Gangster film Ford Coppola's "The Godfather" was released. The epic story of the Corleone family, its generational transition from post-prohibition to post-war, its fratricidal intrigues, and its tapestry of mid-century America's criminal underworld became a huge critical and commercial success. It accounted for nearly 10% of gross proceeds for all films for the entire year. It won the Oscar for Best Picture, as well as the award for Best Actor for Marlon Brando and is widely considered one of the greatest American films of all time. Two years later, "The Godfather Part II" became the fifth-highest-grossing film of the year and garnered
The Lord of the Rings (film series) "" along with the single nomination for "" brings the series' total to 37 nominations). "The Fellowship of the Ring" earned thirteen nominations, the most of any film at the 74th Academy Awards, winning four. "The Return of the King" won in every category in which it was nominated, setting the current Oscar record for the highest clean sweep, and its 11 Academy Awards wins ties the record held by "Ben-Hur" and "Titanic" (though both of those films had additional nominations that they ultimately lost). "The Return of the King" became only the second sequel to win the Oscar for