Marlon Brando is renowned as one of Hollywood’s greatest-ever actors, with his most celebrated performance coming in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 masterpieceThe Godfather. Yet this movie isn’t the one with the highest percentage score out of Brando’s films on Rotten Tomatoes. AlthoughThe Godfatherdoes score an enviable 97% on the aggregated movie review site, another crime classic in which Marlon Brando plays the lead role has an even higher score. Elia Kazan’s 1954 filmOn the Waterfrontis Brando’s highest-scoring work on Rotten Tomatoes, with a whopping 99% score.
Of course, It’s not like Coppola should feel offended because his seminal gangster movie has slightly less of a critical consensus around just how great it is thanOn the Waterfront. Both Coppola’s andKazan’s best collaborations with Brandoare some of the greatest movies ever made, andThe Godfatherstill outranksOn the WaterfrontinRotten Tomatoes’ 300 Best Movies of All Timeeditorial list, thanks to the sheer volume of film criticism in its favor. Nevertheless,On the Waterfront, which won Marlon Brando his first Oscar, is an exceptionally high-scoring movie on the site in percentage terms.
On The Waterfront Is Marlon Brando’s Highest-Scoring Movie On Rotten Tomatoes
On The Waterfront Received Stellar Reviews
Elia Kazan’s 1954 crime classicOn the Waterfronttells the story of one of Hollywood’s first genuine anti-heroes, Brando’s Terry Malloy, a former boxer who stands up to mob union boss Johnny Friendly. The movie that ledMarlon Brando to win the Oscar for Best Actor after four consecutive nominations has enormous critical consensus around it, with an incredible 99% score out of 114 reviews collated on Rotten Tomatoes.
Most Universally Acclaimed Movies On Rotten Tomatoes’ 300 Best Of All Time List
On the Waterfront(1954)
99% (114 Reviews)
Only five other movies in the history of cinema have more reviews on Rotten Tomatoes while equalling or betteringOn the Waterfront’s favorability percentage on the site: Curtis Hanson’sL.A. Confidential,Casablanca, Akiro Kurasawa’sSeven Samurai, Bong Joon Ho’sParasite, andToy Story 2. Notably absent from this list is Francis Ford Coppola’sThe Godfather, which nevertheless remains near-universally acclaimed by the movie critics aggregated on Rotten Tomatoes.
Why On The Waterfront Outscores The Godfather On Rotten Tomatoes
How Their Reviews Compare
It can’t be overstated thatThe Godfatherhas an overwhelming critical consensus in its favor, with 97% of 152 reviews about the movie aggregated on Rotten Tomatoes giving it a positive rating. In fact, it’s one of the most acclaimed movies of all time. Nevertheless, it’s surprising that the film that most commonly tops critics’ audience polls for the greatest films of all time doesn’t have the highest percentage score on Rotten Tomatoes amongMarlon Brando’s best movies.
Certain critics foundThe Godfather’s story too sensationalist for it to be deemed a masterpiece.
More than a 2% difference, it’s worth exploring whyThe Godfatherdoesn’t have as much critical consensus around how great it is asOn the Waterfrontdoes.Since the time of its release, certain critics have foundThe Godfather’s storytoo sensationalist for it to be deemed a masterpiece. Ironically, this was Francis Ford Coppola’s initial view of Mario Puzo’s originalGodfathernovel, before he went ahead and made a movie out of it. On the other hand, the movie is occasionally dismissed as pretentious, or too focused on revenge without any moral scruples around this question.
These are the main reasons why 3% of critics listed on Rotten Tomatoes have ratedThe Godfathernegatively.On the Waterfront, meanwhile, was less controversial when it was released, and had already been canonized as a great of Hollywood’s Golden Age by the timeThe Godfathercame around. A small minority of critics also find fault withBrando’s iconic performance as Don Vito Corleone, deeming it caricaturish or lacking effort, while his more physical performance as Terry Malloy is difficult to argue with on any level.
How Much Money The Godfather Movies Made At The Box Office (& How Much It Would Be Today)
The Godfather held the title of being the highest-earning film of all time at the box office but adjusted for inflation, it’s even more impressive.
It’s undeniable that both of these crime movies deserve their towering stature in the cinema industry. On balance, it might not be a bad thing forThe Godfatherthat it rubbed a few critics up the wrong way, as most great art tends to do. Still,On the Waterfrontcan rightly claim to be the Marlon Brando movie with the fewest detractors.
