Lloyd Bridges' final film role. The film was released four months after his passing, and is dedicated to his memory. Bridges also starred in Meeting Daddy (2000), which was released two years after Mafia! (1998) but was filmed before the latter.
An Italian-American group tried to boycott the film's New York premiere as they felt that it was demeaning to Italians.
In keeping with the jokey nature of the proceedings, composer John Frizzell had his name Italianized for the credits into Gianni Frizzelli.
Christina Applegate's character's name is Diane. Presumably, Applegate's character is named after Diane Keaton who portrayed Kay Adams, the character Applegate is spoofing, from The Godfather: A Novel for Television (1977).
Sherman Hemsley, Isabel Sanford: As George and Louise "Weezy" Jefferson, their characters from All in the Family (1971) and The Jeffersons (1975). For Sanford, this film would be the final time she appeared on screen as Louise Jefferson.