Jumping The Shark: 9 Franchise Derailing Films

7. The Godfather Part III

Perhaps the greatest drop in quality for a film franchise in history, the Godfather Part III teaches a valuable lesson to all aspiring directors who are fathers: just because you think your little girl is the greatest doesn't mean you should let her costar in a sequel to two films widely considered among the greatest ever made.

Francis Ford Coppola's decision to cast his own daughter in his trilogy capper predetermined it would be a disaster before the cameras started rolling, but many baffling choices helped to wax the skis and insure the series' third installment cleanly jumped the shark: for starters, the terrible old age makeup on Al Pacino in the film's final scene, the convoluted and outlandish plot, and the disheartening lack of Robert Duvall.

It's too bad that such a wonderful series had to go out with such a whimper but hopefully Hollywood will get the trilogy right when the inevitable Godfather reboot hits theaters. I'm willing to bet Ryan Reynolds lands the part of Vito Corleone.