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When Robert Redford bid farewell to acting in 2016, he left an indelible mark with a filmography teeming with classic hits. It’s rare for an actor to assemble such a collection of timeless films. Indeed, five different cinephiles could each choose their top five Redford films, and every list would still be filled with masterpieces. In Looper’s comprehensive ranking of his works, Redford’s 1973 caper, “The Sting,” claims the top spot. You can decide for yourself if it deserves this accolade by streaming it on Netflix.
In “The Sting,” Redford portrays Johnny Hooker, who joins forces with his crime partner Henry Gondorff, played by Paul Newman, to orchestrate a complex revenge plot against the man responsible for their friend’s demise. This charming, action-packed heist film, brimming with twists, swept the Academy Awards, earning Oscars for best picture, director, screenplay, art direction, costume design, editing, and score. Although Redford was nominated for best actor, the competition was fierce, and Jack Lemmon ultimately clinched the award for “Save the Tiger.” Nonetheless, Redford’s performance as Hooker is often hailed as one of his finest.
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Fans have debated about which Redford and Newman movie is better for decades
“The Sting” marked the second occasion Redford and Newman teamed up for a legendary buddy action film. Their first collaboration, the Western classic “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” was released four years earlier under the same director, George Roy Hill. Given their close release dates, shared stars, and similar themes of criminal teamwork, these films have long sparked debate over which is superior.
In our earlier ranking of Redford’s movies, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” narrowly missed claiming the top spot, landing just behind “The Sting.” It also didn’t top our list of the greatest Paul Newman films, revealing our stance at Looper. While “Butch Cassidy” did win the Oscar for best screenplay, it fell short in the best picture and best director categories. Notably, neither Redford nor Newman received nominations for their roles in this film.
Ultimately, both movies are excellent. While we side with “The Sting,” there really is no definitive winner in this match up, with it all coming down to personal opinion swayed in part by preference for each film’s specific subgenre and tone. But “Butch Cassidy” isn’t currently available on Netflix, so no dice on a double feature at the moment. The film world is still reeling from Robert Redford’s death in 2025, and watching “The Sting” will remind you of just how great he really was.
