Top 5 Must-Watch Robert Redford Films!

Last week, following an illustrious career spanning over 6 decades, legendary actor and director Robert Redford passed away at his home in Sundance, Utah. A fitting place for the end of such an influential lifetime, as Redford’s legacy includes his establishment of the Sundance Film Festival. Along with the festival, known for showcasing indie films and unique storytellers, Redford leaves behind a filmography abundant with magnificent performances. Although one would be challenged to pick favorites within this rock-solid slate of movies, here are our top 5 favorite Robert Redford flicks:

1. All The President's Men (1976)

A must for any movie buff, All The President's Men, directed by Alan J. Pakula, is the best film Redford has appeared in. Famously, this biographical recounting of the two journalists who headed the exposure of the Watergate scandal stars Redford as Bob Woodward, giving an electric performance alongside fellow Hollywood giant Dustin Hoffman as Carl Bernstein. All The President’s Men is a suspenseful ride, with Redford and Hoffman finding themselves in dangerous waters while they exemplify a timeless tale of the true power of the First Amendment. (Available on VOD/Digital)

2. The Sting (1973)

A close second to All The President’s Men, this Best Picture winner is another Redford movie that finds itself in the pantheon of must-watch cinema. One of three collaborations with director George Roy Hill, Redford plays Johnny Hooker, a low-level con man who finds himself teamed with a veteran schemer Henry Gondorff (played by Paul Newman). The Sting is a triptych of crime, comedy, and period, a film that is versatile, layered, and will undoubtedly keep you on your toes until the final scenes. Winning 7 Oscars, this movie is a critical favorite, audience hit, and has influenced many con-artist and heist films that followed. (Available on VOD/Digital)

3. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

Next on this list is another classic from the trio of Hill, Redford, and Newman. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the eventual namesake of Redford’s festival, is a western that remolded the genre, filtering this story through its tropes while implementing the buddy comedy feel, a style that became hugely influential on future buddy movies like The Sting, Lethal Weapon, and even Bad Boys. A true story turned into an Oscar-winning script by William Goldman, Butch Cassidy also helped propel Redford into true stardom, setting up his incredible run in the 1970s. (Available on VOD/Digital)

4. The Natural (1984)

Switching gears, The Natural is another signature performance seen in Redford’s brilliant catalogue. Leaving the guns, schemes, and notepads behind, Redford plays Roy Hobbs, a baseball talent with seemingly magical skill. The film portrays its content with a fable-like feel, bringing a mythical tone to baseball, Hobbs’s backstory, and lights-out climax. Nominated for four Oscars, The Natural does not find itself critically on the same level as Redford’s prior films; however, it is an audience favorite, another Redford project that influenced a whole slew of movies after it, like Field of Dreams and Angels in the Outfield. (Available on VOD/Digital)

5. Quiz Show (1994)

Of course, Robert Redford is primarily known for his on-screen prowess, but he was also a prolific Oscar-winning director. Earning one of his nominations in 1994 for Best Director and Best Picture with Quiz Show, Redford revisits the scandals found on TV game shows in the 1950s. Starring Ralph Fiennes as an answer-fed contestant, replacing former champ John Turturro, the unfolding of this scheme provides insight into themes such as ethics, mass media, fame, and the relationship between image and reality. The movie is nostalgic, elegant, and humanistic, all key components of Redford’s directorial style. (Available on VOD/Digital)

Rest well, Mr. Redford; you earned it!