Steven Spielberg Calls ‘The Godfather’ the ‘Greatest American Film Ever Made’ at Francis Ford Coppola AFI Life Achievement Award Ceremony

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Hollywood legends gathered Saturday night to celebrate Francis Ford Coppola as he received the prestigious AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the American Film Institute.

Steven Spielberg and George Lucas presented Coppola with the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award.

Spielberg called Coppola "fearless." Spielberg, who first met Coppola in 1967, said, "On one hand, you are a warrior for independent artists, you always champion their causes, but also, and always, you're fearless in how open you are to ideas, opinions and inspiration."

He recalled watching an early cut of "Apocalypse Now," which was five hours long, with other filmmakers. "When the film ended, you asked us to tell you what we saw, how we felt. You invited all of us in, so one by one, we told you where we were lost and where we were found, and I sat there in awe, learning that leaving yourself open and searching was, in fact, your superpower."

Spielberg went on to say, "'The Godfather,' for me, is the greatest American film ever made. Many artists can and do take a bow from their work on a page, on a canvas, on a screen, but our applause for you Francis, is from a different kind of audience. When we're young, it's our parents we want to make proud, and then it's our friends, and then it's our colleagues, and finally, it's our peers, but you, sir, are peerless." Spielberg said, "You have taken what came before and redefined the canon of American film, and in so doing, you've inspired a generation of storytellers who want to make you proud of their work, proud of our work, and I always want to make you proud of my work."

Steven Spielberg calls "The Godfather" "the greatest American film ever made." @AmericanFilmpic.twitter.com/snRPyC4Vtl — Jazz Tangcay (@jazzt) April 27, 2025

Lucasreminisced about his lifelong bond with the "Apocalypse Now" director - the two first met when Lucas shadowed Coppola on the set of his film "Finian's Rainbow" in 1968. Lucas called Coppola his hero. Said Lucas, "When I was 22, he taught me, don't be afraid of jumping off cliffs. And I've lived with that the rest of my life, although I don't go to the higher level that he does."

Lucas and Spielberg then presented Coppola with the AFI Life Achievement Award. Coppola was moved by the tributes that had been bestowed.

In his speech, Coppola reflected on memories with friends and family. "There are the empty lots I played in, most gone with new buildings I don't recognize. So many friends and neighbors returning my smiles, that kid who wouldn't let me be on his team now and still throwing the ball in his club, and so many others I remember, all grow older, but still somehow the same. One young friend, as tall and strong as he used to be. No, that's his son, the little boy he used to carry on his shoulders." He continued, "There's a stoop where my family used to sit on hot summer nights and drink beer, but where's the old nickel vending machine, which dispensed the first cashew nut I ever tasted? All my uncles, my aunts, everyone's still here, out there. Some giving me a welcome wave or blowing me a kiss. What a pull on my heart. Faces I knew and loved. Some I feared, some helpful, encouraging, and those I felt wronged me, but they had their own reasons, and I forgive them one more, because I've learned that the only person really impossible to forgive is yourself."

Coppola ended by saying, "Now I understand here, this place that created me, my home, isn't really a place at all, but you, friends, colleagues, teachers, playmates, family, neighbors, all the beautiful faces are welcoming me back, because I am and will always be nothing more than one of you."

Coppola was visibly moved by tributes from Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Adam Driver, Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, Dustin Hoffman, Ron Howard, C. Thomas Howell, Diane Lane, Spike Lee and Ralph Macchio.

"The Godfather" actors De Niro and Pacino took to the stage to honor Coppola. "You changed my life," De Niro said. Pacino echoed those sentiments honoring him for his trailblazing vision. Pacino said, "Francis just fought for us for a long time. He fought for his film and his vision, which he always does." Pacino thanked Coppola for "believing in me even more than I believed in myself."

Hoffman was one of the many actors who praised Coppola for his unique ability to recognize and nurture talent. Hoffman told the audience how Coppola fought for stars like Diane Keaton, Al Pacino, Talia Shire, James Caan and more. "By casting them, you have them the opportunity of a lifetime." Hoffman, who starred in "Megalopolis" joked, "Unfortunately, you waited until I was 86."

Coppola cemented himself as one of the great auteurs thanks to his impressive output of films including "The Godfather" sequels, "The Conversation," "Apocalypse Now" and "Bram Stoker's Dracula."

Earlier in the evening, The Franklin J. Schaffner alumni medal tribute was given posthumously to David Lynch. In a video recorded before his death, Lynch said, "AFI is learning by experiencing and analyzing cinema history and learning by doing." Lynch continued, "AFI helps you find your own unique cinema voice and AFI champions your voice ringing out. I love AFI."

The annual event took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. A televised special of the gala, "The 50th AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Francis Ford Coppola," will premiere on TNT with an encore airing on TCM at a later date.

First awarded in 1973, other past AFI Life Achievement Award honorees include Orson Welles, Bette Davis, Alfred Hitchcock, Gene Kelly, Sidney Poitier, Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington and more. Last year, the AFI honored Nicole Kidman.