In the three Godfather films, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Michael was portrayed by Al Pacino, for which he was twice-nominated for Academy Awards.

In his novel The Godfather, Mario Puzo introduces Michael with the following physical description: "He did not have the heavy, Cupid-shaped face of [his siblings], and his jet black hair was straight rather than curly.

"[6] Michael initially wanted nothing to do with the Corleone "family business", and enrolled at Dartmouth College in order to escape any potential involvement in crime.

After the United States' entry into World War II in 1941, he enlisted in the Marines (training under Sergeant Bradshaw) and fought in the Pacific, even though his father had expended great effort to wrangle a deferment for him.

Michael returns home to attend his sister Connie's wedding at the end of August accompanied by Kay Adams (Diane Keaton), his college sweetheart.

Just before Christmas 1945, Vito is critically wounded in an assassination attempt by drug kingpin Virgil Sollozzo (Al Lettieri), pushing a reluctant Michael into the Mafia world he has avoided for so long.

While awaiting Corleone reinforcements, Michael prevents a second assassination attempt on Vito by Sollozzo, then affirms his loyalty to his father.

Michael escapes to Sicily and spends two years under Corleone ally Don Tommasino's (Corrado Gaipa) protection.

Michael falls in love with and marries a young local woman named Apollonia Vitelli (Simonetta Stefanelli).

A few years after the move to Nevada, Michael, now in his mid-thirties, named Clemenza as consigliere and head of the family's New York operations.

Clemenza died of a supposed heart attack, and was replaced by longtime family friend and soldier Frank Pentangeli.

Although he is now firmly entrenched as the most powerful crime boss in the nation, he steps up his efforts to make the Corleone family legitimate.

He begins working out a deal with Hyman Roth, a longtime business partner of the family as well as a rival, over control of casino operations.

Later the same day, he has Tessio and Carlo Rizzi (Gianni Russo), Connie's abusive husband who conspired in Sonny's murder, executed.

While Michael's many enemies and growing obsession with revenge keep him tethered to the criminal underworld, he still plans to finally legitimize the family by negotiating with Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg), his father's former business partner, over controlling casino operations in Cuba.

Hours after Anthony's First Communion party, assassins open fire on the Corleone house, nearly killing Michael and Kay.

Understanding the threat, Pentangeli recants his earlier sworn statements, throwing the hearings into chaos and effectively destroying the government's case against Michael.

Michael asks her to reconsider, but Kay reveals she aborted their unborn son because she refused to bring another of his children into the world.

Following their mother's death, and at Connie's behest, Michael seemingly forgives Fredo, but it is actually a ploy to draw him in closer in order to have him killed.

At the same time, Michael sends Hagen to persuade Pentangeli to commit suicide to spare his family, and has caporegime Rocco Lampone (Tom Rosqui) kill a heavily guarded Roth at Idlewild Airport upon his return to the US.

Michael has moved back to New York, abandoned the Nevada estate, and taken great strides to remove the family from crime.

Ridden with guilt over his ruthless rise to power, particularly his order to kill Fredo, Michael uses his great wealth to rehabilitate his reputation through numerous acts of charity, administered by a foundation named after his father.

The Holy See has named him a Commander of the Order of Saint Sebastian for his charitable works and large donations to Catholic institutions.

He also takes in Sonny's illegitimate son Vincent Mancini (Andy Garcia), a soldier in Zasa's crew, as his protégé.

On the night Michael announces he is dissolving his gambling empire, Zasa wipes out most of The Commission in a helicopter attack in Atlantic City.

Michael learns that the Immobiliare deal is an elaborate swindle concocted by Immobiliare chairman Licio Lucchesi (Enzo Robutti), who schemed with Vatican Bank head Archbishop Gilday (Donal Donnelly) and accountant Frederick Keinszig (Helmut Berger) to embezzle a fortune from the Vatican Bank, using Michael's "investment" to cover their tracks.

With Lamberto's prodding, Michael makes his first confession in 30 years, tearfully breaking down as he admits to ordering Fredo's murder.

Michael learns that Altobello (in league with the conspirators) has hired an assassin named Mosca (Mario Donatone) to kill him.

Weary of the bloody, lonely life of a Don, Michael retires, making Vincent his successor, but not before giving him permission to retaliate.

[9] In The Godfather's Revenge, set a few years after the second film, he moves to protect his criminal empire against Geraci and the machinations of a powerful political dynasty, while dealing with the collapse of his marriage and his guilt over having Fredo murdered.