When it comes to Hollywood royalty,Robert Redfordis at the very top. People are familiarized mostly with his acting career, but Redford’s endeavors in producing and directing are noteworthy as well. In fact, the only time he ever got an Academy Award was for directingOrdinary Peoplein 1980. Not too shabby for the guy whose debut in the ’60s was notable because of his looks, and not for his acting or directing skills.
His contribution to cinema is still relevant today. One of the foundersof the Sundance Film Festival, Redford has retired from acting, but he’s still executive producing projects that are related to his activism agenda, and appearing in documentaries about some of his peers. Which makes us think: Why doesn’t someone make a documentary about Redford? That’s one interesting story to tell.
We took a look at his Rotten Tomatoes score and ranked the top 20 films he directed or acted in, as well as those appearances in the documentaries that are truly important to understand Redford’s role in Hollywood history. Enjoy!
20Downhill Racer (1969) - 85%
Downhill Racertells the story of a downhill skier called David Chappellet (Redford), who joins the US National Team to compete in Switzerland but has a difficult relationship with his coach (Gene Hackman). Redford and Hackman are good enough in the film for accomplishing the dramatic frame needed for the film to be more than just a sports drama. Roger Ebert was very vocal about his love for the film.
Related:Film Noir: The Best Neo-Noir Movies of the ’70s
19Three Days of the Condor (1975) - 88%
The very underrated political thrillerThree Days of the Condorstarts Redford as Joe Turner as a CIA worker who gets in the middle of a conspiracy that left everyone he worked with dead. The Sydney Pollack film has a very particular ’70s style that could make it seem less serious than it needs to be. But Redford’s performance is effective enough to make you very, very tense.
18Pete’s Dragon (2016) - 88%
The live-action remake of the classic by Disney is an underrated film that’s much better than the recent entries of the House of Mouse. Redford plays Conrad, the old man who seems to know one too many stories about Pete’s dragon, Elliot.Pete’s Dragonis a family feature that readapts the 1977 film sans musical scenes and gives us one of Redford’s latest performances that actually matters.
17The Chase (1966) - 89%
Arthur Penn’sThe Chaseis a thrill ride of a movie starring many familiar faces. Aside from Redford, there’s Marlon Brando, E.G. Marshall, Jane Fonda, and Robert Duvall. It tellsthe story of a town shakenby someone coming home. Bubber (Redford) has escaped from prison, and he will get matters settled as things have changed since he got imprisoned. This one is very ’60s so be aware there are some sequences typically inserted in films of that era.
16The Candidate (1972) - 89%
InThe Candidate, Redford plays Bill McKay, a political candidate that doesn’t even want the gig, and is put there to comply with the party his father is part of. This one won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1973, and depicted Redford in a genre that he wasn’t very familiar with, but confirmed he could actually make fun of himself.
15Our Souls at Night (2017) - 89%
Redford’s most recent reunion with Fonda (they’ve made four films together) is a romantic drama hidden on Netflix that you should see right away.Our Souls at Nighttells the story of two elderly neighbors who’ve lived beside each other for years, have become widowers, and have now decided to connect.
14Ordinary People (1980) - 89%
Redford’s Academy Award for Best Director was very well-deserved.Ordinary Peopleis a film we don’t revisit as much as we should, and it’s a great rendering of a family being deconstructed by tragedy, sadness, and the reality they must now face. It seems uncanny that this is Redford’s feature directorial debut.
13Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) - 89%
Redford is the Sundance Kid and Paul Newman is Butch Cassidy in one of the most famous films on the listButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The Western tells the story of two outlaws trying to flee to Bolivia after a posse begins chasing them. The action pieces and the stunts are impressive, but unfortunately, people mostly remember the song specifically written for the picture. Yeah, as good as it is, it’s hard to associateRaindrops Keep Falling on My Headwith the film. This could be the best buddy film ever made.
Related:Every Movie Directed by Robert Redford, Ranked
12The Unforeseen (2007) - 90%
Redford shows up in the documentaryThe Unforeseenand is a key piece in trying to transmit the importance of the story being told. The film tells the storyof the environmental impactof urban growth in an area called Barton Springs in Texas. Perhaps, Redford’s appearance is too short, but the message he gives is far too important to discard.
11Sidney (2022) - 90%
Sidney Poitier and Redford starred together inSneakers, the film about sophisticated thieves trying to retrieve a very important box. This made Redford a good pick for the documentary about Poitier being one of the most important figures in cinema history. When it comes to biographical documentaries about Hollywood icons,Sidneyis a film you definitely should watch.
