Steven Spielberg Names Best American Movie Ever Made

by

At a recent event honoring lifetime achievement in filmmaking, Oscar winner Steven Spielberg declared a classic gangster movie to be the greatest American film ever produced. Notably, Spielberg himself received this honor from the American Film Institute back in 1995 when he was selected as the recipient of the 23rd AFI Life Achievement Award.

What is the best American movie ever made, according to Steven Spielberg?

George Lucas and Spielberg honored director Francis Ford Coppola with the 50th AFI Life Achievement Award in collaboration. During his acceptance speech, Spielberg hailed The Godfather (1972) as the greatest American film ever produced and expressed admiration for Coppola’s courage as a visionary filmmaker.

For me, The Godfather stands as the best American movie ever created. Just like artists who receive recognition for their work on paper, canvas, or screen, your applause, Francis, is from a unique group of admirers. As we grow, we strive to make our parents, friends, colleagues, and eventually peers proud. But you, sir, are exceptional and beyond comparison. In my speech, Spielberg expressed that you’ve taken the existing film industry standards and raised them, inspiring a wave of storytellers who aspire to impress you with their work, including myself.

The Godfather was masterfully directed by Coppola, who collaborated with Mario Puzo in scriptwriting, drawing inspiration from Puzo’s 1969 best-selling novel with the same title. An illustrious ensemble of actors like Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Richard Conte, Sterling Hayden, and others graced this film. The movie boasts a remarkable 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, certifying its freshness.

Read More

2025-04-28 17:41