For a renaissance man of the silver screen, Robert Redford’s illustrious career may prove too significant for the average cinephile. Lucky for you, we’re taking apart his career film by film and leaving only the most thrilling flicks for you to pursue. Let’s look at the 25 films that epitomize Redford’s profession and capture our imaginations every time.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1970)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid covers everything a Western should include. Train robberies, love affairs, true stories, and hope for a better life in a faraway land allow the viewer to see the intense lifestyle of Butch and Sundance Kid, as acted by Paul Newman and Robert Redford, respectively.
Winning four Academy Awards, including Best Cinematography, the film allowed Robert Redford to strut the red carpet and win BAFTA Best Actor in 1971.
All The President’s Men (1976)
Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford play Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward in a thrilling tale about the botched Watergate scandal in 1972. Political films have the potential to become monotonous, but this tale follows mysterious sources and good old-fashioned watchdog journalism to uncover one of the biggest events of the 70s.
Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
Robert Redford plays Mexican-American war veteran and isolated mountain man Jeremiah Johnson in this gritty film about family and the impending threat of the Crow Indians. Directed by Sydney Pollack, the American Western explores relationships and friendship between Johnson and Bear Claw, acted by Will Geer.
The Sting (1973)
Paul Newman and Robert Redford join forces again in The Sting to produce a classic caper. Redford plays Johnny Hooker, who seeks to collaborate with Henry Gondorff and exact revenge on notorious criminal Doyle Lonnegan after their mutual friend is murdered. Expect failed cons and slapstick comedy.
It represented the second time Newman and Redford teamed up and earned seven Academy awards.
All Is Lost (2013)
All Is Lost is as morbid and heartbreaking as the title initially suggests. 77-year-old Robert Redford stars as a seasoned mariner who encounters trouble after his schooner collides with a loose shipping container. Slowly sinking, unable to contact the outside world, and with supplies low, the film gives a unique view of mortality and the desperation of a lone sailor.
The Natural (1984)
The Natural shows Robert Redford adopting the role of Roy Hobbs, a young baseball star who is shot by Harriet Bird (acted by Barbara Hershey) for seemingly no reason. Sixteen years later, he returns to the field for poor performers, New York Knights, and seeks to improve their fortune.
This historical drama is inspired by Bernard Malamud’s 1952 novel. Glenn Close, who plays Iris Gaines, matches Redford’s performance, and she won an Academy Award for Actress in a Supporting Role.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Robert Redford starred as Alexander Pierce in Avengers: Endgame. Young bucks like Chris Hemsworth and Robert Downey Jr led the film, with Redford taking the role of Alexander Pierce, a senior SHIELD official who is later found to be the leader of HYDRA.
He came out of retirement to take on the role after being persuaded by the Russo brothers, the film’s co-directors. It was not a bad payday for Redford.
A Bridge Too Far (1977)
A Bridge Too Far follows U.S. and British paratrooper soldiers joining forces to take over a highway leading from the Netherlands into Germany. If taken, this highway would allow British ground troops to invade the enemy.
The star-studded cast, including Sean Connery as British general Urquhart, Micheal Caine as Lieutenant Colonel Vandeleur, and Redford as Major Julian Cook, gave a heartfelt portrayal of events, even if real-life Colonel Julian Cook objected to his performance.
The Chase (1966)
Robert Redford plays Bubber Reeves in The Chase. He escapes jail and causes the nearby town of Tarl, Texas, to break down into disorder, eventually resorting to vigilante-style justice.
Marlon Brando is also spotted in this film as Sheriff Calder, who’s under pressure from businessman Val Rogers to apprehend Bubber Reeves by any means necessary.
Three Days of the Condor (1975)
Robert Redford plays CIA codebreaker Joe Turner, who discovers his coworkers have all been killed. Orchestrated by CIA seniors and now being followed by a keen hit-man, Joe Turner has to try and survive to find the truth.
The Old Man & The Gun (2018)
The Old Man & The Gun sheds light on career criminal Forrest Tucker, who attempts to break out of the famous San Quentin prison at age 70. This true story features Robert Redford playing the man himself and even musician Tom Waits as Waller, who provides some of the soundtrack.
Sneakers (1992)
Robert Redford plays computer hacker Martin in Sneakers, a compelling movie about the risks of robust data collection agencies. He’s asked by National Security Agency officers to steal a high-tech decoder. After discovering its true power and potential to cause global harm if placed in the wrong hands, it’s revealed the NSA officers are rogue, and they subsequently frame Martin for the murder of the device’s inventor.
Downhill Racer (1969)
Downhill Racer is an entertaining sports film about the trials and tribulations of cocky downhill skier David Chappellet, played by Robert Redford. His overconfident maneuvers and arrogance result in him landing a spot in the American ski team but quickly results in conflict with the coach, acted by Gene Hackman and colleague Johnny Creech.
The Candidate (1972)
The Candidate offers classic political humor. Robert Redford portrays left-leaning lawyer Bill McKay. He became increasingly popular with the public after campaign manager Marvin Lucas altered his message to be more centrist. Eventually, he becomes a strong runner against reputed Republican Crocker Jarmon, played by Don Porter.
This Property Is Condemned (1966)
The works of playwright Tennessee Williams are adapted into a romance flick, This Property Is Condemned. It follows Alva (Natalie Wood), who fights with her mother, Hazel, about marrying a rich man. She is more interested in the cosmopolitan Owen Legate (Robert Redford) passing through the small Mississippi town. After Hazel forbids it, Alva decides to elope with Hazel’s boyfriend, J.J., out of revenge.
Our Souls at Night (2017)
We’ve seen Robert Redford in shootouts and facing certain death, but nothing is quite as vibrant as his role as widower Louis Waters in Our Souls at Night. Living next to widow Addie Moore, the tale follows both Addie and Louis sleeping in the same bed platonically to cope with loneliness. However, as they become closer, the pair’s relationship becomes romantic.
The Horse Whisperer (1998)
Redford adopts the role of wrangler as famed horse whisperer Tom Booker in the film The Horse Whisperer. Scarlett Johansson plays a traumatized teenage horse rider, Grace. She injures her horse in an accident and promptly refuses to ride again.
Her mother, Annie (played by Kristin Scott Thomas), takes her to Tom Booker in the hope he can cure the horse. Romance blossoms between Booker and Grace, changing her whole world.
Out Of Africa (1986)
Out Of Africa is a thrilling tale about deciding between wealth and love. Robert Redford plays hunter Denys, who attracts the eyes of high society Karen Blixen (played by Meryl Streep). Karen travels to Africa to join her husband, Bror.
He is unfaithful to Karen, causing her to become emotionally attached to Denys. Eventually, she has to choose between Bror and Denys.
Brubaker (1980)
Brubaker follows the real-life attempts of prison administrator Thomas O. Murton to positively alter the Tucker and Cummins Prison Farms in Arkansas. The story follows the compelling “Accomplices to the Crime: The Arkansas Prison Scandal” novel wherein Redford plays Warden Henry Brubaker, who poses as an inmate at an Arkansas prison.
He witnessed firsthand the corruption and abuse that’s handed down from the staff to the prisoners. Eventually, Brubaker gains some support for reform, but the old prison owners are not interested in change, causing disputes.
Spy Game (2001)
Redford takes on the role of a CIA operative, Nathan Muir, who is approaching retirement. After discovering that his protégé, Tom Bishop, has been arrested in China for espionage, Muir commits his time to finding a way to recover Bishop. Bishop is sentenced to die the next morning in Beijing, meaning the deadline is tightened for Muir.
The Way We Were (1973)
During college, a highly political Jew, Katie Morosky (Barbara Streisand), catches feelings for Hubbell Gardiner (Redford), who is a keen WASP. During WWII, they met again and married. After Hubbell’s filmmaker dreams move the pair to California, Katie’s politics causes a rift in Hollywood, and the threat of Hubbell being blacklisted looms.
Truth (2015)
CBS anchor Dan Rather (Redford) and producer Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett) come under fire following the release of a report about President George W. Bush and his role in the military. This newsroom drama explores the Killian Documents controversy and follows the “Truth and Duty” book published by Mary Mapes herself.
The Hot Rock (1972)
Redford plays Dortmunder, who brings together a group of friends to steal a diamond from the Brooklyn Museum. With various spoofs and typical theft encounters, there are bombs and dressing up, and they lose the diamond at the penultimate moment.
Barefoot in the Park (1967)
The contest between the hippies and the suits continues in this 1967 film, Barefoot in the Park. Jane Fonda plays Corie, a free-living romantic, and Robert Redford plays Paul Bratter, a straight-laced lawyer, and they both share an apartment in Greenwich Village.
Undertaking a double date to set up Corie’s mother, Ethel, who lives alone, the passionate relationship between Corie and Paul becomes comedic and puts into question their relationship.
The Great Gatsby (1974)
Heartthrob Robert Redford plays the lead role of Jay Gatsby in the well-known novel and film, The Great Gatsby. Following the story of Nick Carraway (acted by Sam Waterson) in the 1920s, he comes from the Midwest and silently lives among Long Island’s many mansions. After becoming involved in the life of Jay Gatsby and all of his wealth and parties, he ends up spectating the love triangle between Gatsby, the very hostile Tom, and his wife, Daisy.
