The Godfather won three Academy Awards : Best Picture , Best Actor ( for Marlon Brando , who refused the award ) , and Best Adapted Screenplay . The Godfather won the Academy Awards for Best Picture , Best Writing ( adapted screenplay ) for Francis Coppola and Mario Puzo , and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Marlon Brando , who declined to collect the award and sent Native American actress Sacheen Littlefeather to the Oscars in his place to explain his reasons . The film had been nominated for eight other Academy Awards , including Best Supporting Actor for Al Pacino , James Caan , and Robert Duvall , Best Director , Best Costume Design , Best Film Editing , and Best Sound Mixing .