Robert Redford has passed away in his sleep aged 89 years old and in “the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved”, according to his representative and as reported by the New York Times.
Best known for his roles in multiple films of the late ‘60s and ‘70s, Redford has built one of the most distinguished careers of the 20th century, moving seamlessly from rugged leading man to politically charged filmmaker and industry figurehead.
He won the Academy Award for directing Ordinary People in 1980, founded the Sundance Film Festival, and became a symbol of American cinema’s golden age.
Redford’s filmography spans over half a century, with roles that defined the landscape of modern movies. From Westerns and political thrillers to con-man classics and even a Marvel cameo late in his career, his work reflects both range and longevity. Here are the five Robert Redford that are ranked the highest on reviewing platform Letterboxd, in order of ratings.
5. Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
3.8/5
Directed by Sydney Pollack, Jeremiah Johnson saw Robert Redford in one of his most memorable frontier roles. The film tells the story of a Mexican War veteran who retreats into the Rocky Mountains to live as a hermit, only to become a legendary mountain man.
Redford starred as Jeremiah Johnson, carrying much of the film with minimal dialogue and a strong physical presence. His performance captured both the solitude and brutality of wilderness survival, turning the film into a meditative Western.
The movie also marked one of several collaborations between Redford and Pollack, a partnership that helped shape some of the actor’s finest work. Over time, Jeremiah Johnson gained cult status and is now considered a classic of the revisionist Western era.
(Image: Getty)
4. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
3.9/5
While best known for his 1970s and 1980s roles, Redford surprised fans with a late-career appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In Avengers: Endgame, he reprised his role as Alexander Pierce, a high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. official secretly aligned with Hydra – first introduced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).
Though his screen time in Endgame was brief, the Russo brothers confirmed that his cameo marked his final acting role before retirement.
(Image: ©Marvel Studios 2019)
3. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
4.2/5
This buddy Western not only defined Robert Redford’s career but also cemented his on-screen partnership with Paul Newman. Directed by George Roy Hill, the film tells the story of outlaws Butch Cassidy (Newman) and the Sundance Kid (Redford) as they attempt to outrun the law.
Redford’s turn as the succinct, sharp-shooting Sundance Kid gave him the breakout role he had been waiting for. The film’s witty script, charismatic performances, and iconic ending turned it into one of the most beloved Westerns ever made.
The movie won four Academy Awards, including Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography, and is one of the defining buddy-genre films.
(Image: Getty)
2. All the President’s Men (1976)
4.2/5
In the aftermath of Watergate, Robert Redford co-produced and starred in All the President’s Men, a film that remains one of the greatest political thrillers ever made. Directed by Alan J. Pakula, it dramatizes the real-life investigation by Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward (Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman).
The film followed the journalists as they uncovered the details of the Watergate scandal, which ultimately led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation. Redford’s portrayal of Woodward was restrained and precise, capturing the dogged determination of investigative journalism.
The film won four Academy Awards and was nominated for Best Picture, though it lost to Rocky.
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