The Godfather was a commercially successful film that earned over $128 million in profits. It stars Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone and Al Pacino as his son Michael. Critics praised the performances and viewed it as influential, helping establish the mafia crime genre. While some debate whether The Godfather or Goodfellas is superior, both are typically considered the best films in their genre. The Godfather was meticulously filmed on location in New York and Sicily to capture authenticity.