# You can pick Only One: what’s your favorite Robert Redford movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [September 18, 2025, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166 "2025-09-18T20:31:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/21 "2025-09-19T00:33:47Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > One poll coming right up… Thanks for that. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/22 "2025-09-19T01:01:22Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > > [@blondebear](#): > > > > Botch Casually And The Somedunce Kid > > I recall the one Mad parody being called The Way We Bore. And The Great Gasbag. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/23 "2025-09-19T01:12:44Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Just one. I’ll go first: The Sting. Yeah, this. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/24 "2025-09-19T01:34:07Z")
I haven’t seen a ton of his movies (apparently 9 according to his wiki, more than I would have guessed), but The Sting by a mile. I’ll have to watch Butch Cassidy at some point. I do not think 3 Days of the Condor stands up. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/25 "2025-09-19T02:19:47Z")
No love for **Downhill Racer**? But seriously, **Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid** narrowly edges out **The Sting**. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/26 "2025-09-19T02:23:47Z")
I would say **The Sting** , mostly because I’m a sucker for heist and con game movies. For similar reasons, I would also list **Sneakers** as another favorite. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/27 "2025-09-19T02:50:13Z")
The Electric Horseman with Redford and Jane Fonda A horse is being exploited and neglected. The bastards have lights strung all over his saddle and bridle. The horse looks like a neon sign. A former rodeo star (Redford) is hired to ride the horse. He sees an inflamed tendon that’s not being treated.. He rides off with the horse and the chase begins. The press sees an opportunity to exploit the story. It’s one of the few pictures that I like Jane Fonda. Corporate greed and the exploitive press are interesting themes in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/28 "2025-09-19T02:51:36Z")
Never been a huge fan of his, but I thought he was terrific in _All The President’s Men._ ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/29 "2025-09-19T06:44:31Z")
Tough call, but I’m going _Sundance._ So many great films, but I just like watching that one the most. The opening scene, classic quotes, Strother Martin, Paul, even the corny music. Love it all. Not a worthless second in that film. _“Think ya used enough Dynamite, there, Butch?”_ ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/30 "2025-09-19T06:56:44Z")
For me, it’s **The Sting**. Redford handles going from small-time grifter to big-time con man over the course of the movie, and sells it perfectly all the way. The fact that I’m a horseplayer myself has nothing to do with my choice. Nosiree, not at all. (I seem to be one of the few who actually got the twist: “Place it on Lucky Dan.”) ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/31 "2025-09-19T07:59:55Z")
**Out of Africa** tho there are many - this one is based on a true story. The book it is based on is an excellent read. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/32 "2025-09-19T11:58:36Z")
I’ll tally up what we have so far. 7 The Sting 6 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 3 Jeremiah Johnson\* 2 Ordinary People 2 All the President’s Men 1 The Candidate\* 1 Three Days of the Condor 1 Spy Game\* 1 The Natural 1 Sneakers\* 1 The Electric Horseman\* 1 Out of Africa\* Oh and I’m not tallying any second place votes. 🙂 > [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > This (Ordinary People) would be my answer too, only Redford doesn’t appear in it. For a movie that stars Redford, I would pick _Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid_. @Two_Many_Cats2, because of your comment and from the OP’s description, I tallied Ordinary People and not Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid for you. Our results here closely follows the results in the Polls Only thread ➜ [Polls only: No discussion - #6230 by John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/6230) ■ \* — it turns out there are many RR films I haven’t seen. These are the ones I’ve added to my Movies to Watch list. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/33 "2025-09-19T12:04:31Z")
“Three Days of the Condor” ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/34 "2025-09-19T12:09:50Z")
For me _Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid._ ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/35 "2025-09-19T12:58:30Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > J.J. for sure. > > Not just a man’s movie. It’s essentially a love story. I agree it’s not just a man’s movie. It’s beautifully filmed by Sydney Pollack. I would love to see it in a theater on a big screen. Masterful job of acting by Redford with very little dialogue. Fun fact: I used to live a couple of miles from where the real Liver-eating Johnson grew up. Yes the great mountain man was from New Jersey. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/36 "2025-09-19T13:01:14Z")
I consider All Is Lost one of the finest movies of this century (and my favorite Redford film). ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/37 "2025-09-19T13:39:28Z")
Updated tally 7 The Sting 7 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 3 Jeremiah Johnson 2 Ordinary People 2 All the President’s Men 2 Three Days of the Condor 1 The Candidate 1 Spy Game 1 The Natural 1 Sneakers 1 The Electric Horseman 1 Out of Africa 1 All Is Lost ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/38 "2025-09-19T14:23:00Z")
I’m from a baseball family so **The Natural** is one of our favorite movies of all time, followed very closely by The Sting. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/39 "2025-09-19T16:01:02Z")
Count me in for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, while a couple others are probably better films overall, it was my absolute favourite movie growing up in the 70s and must have seen it at the theatre or Drive-in a dozen times and countless times when it came out on VHS. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/40 "2025-09-19T16:09:24Z")
Easily The Sting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166.md?page=3)