Francis Ford Coppolareveals a list of 20 movies that he highly recommends you watch and show “appreciation to the pictures that inspired” him. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time,Coppola has directed moviessuch asThe Godfather,The Godfather Part II,The Conversation, andApocalypse Now. Over a decade after his last film, the 85-year-old director’s latestmovie isMegalopolis, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and is already fiercely divisive ahead of its theatrical release on September 27.
Ahead ofMegalopolis' theatrical release,Francis Ford Coppolajoined Letterboxd and created a list of 20 movies that he highly recommends. While not complete by any means, the list is simply 20 movies that he enjoys, have inspired him, and would recommend to any fan of cinema or aspiring filmmaker. Check out his list below:
Breaking Down Francis Ford Coppola’s Recommended Movies
& How They Inspired His Own Work
Coppola’s list of his recommended movies encompass a wide range of genres, periods, and styles, showcasing his eclectic taste and deep appreciation for cinema. His choices range from classic Hollywood, European arthouse, and Asian cinema, from musicals likeFrench CancanandInvitation to the Danceto deeply emotional dramas likeTokyo StoryandSplendor in the Grass. Overall, Coppola’s recommended movies reflect his deep reverence for various cinematic styles and the history of the medium itself.
While Coppola’s list includes many classics from the 1920s to the 1960s,it also features two ofMartin Scorsese’s lesser-appreciated moviesfrom earlier in his career,The King of ComedyandAfter Hours. While there are many classic filmmakers on his list, Scorsese is Coppola’s contemporary, both coming up during the New Hollywood movement of the 1970s. Other repeat directors on his list include the Austrian filmmaker Josef von Sternberg (Shanghai ExpressandThe Blue Angel) and the German director F.W. Murnau (The Last LaughandSunrise: A Song of Two Humans).
Francis Ford Coppola’s Favorite Movies
The acclaimed American filmmaker, Francis Ford Coppola, has directed a number of classic films over the years, but what are his favorite movies?
Rather than just movies he would recommend,Coppola has curated a list of films that have inspired his own work. For instance, the psychological depth ofAshes and Diamondsand Akira Kurosawa’sThe Bad Sleep Wellrelate to the complex character studies found inThe Godfathermovies. The surreal and atmospheric qualities of Paul Thomas Anderson’sPunch-Drunk Loveand Scorsese’sAfter Hourscan be seen in Coppola’s own experiments with mood, particularlyApocalypse Now. The visual elegance ofSunriseandThe Last Laughare also echoed inCoppola’s own visual style, contributing to the iconic imagery in his movies.
