‘One of the greatest films of all time’ with legendary cast now streaming on Amazon Prime

One of the most influential films of all time, with a legendary ensemble cast, is now streaming on Amazon Prime.

First released in 1972, The Godfather stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton.

The gangster drama has been hailed as one of the greatest movies of all time, and Prime Video subscribers can watch it at no extra cost.

Based on Mario Puzo's bestselling novel of the same name, the film follows mafia boss Don Vito Corleone (Brando) as he sets out to hand over the crime empire to his son Michael (Pacino). Viewers are thrown straight into the deep end with Michael and journey through three hours of mob violence.

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Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the action film premiered to widespread acclaim and received 11 Oscar nominations. Marlon Brando won the Best Actor in a Leading Role award, while Mario Puzo and Coppola were honored for their writing. Additionally, the film won the prestigious Best Picture award.

Its critical reception was similarly positive. Vincent Canby of The New York Times praised the director, stating: "Francis Ford Coppola has made one of the most brutal and moving chronicles of American life ever designed within the limits of popular entertainment."

Retrospective reviewers are just as impressed with the drama, with Empire Magazine crowning it number one in its 2017 list of the '100 Greatest Movies of All Time.'

The film boasts a 97 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics' consensus states, "The Godfather gets everything right; not only did the movie exceed expectations, it set new benchmarks for American cinema."

While The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw believes the film has stood the test of time. He stated: "Francis Ford Coppola’s first film in the series is still an epic, full of hypnotic acting, which reinvented mafia criminals as players in a dynastic psychodrama."

If you have six hours to spare, Prime has also added The Godfather Part II to its catalogue.

The Godfather and The Godfather Part II are available to stream on Prime Video