When Is It Too Late For A Movie Sequel?

The Godfather Part III (1990)

It cannot be denied that 1972’s The Godfather, and 1974’s The Godfather: Part II are cinematic classics. Quickly reaching legendary status, the story of an organized crime dynasty and the transfer of power from father to son cemented the reputations of both filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, and lead actor Al Pacino. Quite why the pair felt the need to return to the premise and characters to tell a third chapter sixteen years later, remains a mystery, however.

The first chapter is set shortly after World War II, and has aging Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) hand over control of the family business to his reluctant son Michael (Al Pacino), as a mafia war develops between rival operations. The second chapter sets out the development of Michael as head of the family in the 1950s, as he moves to expand the business into new ventures, as well as the historical story of his father’s childhood and rise to power.

The Godfather: Part III is set in the late 1970s and sees the now aging Michael reflecting on his life, the tragedies he has precipitated, and the nature of his legacy. He has transformed the family business into a legal enterprise, and associates it with the Catholic Church and the Vatican through charitable works and donations. With a view to eventually retreating from his position at the head of the table, Michael begins to take a protégé under his wing, but the actions of others threaten to derail his route to legitimacy.

Then – spoiler alert – after watching him navigate all these twists and turns, while facing threat after threat, we simply watch him die of old age. This almost reflects how we feel once we’ve reached the end of this late sequel.