Remembering a Hollywood icon: Robert Redford's 5 best films

16 Sep 2025, 21:00 by John Clyde kslcom contributor · KSL.com

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Robert Redford, a Hollywood icon, passed away at 89, leaving a lasting legacy.
His top films include "The Sting," "All the President's Men" and "Ordinary People."
Redford's work in acting and directing significantly impacted cinema and independent film.

The one and only Robert Redford passed away at the age of 89. The man was a Hollywood legend and left us an incredible catalogue of films to enjoy for decades to come. From perfect comedic timing to brilliantly crafted drama behind the camera, Redford proved time and time again that he was a true Hollywood icon.

With hundreds of credits to his name as both an actor and a director, it's almost impossible to narrow his career down to just five films, but we're going to try anyway.

In honor of the father of Sundance and independent film, here are five of Robert Redford's best movies, both in front of and behind the camera:

"The Sting" (1973)

Why "The Sting" is one of his best: Redford's charisma is on full display in this clever con-artist caper alongside Paul Newman. The film won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, and gave us one of Redford's most iconic performances.

The movie is slick, fun and endlessly watchable. If you want to see true movie stars in action, look no further than Newman and Redford. The two will pop up again later on the list, but for my money, this is their best movie together.

Fifty years later and this movie still holds up, and most of that is due to the charm and effortless cool from Redford and Newman.

"All the President's Men" (1976)

Why "All the President's Men" is one of his best: Redford took on the role of Bob Woodward in this tense retelling of the Watergate scandal. It's a film that not only defined political thrillers but also underscored Redford's dedication to meaningful, socially conscious storytelling.

The movie is brilliantly written and expertly directed, but the real power comes from Redford and Dustin Hoffman selling the characters. It's a tense and high-stakes political thriller, but we fall in love with Woodward and Bernstein thanks to the chemistry between Redford and Hoffman.

"Ordinary People" (1980)

Why "Ordinary People" is one of his best: Not sure you know this, but this was Redford's directorial debut. The movie shocked Hollywood by winning Best Picture and Best Director. The moving family drama about grief and reconciliation showcased Redford's ability to draw out raw, human performances and cemented him as a powerhouse behind the camera.

Yes, he had experience in filmmaking, but to start his directorial career with such a brilliant movie is truly hard to fathom. At the end of his career, it wasn't even his best film as a director, but it is notable how he came out of the gate swinging and swinging for the fences.

"A River Runs Through It" (1992)

Why "A River Runs Through It" is one of his best: With sweeping Montana scenery and tender narration from Redford himself, this film is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. It also introduced audiences to Brad Pitt, but more importantly, it proved Redford could turn quiet, personal stories into cinematic poetry.

The movie is slow-paced, but not boring. It's serious and dour, yet funny and hopeful. This movie proves that Redford is not only a storyteller but one of the best. The balance of heart and heartbreak is no easy feat, and there is a reason we still talk about this movie 30 years later.

"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969)

Why "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" is one of his best: It's the movie that made Redford a star. His chemistry with Paul Newman as the charming outlaw duo is legendary, blending humor, adventure and tragedy. It also gave birth to the "Sundance Kid" nickname and later, the Sundance Film Festival that changed independent cinema forever.

This movie is so iconic and has become a part of the American zeitgeist. The film has laugh-out-loud moments and heart-racing action. None of that would have been possible without the undeniable charm and charisma of Redford and Newman. They were a powerful duo, and it should come as no surprise that this and "The Sting" made the list. Redford was a brilliant actor, but somehow he and Newman together made for pure cinema magic.

Here are some honorable mentions of Redford's brilliant and unparalleled career:

"Jeremiah Johnson" (1972)

"The Natural" (1984)

"Out of Africa" (1985)

"Quiz Show" (1994)

"All Is Lost" (2013)

What are your favorite Redford movies? Let us know in the comments.

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.