5 Francis Ford Coppola films to binge before Megalopolis (streaming guide)

Francis Ford Coppola is a singular talent. He's one of the most revered directors walking the planet, and his run of films in the 1970s remains one of the most impressive of all time. Coppola's new film, Megalopolis, is a passion project that has taken four decades to come to fruition.

The reception has been mixed, to put it mildly. Some hail it as a masterpiece, others a curio that could have used some outside input. Regardless, Megalopolis is quintessential Coppola. The ideas and the themes that drive the film have driven the director for most of his career, so we thought it'd be wise to beef up on your Coppola knowledge before you dive into the new film.

Here are five Francis Cord Coppola releases you should check out, as well as the platforms on which you can stream them.

Apocalypse Now (1979)

Francis Ford Coppola's war epic nearly broke him. Apocalypse Now is a classic film but a notorious production in which pretty much everything went wrong. Like Megalopolis, the film was inspired by classic literature, and also like the new film, Coppola decided to deviate from his source material and effectively make up the ending as he went along.

The settings and premise of Apocalypse Now and Megalopolis are radically different, but the swing for the fences ambition, and the surreal flourishes, are similar. It's also worth noting that Coppola had the very first idea for what would become Megalopolis while on the set of this film. Apocalypse Now is currently available to stream on Plex for free.

One from the Heart (1982)

One from the Heart was another ambitious swing for Coppola, but it was not met with the same critical praise as its predecessor. The musical drama was panned for its artificiality and cliched story, but time has been exceedingly kind to this film, and its wistful, understated beauty.

One from the Heart boasts excellent performances from Frederic Forrest and Teri Garr, but the real reason to see the film is Coppola's visual mastery. The choreography is sublime, and pieces of this film can be directly linked to standout sequences in Megalopolis.

You can rent One from the Heart on YouTube for $3.99.

Rumble Fish (1983)

Rumble Fish is one of Coppola's unsung masterpieces. A film that's both nimble and weighty, it tells the story of two brothers who are hemmed in by the expectations that their small town thrusts upon them. The character of the Motorcycle Boy, in particular, feels like a precursor to the tortured genius who drives the plot of Megalopolis.

Visually, Rumble Fish is one of Coppola's most striking releases. The experimental expressionism that was introduced in the the director's previous two films fully blossoms here. It's also worth noting that the great Laurence Fishburne, who made his debut in Apocalypse Now and narrates Megalopolis, has a small role as a local hype man.

Rumble Fish is streaming on Prime Video.

Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)

Another unsung Coppola flick. Tucker tells the true story of Preston Tucker, an inventor who ran into opposition when he tried to market an automobile during WWII. Megalopolis was already a concept that was gestating in Coppola's mind at this point, and it's easy to see how themes of conformity and societal pressure would transfer from this film to that one.

Tucker is currently streaming for free on Prime Video.

Youth Without Youth (2007)

One of Coppola's most recent releases, Youth Without Youth ventures into the surreal. The film is based on the novel of the same name, in which an old man is struck by lightning and begins to grow younger. The film examines massive concepts like mortality, language, and love.

It's difficult to sit through Megalopolis and not feel, once again, like Coppola worked through some of its ideas in a previous film. Youth Without Youth is also streaming for free on the Roku Channel. We'd also suggest that you check out Megalopolis in theaters. There's nothing else like it currently playing.