Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman may have made a huge mistake turning down this iconic role in what is now the “highest-rated” film ever on Rotten Tomatoes.
On March 14, 1972, the classic gangster film The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, was released to theaters. The movie starred some of the best actors Hollywood had to offer at the time, including Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone, Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, James Caan as Sonny Corleone, Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen and many more.
The film follows Don Vito Corleone’s powerful Italian-American crime family before his son, Michael, reluctantly joins the Mafia, becoming deeply involved in the drama and crime surrounding the family business. The Godfather was also the first of a three-film series, which was based on Mario Puzo’s bestselling novel of the same name in 1969.
On a budget of just $6 million, The Godfather would end up turning into a massive box office success, making over $136 million at the domestic box office and nearly $251 million worldwide.
The Godfather also won numerous Oscars at the 1973 Academy Awards. Albert S. Ruddy won Best Picture, Brando secured Best Actor, and Puzo and Coppola won Best Adapted Screenplay. Pacino, Caan and Duvall were all nominated for Oscars as well, but did not win.
The Godfather would also top Rotten Tomatoes’ list of the “300 highest-rated movies of all time,” receiving a 97% score on the Tomatometer based on 155 reviews. The film beat out other classics such as Seven Samurai (1954), Casablanca (1942) and Rear Window (1954).
Jack Nicholson and Dustin Hoffman Rejected the Role of Michael Corleone
John Cazale as Fredo Corleone embraces his brother Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in a scene from ‘The Godfather Part 2.’Screen Archives / Getty Images
Michael Corleone is widely regarded as one of the best film characters of all time as well, and the character marked Pacino’s major breakthrough. However, numerous Hollywood icons decided to turn down the role.
Nicholson, identifying as Irish, decided to turn down the role of Michael Corleone because he felt the character “should be played by an Italian.” And Hoffman turned down the role because he was already committed to starring in a biographical drama called Lenny.
Other actors, such as Warren Beatty, also turned down The Godfather, while Robert Redford was rejected from playing Michael Corleone because Coppola preferred Pacino.
This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Aug 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.