Coppola regrets 'Godfather' sequels

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Hollywood filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola told TMZ "The Godfather" shouldn't have been followed up with two sequels, one of which won the Best Picture Oscar.

Released in 1974, "The Godfather Part II" won six Academy Awards and is widely regarded as one of cinema's best sequels. "The Godfather Part III," which hit theaters in 1990, was panned by critics, however.

The mob movies were based on novels by Mario Puzo. The cast of the film franchise included Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton and Talia Shire.

Asked by a TMZ cameraman if he would consider making a fourth "Godfather," Coppola replied: "Nah. There should have only been one."

Coppola didn't explain why he thought he should have stopped with the first film.