Content Warning: This article contains discussions/images to murder and graphic violence.
Where most gangster movies go out of their way to create some of the most unique and wild murders imaginable, The Godfather doesn’t do anything of the sort. Most of the deaths are natural and many of the murders are fairly realistic.
However, they are still way more dramatic than any over-the-top and theatrical murders found in other gangster movies, and it’s largely due to the weight of the situations. From mob bosses picking off their own blood, daughters being shot in front of their own fathers, or characters simply dying of a heart attack, there are so many deaths that will leave fans shedding a tear or two. But there are just as many that are oddly satisfying.
Francesco Ciccio
Although the murder of Francesco Ciccio was gruesome, many fans will agree that it was well-deserved. In the final act of The Godfather Part II, Vito returns to Sicily to seek revenge on Ciccio, who murdered Vito’s whole family when he was just a child.
At the beginning of the movie, Ciccio even orders one of his men to kill Vito’s mother with a shotgun at such close range. So when Vito impales the aging gangster with a huge knife and drags it down his body, it’s extremely disturbing, but expected.
Sollozzo And McCluskey
Being the first big moment in the franchise, the murder of Sollozzo and McCluskey is one of the most rewatched scenes in the series. There was so much build-up and planning around the murder of the crooked cop and mafia boss that when it finally happened, it was so suspenseful. It wasn’t in the least bit tragic, as McCluskey had only ever been seen beating Michael and Sollozzo had been trying to murder Vito, so when Michael shoots them both in the head, there wasn’t much to cry about.
Fanucci
Though there aren’t really any good guys in the series, Fanucci was another one of the “bad guys” who got brutally obliterated. Outside of the Helicopter scene in The Godfather Part III, Fanucci’s death is the most cinematic murder of them all, as Vito climbs over rooftops, following the Black Hand leader as he walks through the Feast of San Rocco.
They eventually end up in the hallway of an apartment building, where Vito shoots Fanucci, with a shotgun with a makeshift silencer in the form of a towel.
Luca Brasi
It’s hard not to feel sorry for Luca Brasi, as he was simply trying to impress Vito and get his respect. Because he wasn't as intelligent as some of the main characters, it was almost as if he was totally out of his element going in to meet with the Tattaglia crime family, and it was clear from the beginning that he was going to get murdered as soon as he walked into the clubhouse. Being the first major death in the series, the character was mercilessly choked to death.
Salvatore Tessio
Throughout the whole of the first movie, though he was part of the mafia, Salvatore Tessio seemed like a kind old man, and he was always there for everyone. But, at the end, it’s revealed that he was plotting to have Michael killed so he could take over the Corleone family.
It’s almost heartbreaking when he’s taken off to be killed, as he basically accepts his fate and says to Tom, “Tell Michael it was nothing personal, it was only business,” (which is one of the movie's most iconic lines ever).
Vito
Though he didn’t go down in a blaze of gunfire like what would be expected of a mob boss, Vito's death arrived in what should have been one of the most wholesome moments in the entire series.
What makes Vito's death worse is that it happened whilst he was playing around in the garden with his grandson. Though Vito was ultimately an evil human being, the movie tries not to portray him in a terrible light by showing that his number one priority was always protecting his family. So when he collapsed in his plants, in front of his grandson, there were a few people who felt a little bit of sadness for him.
Sonny
Sonny wasn’t a great guy, but he was by far the most entertaining character. Although he was known for his temper and impulsiveness, many viewers did give Sonny a bit of credit for his loyalty and the way he protected his siblings.
So, for some viewers, it was hard to watch when he was shot down at the toll booth by several men, armed with machine guns. However, as tragic as it was, his death still inspired a ton of memes due to Vito saying, “look how they massacred my boy,” upon seeing his dead body.
Michael
Going from a war hero to a villain, it shouldn’t have felt so tragic when Michael died. But given how the whole of The Godfather Part III was about him redeeming himself of all the bad things he had done, it was hard not to feel for him. On top of losing his daughter after the opera, Michael dies in the worst way possible.
He doesn’t get brutally shot down or choked to death, but he dies alone, with no friends or family in sight. However, with the newly released cut of Part III, the death has been completely removed, which is one of the biggest changes to the movie.
Mary
Mary had a major role in Part III, as she was the one who ostensibly convinced Michael to stop being so evil and she fell in love with Vincent. Although she isn’t the most liked character in the series, her death is still so mortifying, purely because of how heartbroken Michael is over it.
He holds her on the stairs of the entrance to the theatre after she’s been shot, screaming to the heavens. And it’s all because he knows that he just lost one of the most important people in his life.
Fredo
It was no surprise the Fredo was going to get murdered after he tried to take down Michael in Part II, as the movie depicted just how merciless Michael was so well. Fans saw it coming, as Michael promised never to harm Fredo while their mother was alive, but as soon as she died, it was his first order of business.
Considering how he isn’t the brightest member in the family and he’s more lost in the world than anything, it was by far the hardest moment for fans to watch. And on top of that, he gets shot in the middle of saying a Hail Mary no less.