MovieWeb maps The Godfather timeline from Vito’s 1901 exile to Michael’s 1997 death

MovieWeb published a complete timeline of The Godfather trilogy on Jan. 29, 2026, tracing key events from Vito Corleone’s childhood in 1901 through Michael Corleone’s death in 1997, according to the feature by Philip Etemesi. The timeline recounts Vito’s early tragedy in 1901: his father and brother are killed in their Sicilian village by Don Ciccio, his mother is shot while helping him escape, and Vito boards a ship to America where immigration clerks rename him “Vito Corleone.” MovieWeb notes these scenes are shown in The Godfather: Part II and provide the character’s backstory.

In Little Italy (1901–1925) Vito is taken in by the Abbandando family, befriends Genco, marries Carmela, loses his job, and turns to crime with Clemenza. After killing the local padrone Don Fanucci, he founds the Genco Pura olive oil business as a front and later returns to Sicily in 1922 to kill Don Ciccio; his daughter Connie is born in 1923.

MovieWeb highlights how the young Vito material helped Robert De Niro’s rise. The timeline calls 1926–1944 the trilogy’s only quiet era: Vito expands his empire, adopts Tom Hagen, and after Pearl Harbor Michael enlists, earning a Navy Cross and a Life Magazine feature. MovieWeb also points out smaller details shown or implied in the films, such as Vito arranging for Michael’s medical discharge.

the godfather timeline, movieweb timeline, vito corleone childhood, vito kills don ciccio, don fanucci assassination, genco pura olive oil, genco abbandando friendship, ellis island renaming, michael corleone 1997 death, michael corleone navy cross, robert de niro rise, philip etemesi feature