In the last five decades since its release, The Godfather has been used as an example of perfection in cinema. This series has brought aspects of all kinds in its storytelling, whether it has to do with emotional depth, gangster tropes, and heartbreaking moments.
Much of the sad scenes have to do with the topic of death, but The Godfather never limited itself just to this. There are many other occasions where interactions between characters are such that you have to feel for them due to the air of relatability. That said, it’s worth checking the saddest of the bunch across the whole trilogy.
THE GODFATHER PART III: Michael's Reaction To Mary's Death
Mary’s death is so fitting in the matter of poetic justice that it also lands in the list of best kills. The scene is filled with a sense of melancholy right from the start, as it counts down the final minutes in The Godfather series as a whole.
What truly makes this so saddening is watching Michael react to his daughter’s death. After having been so numb with his emotions for decades, Michael lets out an Earth-shattering scream as all of his pent up grief and trauma is let out while he can do nothing but see his daughter die in front of him.
THE GODFATHER PART III: Michael Remembers Appolonia
Appolonia’s death was sad in itself, with her getting blown up in a car that was meant to kill Michael as well. However, a tearjerker of a scene arrives much later in Part III. Here, Michael found himself thinking of his long-deceased wife while listening to his son’s musical performance.
Michael couldn’t control his emotions, as tears started rolling down his eyes. His son’s voice reminded him of the time he fell in love at first sight, and was simultaneously flooded with the realization that he’d become so ruthless because his wife’s death had killed a part of him as well.
THE GODFATHER PART II: Michael Cuts Fredo Out Of His Life
In a trilogy filled with amazing dialogue and quotes, Michael claiming that Fredo “broke (his) heart” has become one of the best in the entire trilogy. Still, that scene was scarier than anything else. What was sad was watching Michael cut Fredo from his life, with Fredo realizing just how helpless and alone he's become. This doesn't just mean Fredo's luxurious lifestyle is over, but that he's fair game for anyone and everyone in the underworld -- including the Corleones.
This was the first time Fredo found his voice and told Michael how he felt he’d been stepped over. And yet, Michael coldly dismissed his own brother by verbally lashing into him. After seeing these characters talk so much about family, it’s hard to see brothers become estranged to such a degree.
THE GODFATHER: Fredo's Reaction To Vito's Shooting
Fans love to know about the behind-the-scenes facts from the films, with one concerning oranges as these were always present someone either got killed or was close to death. Vito’s shooting featured them as well, although the viewer is more inclined to notice Fredo.
As soon as he saw his father lying bloody and near death, Fredo broke down in tears. It signified what a helpless man he truly was, to the point where you just feel bad for him. Seeing Don Vito in such a situation also adds to the heaviness of the scene.
THE GODFATHER PART III: Michael Confesses His Sins
His descent into becoming cold and ruthless made the formerly relatable Michael the scariest character in the series. Without a doubt, his most devilish act was having Fredo killed in Part II, which is something that ended up haunting him for the rest of his life.
This scene in Part III had Michael appeal to Cardinal Lamberto and confessing his guilt of Fredo’s death. Michael finally seems just as small as he’d been making others feel for years, breaking down and hoping against hope to be redeemed. Despite all the bad he’d done, it’s hard not to feel bad for how broken Michael is here.
THE GODFATHER PART II: The Family Reacts To Michael's Enlistment
He might have gotten a whole lot of people killed, yet the worst thing Michael ever did could very well be in this flashback. While the rest of his family happily anticipated Vito coming home for his birthday, Michael dropped the bombshell that he’d enlisted in the army. The idea of service isn't inherently bad, but Michael's family didn't want him to risk his life in a war (i.e. World War II) they felt they had no stake in.
This led to Sonny almost beating Michael up, but the sad part comes from Fredo congratulating Michael. This is because it meant that Fredo had been the only one to support Michael’s decision and as mentioned earlier, would end up getting killed by the same brother. It also showed how he broke his family's heart on what was supposed to be a happy occasion.
THE GODFATHER: Vito Sees Sonny's Body
There are more wise quotes from Vito Corleone than one can count. This scene also had a famous quote, although it was said in grief. Straight after Sonny’s brutal demise, Vito ordered the undertaker to fix his son’s bullet-ridden body so that his mother wouldn’t see his mangled remains.
Vito, showing tremendous strength given the occasion, couldn’t hold his grief in any longer when he himself saw Sonny’s remains. All he could muster was to comment on how the enemies had massacred his boy, with the rest of his emotions clear to see on his distraught face.
THE GODFATHER PART III: Michael's Final Moments
There’s always the argument over who between Vito and Michael was the better godfather. As far as happy endings go, Vito certainly won. Michael not only lost his daughter but didn’t even get an honorable death, which is confirmed by the last scene of the series.
Here, Michael was shown sitting on a bench in his old house in Italy, now having nobody. Even in his last moments, he’s shown to be reliving memories of all the women he lost. The movie ends with Michael falling to the ground dead, signifying how far he’d fallen in life as well.
THE GODFATHER: Sonny Hurts Tom's Feelings
Sonny and Tom were a duo viewers could tell were as close as brothers. Tom developed a very thick skin, in that he wouldn’t be fazed by any kind of verbal abuse his way. That is, until said abuse got very personal. Sonny went right there in this scene.
It’s easy to feel for Tom too, as Sonny blows up in his face how Tom wasn’t a real consigliere and he was basically stuck with him. They both knew Sonny had implied how Tom was adopted and not a real Corleone brother, something that even the viewer realizes and makes them feel sorry for Tom.
THE GODFATHER: Vito Corleone's Demise
Considering how Vito is the breakout character of the whole The Godfather trilogy, even a good death for him is bound to make anyone sad. He met his end while playing with his grandson, in a scene where it becomes gradually clear that Vito’s health is failing rapidly.
The movie sets him up as the best character up until then, thus making it very sad indeed to see Vito collapse and breathe his last. Even more so when one realizes that Vito’s grandson had to witness this and that the Corleone family was connected to death in some manner no matter what.