While Kevin Costner is mostly known as the king of television these days, his best movies prove that he’s always been one of our biggest stars on the big screen.

If Kevin Costner His filmography proves one thing, he is brave. Old-Yellowstone cast member has seen his share of setbacks and setbacks, while also acting (and producing and directed) are some of the greatest hits known to mankind.

As an advocate Western Costner, who loves all-American stories, has carved out a place for himself in cinema history. He has ventured into many genres, donning a cowboy hat as easily as uncovering a political conspiracy or leading a baseball team to victory.

From Razzies to riches, here’s our ranking of the ten best Kevin Costner movies.

10. Water World (1995)

Universal Pictures

Subject: After the glaciers melted, most of the world was submerged, leaving behind a small group of people who adapted to the new aquatic world. When a lone man known as the Mariner is assigned to protect a woman and a young child, he must help them find the fabled “Dry Land.”

Why we love it: Put the knives down. Yes, historically speaking, Waterworld has been crowned one of the biggest flops of all time. (Although technically it’s an action movie I did Make its money back on home video sales.) But Waterworld’s place in Kevin Costner’s filmography is emblematic of who he is as a star.

Costner is a man willing to take the biggest risks (financially and critically) to produce something great. That’s why Waterworld is so polarizing, and yet why we’re still talking about it today. Despite being Hollywood’s nadir, Waterworld serves up lavish fare with impressive stunts and unimaginable brutality.

9. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Warner Bros.

Subject: An adaptation of the classic tale, Prince of Thieves follows Robin Hood and his merry band of men as they attempt to take back Nottingham from the cruel grasp of the evil Sheriff.

Why we love it: Similar to Waterworld (and frankly many other entries on this list), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves didn’t have much to do with positive reviews. But I’ll be damned if it’s not a good time, complete with incredibly questionable accents and a scenery-chewing performance by the late Alan Rickman.

Even though Robin Hood is gentle and romantic, he still feels like a action movie It’s a holdover from Hollywood’s golden age, prioritizing energy and scale over realism and logic. There’s not much of a defense against the claim that Kevin Costner was almost entirely miscast as the protagonist, but hey, when has Robin Hood ever had a perfect pass?

8. Horizon: An American Legend – Part 1 (2024)

Warner Bros.

Subject: The first part of Costner’s four-part Western epic. Horizon: An American LegendIt follows the lives of various groups in the Old West: a mother and daughter duo who survive a violent attack, a group of bandits who set out to hunt for the scalps of Native Americans, and a traveling convoy of settlers.

Why we love it: The stakes were always high in Costner’s American Saga. When reduced to two options — sticking with Yellowstone or opting for his 30-year passion project instead — the choice was clear for Costner. In a way, his entire filmography had been building up to now. Was it worth it? …Sort of!

There’s nothing groundbreaking about Horizon, but perhaps that’s the point. At a time when Westerns were mostly successful on the small screen, Costner wanted to tell an epic, multi-layered story about the trials and tribulations of finding your way in the Old West. And that’s exactly what he did. And the sheer scope of setting, soundtrack, and sordid characters certainly brings the spirit of old Westerns to life.

7. Bodyguard (1992)

Warner Bros.

Subject: When a professional bodyguard is hired to protect a famous pop star who is receiving alarming death threats, the two opposing figures learn to get along and soon fall in love.

Why we love it: The reaction to The Bodyguard is truly one of cinema’s greatest overreactions. Seven nominations at the Razzie Awards are an insult to one of the most successful horny movies of the ’90s!

Yeah, it’s a little corny. Yes, it is played for dramatic purposes. But when Costner and Whitney Houston shared the screen, there was undeniable magic there. Costner, too, knew how to lean into the role of the stoic, hard-to-please troublemaker; just like Houston knows how to play the strong-willed, independent superstar. It would be nice to see Costner in more gripping romantic roles, but if all we have is The Bodyguard, this is more than enough. Frank Farmer, we will always love you.

6.Silverado (1985)

Columbia Pictures

Subject: A group of outlaw cowboys find themselves defending the small town of Silverado, which is being corrupted by an abusive rancher and sheriff.

Why we love it: Dances with Wolves brought the ’90s back to Western excitement, but it wasn’t exactly a stellar decade before that. In fact, most ’80s Westerns left a lot to be desired; Silverado was the exception.

Compared to his later films, Silverado can sometimes get lost in Costner’s filmography, but it’s a fine addition to the rest of the group, standing out for its energetic action and appropriate homage to the genre.

It emulates some of the most classic films of the genre, with impressive gunfights, sprawling and visually stunning environments, and plenty of adventure. It’s also always fascinating to witness Costner during his supporting cast era.

5. The Untouchables (1987)

Paramount Pictures

Subject: During the Prohibition era, law enforcement agent Eliot Ness assembles a team to take down the infamous Al Capone once and for all.

Why we love it: If you think Kevin Costner would be great in a Western or baseball movie, you’re not prepared for what happens when you see him in one. mafia film. It’s the best kind of cat-and-mouse movie, retelling an actual piece of history with Ocean’s Eleven-style fluidity.

It’s violent enough to appeal to fans of gangster stories, but The Untouchables also manages to create a dramatic tug-of-war between heroes and villains. Needless to say, a movie starring Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, and Sean Connery shouldn’t require too much praise, but let’s say it anyway: it’s one of the best modern mob stories available.

4.JFK (1991)

Warner Bros.

Subject: Jim Garrison, the New Orleans district attorney assigned to investigate the assassination of John F. Kennedy, uncovers new details about the case, causing the public to second-guess their opinion. As he digs deeper, the government pushes him back.

Why we love it: On the surface, JFK is a hard-hitting political drama that keeps you under the influence of an evolving conspiracy. But it’s also a masterclass in pacing and editing; It makes you feel like you’re traveling inside Jim Garrison’s mind as he becomes embroiled in a potentially dangerous series of insights.

It lasts three and a half hours and is not for the faint of heart. But if you allow yourself to succumb to the chaos of increasing paranoia and stress, then it will fly away. You must also admit that he plays with reality like a puppet master who is not interested in history, but that doesn’t matter. JFK is more of a nightmare than a memory.

3. Field of Dreams (1989)

Universal Pictures

Subject: A struggling farmer begins seeing the ghosts of famous baseball players appear in his field, leading him to create a baseball diamond in his own backyard.

Why we love it: If John Mulaney’s speech at the Oscars hasn’t sold it yet, then just know that Field of Dreams is a true example of American sentimentality. One of Costner’s more family-friendly roles, Field of Dreams is a fairy tale for the average guy.

The idea of ​​a man being haunted by a strange goal under the influence of ghosts may sound like the story of man’s descent into madness, but Field of Dreams is a fascinating story about what it means to believe. A. sports movie for the ages and one of Costner’s greatest.

2. Dances with Wolves (1990)

Orion Pictures

Subject: When Lieutenant John Dunbar is assigned to a Civil War outpost, he becomes attached to a local Lakota Native American tribe. As they get closer, he finds himself drawn to their lifestyle and questions his own old life.

Why we love it: Everyone from your grandparents to the Library of Congress has seen Dances with Wolves best movies of all time and for good reason. It defined the Western for a new era and essentially solidified Kevin Costner as the genre’s darling. He effectively brought Westerns back from the dead, a move he later tried to replicate with Horizon: An American Saga.

But Dances with Wolves beats Horizon every day of the week. It’s the epitome of ’90s studio output: big, bold and unwilling to put itself into a single box. It’s also like looking at an old painting, making it easy to understand why Costner was so drawn to the genre.

1. Bull Durham (1988)

Orion Pictures

Subject: In minor league baseball, veteran “Crash” Davis is assigned to mentor rookie pitcher “Nuke” LaLoosh. Meanwhile, Annie, a fan of the team, finds herself torn between two different players.

Why we love it: If you’re expecting to find another Western at the top of this list, you’re wrong. As much as Costner likes to put on a cowboy hat and get it over with, there’s a lot of happiness in his odes to baseball and Americana.

Maybe it’s dramatic to say that Bull Durham was the Challengers before the Challengers were the Challengers, but hey, if the cleats fit! It’s a love triangle set in the unlikely world of minor league baseball; A love triangle where the characters live so far into the league that it feels like you’ve been following them for years.

It is undoubtedly fascinating and entertaining, but it is also driven by the alarming question of when people should grow up. Therefore, Bull Durham is not an ordinary “sports movie”; An unexpected and unforgettable look at love and baseball.

For more, take a look at them all new movies will be out soon. You can also see what New movies are released this monthand find out what’s going on Horizon: An American Legend – Part 2.