Through the years, Francis Ford Coppola has been seen as a master, genius, crazy, overpraised, and everything in between. Whatever anyone thinks, one thing is for sure – Coppola is an artist.
He undoubtedly takes massive risks, but that’s what makes him an artist even more. And this is best seen via his films. Therefore, let’s make a Francis Ford Coppola films list by ranking his best movies. The list is made according to my tastes.
The Rain People
One of Coppola’s earliest personal films, The Rain People, explores loneliness, freedom, and the search for identity. It’s a quiet, introspective road movie with emotional depth and humanity that would define his later masterpieces.
What makes this film even more interesting is the cast, including Jimmy Caan and Robert DuVall. No one knew that only three years later, Coppola, Caan, and DuVall would collaborate again and create one of the best and favorite movies ever, The Godfather.
The Rainmaker
In The Rainmaker, Coppola adapts John Grisham’s legal thriller into something more heartfelt and character-driven. Here, Francis showcases his knack for storytelling and his ability to bring out strong performances, especially from Matt Damon and Danny DeVito.
Even though praised by film critics, The Rainmaker wasn’t received with the same enthusiasm by audiences. Therefore, it didn’t have great box-office success. However, no one can deny its quality, and if you love legal dramas, you should put this film on your watchlist.
The Outsiders
A faithful and stylish adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s beloved novel, The Outsiders, captures the angst and loyalty of youth. With its ensemble of future top actors, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, and others, it became a coming-of-age cult classic.
Released in 1983, it was interesting to see Coppola take on a coming-of-age subject after his massive success in worldwide cinema with his previous masterpieces. Years later, it’s still one of the best teen dramas ever made.
Rumble Fish
There are only a few great film directors who can make two excellent movies simultaneously, and Coppola is undoubtedly one of them. Released the same year as The Outsiders, Rumble Fish is its moody, artistic sibling. Filmed in stunning black-and-white, it’s one of Coppola’s most experimental works.
Rumble Fish is a dreamlike view of time, identity, and brotherhood. Unlike The Outsiders, it wasn’t a box office success, but it was critically acclaimed and became a classic over time. And it’s not surprising considering its cast, including Matt Dillon, Mickey Rourke, Diane Lance, Dennis Hopper, to name a few.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
Bram Stoker’s and Coppola’s Dracula is a gothic feast that’s visually extravagant, romantic, and unapologetically theatrical. It’s a film that takes the vampire myth seriously while infusing it with sensuality and tragedy, anchored by Gary Oldman’s unforgettable performance.
Arguably, it’s the best Dracula movie ever made, or at least the most authentic one. It was a box office success, and it also won three Oscars for costume design, effects, and makeup. Remember, this was in 1992, a time when this sort of movie wasn’t receiving praise like today, but Coppola made it happen anyway.
The Conversation
If you know anything about Coppola, you’ll know that, paradoxically, he didn’t want to direct The Godfather movies. He did it out of financial necessity, and yet he made legendary films. Now, the interesting thing is that between them, he finally made his passion project, The Conversation. This immediately proved his versatility as a director.
It’s a haunting psychological thriller, starring Gene Hackman as a surveillance expert unraveling under the weight of paranoia and guilt. John Cazale is also excellent in the role of Stan. It’s considered Coppola’s most introspective and thematically rich movie.
The Godfather Part III
Although sometimes unfairly overshadowed by its predecessors, The Godfather: Part III offers a realistic, tragic conclusion to Michael Corleone’s saga. It’s a reflective, mature work about the cost of power and the impossibility of redemption after so many sins. Additionally, it makes Michael one of the best-written movie characters ever.
It’s also a masterpiece, and you will enjoy it as such if you put aside the critics and comments like ‘Coppola shouldn’t have made a third part.’ Watch it as a single movie, apart from its predecessors, and you’ll feel its power. Also, it arguably has the best editing scene for the end of a film, ever.
Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now is an epic descent into madness. Coppola’s Vietnam War masterpiece blends Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness with surreal imagery and astonishing ambition. It’s a monumental achievement in filmmaking – chaotic, beautiful, and unforgettable. The cast is undoubtedly phenomenal, including Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert DuVall, Dennis Hopper, and even a very young Laurence Fishburne.
However, what makes this film even more epic are the filming stories behind the scenes. Luckily, Coppola’s wife, Eleanor, made a documentary about it, titled Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse. Make sure to watch both the movie and the doc.
The Godfather Part II
Arguably the greatest sequel ever made, The Godfather: Part II deepens the tragedy of the Corleone family by showing Michael’s struggles with Vito’s rise. It’s a powerful example of family, legacy, and corruption, executed with masterful precision. Also, Al Pacino establishes himself as an actor who can take the lead.
Unfortunately, some people perceive it as only a gangster movie about powerful criminals. But it’s much more than that, especially because Coppola metaphorically addresses the cons of capitalism.
The Godfather
Number one on the Francis Ford Coppola Films list is, of course, The Godfather. Both by critics and audiences, it’s considered one of the best and most influential films in cinema history, and rightfully so.
This movie transformed the gangster genre into art, which also makes it revolutionary. In simple terms, what Marlon Brando did for acting via A Streetcar Named Desire, Coppola did for directing via The Godfather. It’s a tale of power, family, destiny, and everything in between.
Every frame, every line, every performance is iconic. Oh, and let’s not even begin about the music.
Final Words on The Francis Ford Coppola Films List
Coppola’s filmography is a journey through genius, ambition, and risk. He’s a filmmaker who refuses to play it safe, and even his lesser-loved works have creativity and passion. Whether it’s the intimate character studies or grand epics, His films remind us that cinema is at its best when it dares to dream big.
If there is one director who isn’t afraid to risk it all, both artistically and financially, it’s Coppola. And that’s what makes him an artist even more. We’ve come to the end of this article, and I hope you enjoyed this Francis Ford Coppola films list. If you want to continue reading, here are my other blog posts.
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