Robert Rodriguez Reveals the Only Flawless Movie in Cinema History
Acclaimed filmmaker Robert Rodriguez calls The Godfather the only perfect film ever made, reflecting on his career, creative influences, and mysterious future projects, including a secret movie set for release in 2115.
Robert Rodriguez has been a fixture in the film industry for decades, yet it ’s hard to believe he’s only 57. The Mexican-American director burst onto the scene in 1992 with his breakout neo- western, El Mariachi, and followed it up with Desperado, starring Antonio Banderas, just a few years later. His early start in filmmaking began at age 11, when he got his hands on a video camera. Even then, his creative instincts were clear—he was let go from filming his school’s football games for focusing on dramatic shots and parents’ reactions instead of the action on the field.
Rodriguez continued to develop his unique style throughout college, producing short films and eventually winning awards for his work. In 1991, he created a short that gained enough attention to help him make El Mariachi on a shoestring $7,000 budget. The film’s success was staggering, grossing over $2.5 million after a wide release. This opened the door for a sequel with a much larger budget and a star-studded cast, including Banderas and Salma Hayek, in 1995.
Hollywood Collaborations and Genre-Bending Hits
Rodriguez’s early achievements caught the eye of Quentin Tarantino, and the two quickly became close collaborators. Their partnership led to the cult classic From Dusk Till Dawn in 1996, with Tarantino penning the script and Rodriguez directing. The film’s blend of crime and horror was a hit with audiences and cemented Rodriguez’s reputation for genre-bending storytelling.
After a brief hiatus, Rodriguez returned with the family adventure Spy Kids in 2001, once again teaming up with Banderas. He then shifted gears, diving into darker territory with comic book adaptations and grindhouse-inspired films like Sin City in 2005, the splatter-filled Planet Terror, and the action-packed Machete in 2010. Four years later, he revisited Sin City for a sequel, further showcasing his versatility as a filmmaker.
Rodriguez’s Cinematic Inspirations
Throughout his career, Rodriguez has often spoken about the movies that shaped his creative vision. He’s cited classics like Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, Alfred Hitchcock’s Notorious, and Steven Spielberg’s Jaws as major influences. However, there’s one film he holds above all others.
In an interview, Rodriguez declared,
The Godfather, because it’s about family. It’s just a perfect film. Five-act structure… It’s just amazing. Coppola just did the coolest stuff with that.
His admiration for Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece led to a memorable sit-down with the legendary director in 2015, where they discussed the challenges and triumphs behind The Godfather and its iconic sequel.
New Projects and a Movie for the Next Century
Rodriguez remains as busy as ever, juggling multiple projects. He’s currently developing a television reboot of the 1980s detective film Cobra, originally starring Sylvester Stallone. But perhaps his most intriguing endeavor is a secretive film written by John Malkovich, titled 100 Years. The twist? The movie is locked away in a bulletproof safe and won’t be released until 2115. Marketed as ‘the movie you’ll never see,’ its contents remain a closely guarded secret, adding yet another layer of mystique to Rodriguez’s already remarkable career.