Robert Redford’s Best, Must-Watch Movies

Paul Newman and Redford as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, respectively, were one of cinema’s great duos. This movie, which is over 50 years old, remains as fun as it was the day it was released.

It tells the story of two of the US’ most famous outlaws as they traverse North and South America in pursuit of freedom, money, and a place to hang their hats.

Yes, Katharine Ross is there as Sundance’s love interest Etta Place, but the real love story is between Butch and Sundance. Newman and Redford’s chemistry is the reason this film remains iconic.

In fact, Sundance left such a mark on Redford that he named the film festival after him.

“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” is available to rent.

Redford’s legacy is one of iconic performances, of activism, and of championing independent films.

Part of his legacy, however, is also a GIF taken from a scene in “Jeremiah Johnson,” in which an almost unrecognizable Redford flashes his winning grin to the camera and gives a nod of approval. Truly, for a generation of people, this might be the most famous image of Redford, even if some think it’s Zach Galifianakis.

Besides its meme potential, “Jeremiah Johnson” is a great film. It’s based on the real-life mountain man, John Jeremiah Johnson, who lived in the Colorado Rocky Mountains in the 1800s. Redford stars as Johnson.

“Jeremiah Johnson” is streaming on Tubi.

The second team-up between Redford and Newman came in 1973 with “The Sting,” a film that also earned Redford his first Oscar nomination — his only acting nomination, somehow.

“The Sting” is based on a real scheme orchestrated by Fred and Charley Gondorff in the 1930s. In the film, Redford plays conman Johnny Hooker and Newman plays his friend and accomplice Henry Gondorff.

Once again, you’re unable to look away from Redford and Newman’s on-screen chemistry, and while the story might be a bit complicated, it’s always a good time.

“The Sting” is available to rent.

We’ve mentioned two Westerns and an iconic heist film — now it’s time to talk about Redford, the romantic lead, as best exemplified in “The Way We Were” alongside Barbra Streisand.

One of the greatest romantic films ever made, “The Way We Were” follows Hubbell Gardiner (Redford) and Katie Morosky (Streisand) as they meet in college, reconnect as adults, struggle through their political and ideological differences, and ultimately realize that love isn’t enough.

In another person’s hands, Hubbell could come across as arrogant or even spineless, but Redford’s undeniable charm makes you root for him, regardless.

“The Way We Were” is available to rent.

The ’70s were a time for tense, political thrillers, and one of the best is “Three Days of the Condor.”

In the film, Redford plays a CIA analyst, Joe Turner, who returns to his office after his lunch break to find all of his coworkers murdered. Thus begins a cat-and-mouse game as Turner evades his would-be killers and picks up a lover on the way, played by a luminous Faye Dunaway.

We won’t say anymore, as the twists and turns of this movie are part of the fun. But rest assured, you’ll be on the edge of your seat.

“Three Days of the Condor” is streaming on MGM+.

Just four years after Watergate rocked the nation, the events leading up to the scandal were immortalized on the big screen in “All the President’s Men,” in which Redford and Dustin Hoffman play Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.

It’s one of the best journalism movies of all time, and remains relevant almost 50 years later. It also makes a nice double feature with another Redford film, “The Candidate,” if you want some extra homework.

“All the President’s Men” is available to rent.

Can you hear the synths? The score of “The Natural” is one of the best-known, but outside its charmingly ’80s music, “The Natural” is a truly rewatchable film about the magic of baseball — and, of course, the magic of Redford.

In it, Redford plays Roy Hobbs, a naturally gifted player whose career ended before it began — but somehow, as a 35-year-old rookie, he starts to rise in the ranks.

“The Natural” is available to rent.

Has this movie aged well? Not exactly, but it was the lone best picture winner that Redford acted in, and he stars opposite another cinematic titan, Meryl Streep, so we can’t compile a Redford hall of fame without it.

In it, Streep plays a young Danish baroness who joins her husband in Kenya in the early 1900s. While there, she meets a big-game hunter, Denys (Redford), and the two develop a relationship.

“Out of Africa” is available to rent.

No, this isn’t the best film on this list, but it was a huge hit. It was also something of a departure for Redford. While not all of Redford’s characters were saints (in fact, none of them were), rarely was he given the opportunity to be slimy, like he can be in this film.

In it, he plays John Gage, a rich man who offers a couple, Diana and David Murphy (Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson), $1 million to spend just one night with Diana. The Murphys need the money, but, as you could imagine, David isn’t thrilled about his wife spending the night with a man who looks like Robert Redford. Drama ensues.

“Indecent Proposal” is available to rent.

Redford’s final film appearance (give or take “Avengers: Endgame”) is a fitting swan song for one of cinema’s most beloved on-screen outlaws.

The film, based on a true story, stars Redford as aging bank robber Forrest Tucker. After Tucker makes his latest escape from prison, he ends up on the farm of Jewel (Sissy Spacek), who makes him consider that his robbing days are over, but a local detective (Casey Affleck) won’t let Tucker’s past die.

“The Old Man & the Gun” is available to rent.

As we mentioned, Redford was nominated for just one acting Oscar, but that he doesn’t mean he never took home a little gold man.

Instead, he won best director for the 1980 drama, “Ordinary People,” which starred Mary Tyler Moore, Donald Sutherland, and Timothy Hutton as the family reeling after the death of Buck, one of two teenage sons.

Redford directed nine feature films, but we’d argue that “Ordinary People” is his best — though you shouldn’t skip “Quiz Show,” “Horse Whisperer” or “A River Runs Through It,” either.

“Ordinary People” is streaming on MGM+.