The Godfather

Right now you can watch The Godfather in Australia on BINGE and Paramount Plus, and in the US on fuboTV and Paramount Plus Premium — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 9/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Marlon Brando's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on BINGE.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, The Godfather earns its spot. At its heart, The Godfather understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. Spanning the years 1945 to 1955, a chronicle of the fictional Italian-American Corleone crime family. When organized crime family patriarch, Vito Corleone barely survives an attempt on his life, his youngest son, Michael steps in to take care of the would-be killers, launching a campaign of bloody revenge. The writing gets a boost from Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, who sell every scene they're in. It was released in 1972. The plot mechanics of The Godfather never overwhelm the human cost underneath them. Every minute repays the time invested, and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find The Godfather proves them wrong. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Marlon Brando anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.