# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/41 "2025-09-19T16:48:59Z")
_All the President’s Men_ ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/42 "2025-09-19T17:00:05Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Not a worthless second in that film. Not even the “Raindrops…” sequence? ---
**Author:** ![pirviii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pirviii/32/3233_2.png) [@pirviii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pirviii)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/43 "2025-09-19T21:48:25Z")
One of my favorites hasn’t been mentioned yet, Legal Eagles. Really though, it’s hard to choose between The Sting and Sneakers, plus there are so many that I haven’t seen. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/44 "2025-09-19T22:28:56Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > 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. I’be always thought that BC&tSK was one of those movies where the first half is better than the second. The whole sequence with the posse chasing them, and just after, is brilliant. If the whole movie was that good, it would get my vote, but ot loses something after the action shifts to Bolivia. Put me down for _The Sting_. Saw it at a drive-in and remember it all these years later. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/45 "2025-09-19T22:29:11Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Butch and Sundance barely nudges out Sneakers. Oh good, someone mentioned Sneakers before me! The number of people I know who haven’t seen it are surprising to me, and then I realize how old I am compared to some, and how young compared to others. So I’m just the inverse of the section quoted above, Sneakers nudges out Butch and Sundance. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/46 "2025-09-19T22:36:52Z")
Gotta be All The President’s Men for me. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/47 "2025-09-19T22:41:27Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Oh good, someone mentioned Sneakers before me! The number of people I know who haven’t seen it are surprising to me, and then I realize how old I am compared to some, and how young compared to others. My wife and I were talking about Redford last night, and the movies of his which each of us like. I mentioned Sneakers to her, and her eyes lit up: “Ohhh, yeah, I forgot about that one!” We had originally gone to see it together in the theater; I looked it up, and saw that it was released in _1992_…we had apparently gone to the theater to see it just a few weeks after we’d gotten married! I still use a line from late in the movie: when James Earl Jones asks each of the team what they want in return for turning over the macguffin, Whistler (David Straithairn) replies (as per IMDB): > [@](#): > > - [Whistler](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000657/?ref_=ttqu_qu): I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man. > - [Bernard Abbott](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000469/?ref_=ttqu_qu): Oh, this is ridiculous. > - [Martin Bishop](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000602/?ref_=ttqu_qu): He’s serious. > - [Whistler](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000657/?ref_=ttqu_qu): I want peace on earth and goodwill toward men. > - [Bernard Abbott](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000469/?ref_=ttqu_qu): We are the United States Government! We don’t do that sort of thing. So, when someone asks me what I want for Christmas (or my birthday), and I don’t have an idea, I reply with “peace on earth and goodwill toward men.” ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/48 "2025-09-19T22:49:27Z")
In my case, it’s the response of “My voice is my passport” with totally mismatched intonation. It’s my default statement when I’m dealing with any sort of stupid security feature that is simultaneously extremely annoying, while also being largely ineffective. ---
**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, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/49 "2025-09-19T23:51:00Z")
Updated tally. So far it’s The Sting by a nose (ha ha). 9 The Sting 8 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 4 All the President’s Men 4 Sneakers 3 Jeremiah Johnson 2 Ordinary People 2 Three Days of the Condor 2 The Natural 1 The Candidate 1 Spy Game 1 The Electric Horseman 1 Out of Africa 1 All Is Lost > [@pirviii](#): > > One of my favorites hasn’t been mentioned yet, Legal Eagles. Really though, it’s hard to choose between The Sting and Sneakers, plus there are so many that I haven’t seen. Hey @pirviii is that a vote or just a comment? Because I don’t see a vote in this. Unless you already voted. Anyway LMK if you want a vote tallied, and I will. Unless you’ve already voted. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > So, when someone asks me what I want for Christmas (or my birthday), and I don’t have an idea, I reply with “peace on earth and goodwill toward men.” Hey @kenobi Perry funny . I like it! I tallied one vote for you and one for your wife. If you already voted upthread just LMK and I’ll remove one. I’m not going to fish for it upthread. Thanks. If anyone wants to pass on their spouse’s vote, sure why not? I’ll include it. Alright, why not, I’ll also include any of your significant others too or friends and family too if you want to pass that on. Honor system here… I’m gonna ask da wife, she’s with me in the car right now. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/50 "2025-09-20T00:17:53Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > All the President’s Men **All the President’s Men** is such a great film. I like it because of its laser-focus on the plot: there’s no romantic side-plot or any other distraction that is so prevalent in Hollywood movies. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/51 "2025-09-20T00:48:31Z")
Good point. ---
**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 20, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/52 "2025-09-20T00:51:29Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > I’m gonna ask da wife, she’s with me in the car right now. I almost forgot to ask her. Just did. She said The Sting. She also said more: “That is the only correct answer, but what about you?” So I told her. She can be such a pain in the ass, but yeah, I love her. More importantly, she loves me! Must not forget that part. 🙂 ---
**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 20, 2025, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/53 "2025-09-20T00:54:57Z")
So yeah, we just got home and turned on the TV. On YouTube they have an RR movie I never heard of, Downhill Racer, with Gene Hackman. I checked wiki and its reception was pretty good so we’re going to watch it now. It’s free on YouTube. Neither of us had heard of it before. It’s from 1969, we shall see… ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/54 "2025-09-20T01:17:57Z")
(Cross-posted from the RIP thread) One movie not mentioned yet…and possibly not on anyone’s “favorite” list: [A Walk In The Woods](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1178665/). Redford plays Bill Bryson, who tackles the Appalachian Trail with his disheveled friend (Nick Nolte). The movie (like the book) is a bit disappointing overall, but it’s kind of fun to watch them bumble around in the wilderness. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/55 "2025-09-20T02:22:53Z")
Since spousal votes are counted, add another one for Sneakers. She is avoiding news more than I do (or can for that matter), and hadn’t realized Redford had passed. And she was trying to remember which movie he was in that she loved. And I fed her some lines from Sneakers and she said “oh yeah, the one with the stupid voice password!”. Honestly it may _also_ be the only RR movie she’s seen, since she’s not a fan of westerns and much of his work was before we were old enough to be avid movie goers (for Sneakers we were both in our senior year of HS or 1st year of college when it came out). We’re planning on watching it again as tribute on Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/56 "2025-09-20T02:24:47Z")
I’m the flip of this. Butch and Sundance has more nostalgia for me though since I was a lot younger when I saw it. I still think I like Sneakers a bit better. ETA: [Sneakers is free to watch on YouTube](https://youtu.be/Qy9XYQBBIJ4) (the whole movie in one go and officially YouTube approved…you may see ads depending on your account with YouTube). ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Burden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jack\_Burden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Burden)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/57 "2025-09-20T03:28:19Z")
It’s Sundance for me. The opening card game/quick draw scene establishes both main characters so well, including how dangerous the Kid is. I love the rapport between the two leads through the whole film. I do find it interesting to have no takers on Barefoot in the Park or The Way We Were for whatever reason, but they don’t make my list either. Not when you’ve got Spy Game and The Natural and Sneakers and Jeremiah Johnson out there. An under appreciated role in my book is Redford’s work in Winter Soldier - I find his brutal logic of protecting America by depriving its citizens of individual liberty and taking first strike action against independent thinkers far more compelling and terrifying than the usual comic book Uber-villain. He and Sam Jackson’s Nick Fury are great together. ---
**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 20, 2025, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/58 "2025-09-20T03:55:51Z")
Updated tally, + who has voted below it. Butch & Sundance are now in the lead. I realize I’m doing this the difficult way, but, so be it. 10 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 9 The Sting 5 All the President’s Men 5 Sneakers 3 Jeremiah Johnson 2 Ordinary People 2 Three Days of the Condor 2 The Natural 1 The Candidate 1 Spy Game 1 The Electric Horseman 1 Out of Africa 1 All is Lost • You’ve voted already: 2\_More\_Bits aceplace57 Beckdawreck blondebear Broomstick Bullitt + wife Crafter\_Man DCnDC dolphinboy Gatopescado Jack\_Burden Jasmine JKellyMap John\_DiFool kenobi\_65 + wife Llama\_Llogophile Loach Lurkmeister MacDoc Munch needscoffee ParallelLines + wife pkbites Prof.Pepperwinkle Robot\_Arm ShadowFacts Si\_Amigo Snarky\_Kong Sparky812 Spoons Stephe96 Stranger\_On\_A\_Train Telemark The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper ThelmaLou TreacherousCretin Two\_Many\_Cats2 Whack-a-Mole What \_Exit ZipperJJ • > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > My wife and I were talking about Redford last night, and the movies of his which each of us like. I mentioned Sneakers to her, and her eyes lit up: “Ohhh, yeah, I forgot about that one!” I did record your wife’s vote, and corrected my tally because you had already voted earlier, upthread. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/59 "2025-09-20T03:59:31Z")
> [@Jack\_Burden](#): > > An under appreciated role in my book is Redford’s work in Winter Soldier - I find his brutal logic of protecting America by depriving its citizens of individual liberty and taking first strike action against independent thinkers far more compelling and terrifying than the usual comic book Uber-villain. He and Sam Jackson’s Nick Fury are great together. I agree; I’d mentioned Winter Soldier in another thread about Redford. It’s one of my favorite MCU movies, in part because it’s not really a superhero movie: it’s an espionage thriller wearing superhero clothes. And, it’s one of the few times where Redford played a villain (and a particularly interesting one, as you note). ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2025, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166/60 "2025-09-20T04:04:37Z")
Spy Game It gets low ratings and may not feature the best acting, but I love the story: great combination of plot, sentiment, thrills and humor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-pick-only-one-what-s-your-favorite-robert-redford-movie/1023166.md?page=4)