The movie revolves around the Corleone family, an Italian-American Mafia family, and their rise to power. The story begins with Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), the powerful head of the family, who is struggling to maintain his power and protect his family from rival families and the law. The film follows the transformation of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), Don Vito's youngest son, from a war hero to a ruthless mafia boss.