Sneakers (1992) – The Best Movie You Never Saw

In 1992, Universal released the star-studded techno-thriller Sneakers, starring Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, Dan Aykroyd, David Strathairn, Mary McDonnell, Ben Kingsley, and the late, great River Phoenix. Cutting edge thirty years ago, nowadays it’s a fun-filled relic of its time, complete with dial-up modems and nostalgic tech from an era when the internet was starting to enter the mainstream. Written by the same duo behind Wargames, Sneakers was a modest hit when it first came out but is often overlooked nowadays, which is why we thought it would be a great movie to feature on this week’s The Best Movie You Never Saw!

While some folks consider this a minor classic (we have people on staff who count this among their favorite films of all time), it’s a movie that seems unfairly obscure. Part of it may be because technology has changed so much. Elements have become comedic. That’s not an issue, though, as Sneakers was always a lighthearted caper. Director Phil Alden Robinson eschewed the violence of a typical thriller, taking a lighter approach. The movie was so non-violent that the MPAA threatened it with a PG, the box office kiss of death, so they went back in and threw in some F-bombs and a little sex, giving it an edgier PG-13.

It stands as one of star Robert Redford’s most purely entertaining later-day films. In some ways, he’s become most famous now as the elder statesman of American cinema and the father of Sundance, but in his day, he was one charming leading man. If you like Sneakers, for more peak Redford make sure to check out the similarly themed The Hot Rock and Three Days of the Condor, and, of course, The Sting.

Do you think 1992’s Sneakers is unfairly obscure or a classic? Let us know in the comments below!