Few TV shows have been as revolutionary as The Sopranos. Created by David Chase, this ground-breaking series follows Tony Soprano (played to perfection by James Gandolfini), as he tries to balance his family’s upper class, suburban lifestyle with his role as New Jersey’s Mafia boss. Its unique story, exceptional writing, colorful characters, and phenomenal acting made The Sopranos must-watch television. The show also benefited from featuring endless graphic content and professionalism, courtesy of its network, HBO. Millions of viewers became hooked as they rode the New Jersey Turnpike with Tony Soprano puffing on his cigar, as the show’s iconic opening theme song “Woke Up This Morning” by Alabama 3 plays in the background.
1 Oranges as Symbolism – The Godfather (1972)
But the best Godfather reference in The Sopranos deserves its own entry. Throughout The Godfather films, oranges are used as a motif that foreshadows death or imminent danger. In the first film, Vito is casually shopping for oranges when an attempt is made on his life. The scene ends with Vito lying in the street, oranges scattered around his unconscious body. And later, Vito inserted an orange into his mouth to frighten his grandson and play with him, just before collapsing and dying in his garden.
The Sopranos Borrows the Orange Motif from The Godfather
The Sopranos pays homage to The Godfather’s orange motif in Season 1. A depressed Tony is walking to his car, holding a jug of orange juice, when an attempt is made on his life. The bullet whizzes through the bottle, splashing orange juice everywhere, alerting Tony to the danger. It’s a cool yet subtle way of paying homage to the greatest masterpiece of the gangster genre. You can currently stream The Sopranos in its entirety exclusively on Max.
2 Too Many References to Count – The Godfather (1972)
You knew this one was coming. Well, here it is — the most significant milestone of the gangster genre, the masterpiece that’s inspired every gangster movie, and every non-gangster movie that’s followed. The Godfather is considered to be among the greatest films ever made. It follows the powerful Corleone crime family, particularly its patriarch Vito (Marlon Brando) and his youngest son and protege, Michael (Al Pacino). The film is packed with iconic moments, like the murderous baptism sequence, and features one of the most famous lines in cinema: “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
3 Tony’s Morning Newspaper Routine – Goodfellas (1990)
The references to Goodfellas don’t end with the cast of The Sopranos. One of the most iconic images of the series is Tony Soprano walking down his driveway in the morning — dressed in only a robe, boxers, and a sleeveless white shirt — to collect the morning newspaper. This reoccurring visual throughout the series helps cement the stark contrast between Tony’s two different lives, even though, according to Carmine Lupertazzi Sr. (Tony Lip), “a don’t wear shorts.”
4 A Painful Shot to the Foot – Goodfellas (1990)
No film during the 1990s impacted the gangster genre more than Goodfellas. Adapted from the true-crime book Wiseguy, Goodfellas chronicles Henry Hill’s (Ray Liotta) involvement with the local Mafia. It takes a different approach from other gangster films, focusing on mid-level thugs rather than bosses. It also mentions elements that we now see all the time in the gangster genre, such as wire-tapping and the witness protection program — elements that were very much a part of The Sopranos.
5 Legends of Gangster Culture
In the pilot episode of The Sopranos, Christopher commits his very first murder. He lures a Czech-American rival into the back of Satriale’s, the iconic butcher shop where Tony and his crew always hang out. While distracting his target with cocaine, Christopher whips out a gun and shoots the criminal in the back of the head. With each blaring gunshot, the camera cuts to a stone-faced photograph hanging on the wall.
