The Godfather was an American gangster film directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It was released in 1972 and was hailed as a classic in the history of American movies. Here are some of the reasons why The Godfather became a classic: 1. The story is compact: The plot of the movie is compact and the development of the story is full of suspense and unpredictable. The film showed the disputes and struggles between the gangster families, as well as the growth and self-redemption of the family members. 2. Character image: The characters in the movie are distinct. Each character has its own unique personality and motivation. The main character, the Godfather, was affectionate but also had a cold and decisive side. His family members also had their own complexity and contradictions. 3. Shooting skills: The shooting skills of the movie include the language of the camera, the setting of the scene, the music, and so on. The godfather movies had excellent cinematography, editing, and sound effects, which created an atmosphere of a gangster family. 4. Social significance: The Godfather was not only a commercial film, but also a work that reflected American society and gang culture. It revealed the contradictions and disputes between the gang families and explored the influence and significance of gang culture on society. To sum up, the Godfather became a classic because of its outstanding performance in story, character image, filming skills, and social significance. These factors made it a very representative and influential film.