of the best known of all.
This is an example of an excellent novel being elevated by the toil of every person behind the scenes of the film. It was a family affair, so influential that it is frequently cited as one of the greatest films of all time. It is also the recipient of one of the best sequels of all time, the first and for the longest time only sequel to win Best Film at the Academy Awards.