Before 'Jaws' popularized the summer blockbuster, 'The Godfather' set the stage by becoming a massive cultural event. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, it was based on Mario Puzo's best-selling novel. Paramount Pictures utilized a strategy of high-profile casting (Marlon Brando and Al Pacino) and a wider release than typical dramas of the era. It was the first film to ever earn $1 million a day in box office revenue during its initial run. Its success saved Paramount from financial ruin and proved that 'prestige' adult dramas could also be massive commercial blockbusters, leading to a new era of director-driven cinema in the 1970s.