The Chronological ‘The Godfather Epic’ Is Now Streaming On HBO (And You Probably Shouldn’t Watch It)

Paramount Pictures

By Jacob Hall/Jan. 18, 2016 11:30 am EST

But here’s the thing: you probably shouldn’t watch this version, especially if it’s your first exposure to these movies. This cut is a fascinating curiosity for devoted fans, but it’s also the worst possible way to experience two of the greatest movies ever made.

As you probably know, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather series tells the story of the Corleone crime family over the course of several decades. The first film takes place from 1945 through 1955 and chronicles the final days of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) as he slowly hands the reins of his organization over to his son, Michael (Al Pacino). Part two acts as both a sequel and prequel, following Michael’s rise to power (and his descent as a human being) while we flash back to the early days of young Vito (Robert De Niro) in 1917.

The Godfather Epic blends both movies into one seven-and-a-half-hour marathon, presenting those 1917 scenes first and concluding in late ’50s. Thankfully, The Godfather Part III is nowhere to be found. Both films are padded out with deleted scenes, which the real draw here.

Here is HBO’s trailer for this presentation:

Although the “Epic” title is new, this is not the first time these movies have been presented like this. In 1977, NBC aired The Godfather Saga, a chronological cut of both films presented over four consecutive nights. Coppola signed off on this cut, as the resulting profits from airing these movies as a television event allowed him to keep production on Apocalypse Now alive. A slightly shorter version of The Godfather Saga was released on home video in 1981 and the whole thing aired on TV on AMC in 2012. And here it is again: on HBO and retitled The Godfather Epic.

So, should you watch The Godfather Epic? Sure. Go ahead. No one is stopping you. If you’re a seasoned fan of these films who want to appreciate how beautifully constructed the original films are, this will play out like a pretty good class on film editing. But if you see this pop up on HBO Go and wonder if this is the best way to finally give these classics a look, think twice. Blind-buy the Blu-ray set instead and watch them as intended.