15 Best Kevin Costner Movies

The best of Kevin Costner’s movies Showcase the iconic career of one of Hollywood’s most famous movie stars. While many fans may know Costner best for his role in YellowstoneHe has an extensive and impressive movie career behind him that helped make him one of the biggest stars in the world, earned big box office successes, and won him a couple of Oscars over the years. Along with his work as a director, Costner’s acting career in movies has delivered so many notable roles.

Costner’s career has had a fascinating trajectory over the years. He started out as a struggling actor with supporting roles in big movies before breaking through and becoming one of Hollywood’s most popular leading men. While he slipped away from being the biggest man in Hollywood after several cinematic failures, he bounced back and focused more on character actor roles in a variety of films. Although Costner is very consumed with his Horizon saga of movies right now, his best movies offer plenty for fans to look back on.

15

Man of Steel (2013)

Like Jonathan Kent

Kevin Costner Takes on an Iconic DC Comic Book Character in Zack Snyder’s Kickoff of the Snyderverse While also participating in one of the most controversial moments in comic book movie history. Man of Steel is the epic retelling of the legend of Superman with Henry Cavill taking on the role in the story of his life before he moved to Metropolis as Clark Kent, living an isolated life, trying to hide his amazing abilities from the World.

Costner is a big part of the story as Jonathan Kent, the kind farmer who adopted Kal-El as a child and raised him. This is a unique take on the paternal character, as Jonathan is a loving father, but he is convinced that Clark should not use his powers to intervene and save people because it risks exposing him to the world. The movie earned a mixed reaction, with some not liking the darker take on Superman, but it has gained more appreciation over the years. Costner helps ground the story with his reserved yet effective performance.

14

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Like Robin Hood

Kevin Costner is perhaps not the first person fans think of to play Robin Hood, But the result is a fun adventure movie. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Finds Costner playing the legendary hero who returns to his old home of Nottingham to find it taken over by the corrupt and evil sheriff (Alan Rickman). Hiding in the forest and gathering an army of his “happy people”, Robin becomes a bane to the people.

Much has been made of Costner’s poor accent in the movie, and it’s certainly not his best performance, but He pulls off the handsome and charming hero role better than he is given credit for. However, the film excels as pure Hollywood entertainment. It’s a big-budget adventure movie that isn’t really made the same way anymore and still holds up as a fun time decades later. However, the highlight of the movie is Rickman’s very entertaining villain performance.

13

McFarland, USA (2015)

Like coach Jim White

Kevin Costner has a quality as an actor that seems tailor-made for inspirational sports dramas. McFarland USA is one such film in which Costner stars as a man who takes a job as a gym teacher at a small high school after losing his football coaching job. There he found a group of talented Latino students who he turned into a competitive cross-country team.

Critics have admitted that the film does not break any new ground with its familiar underdog story. However, the formula proves to work thanks to a lot of heart, humor and a solid lead performance from Costner. He balances the mentor character well, pushing the boys to reach their full potential while also coming to understand the hardships they face.. Cross-country is not a sport that is often represented in Hollywood movies, but director Nicky Caro does a good job and makes it exciting, easy to follow and cinematic.

12

Molly’s Game (2017)

Like Larry Bloom

Aaron Sorkin has established a successful career as a celebrated screenwriter, However Play Molly’s game was the first time he stepped behind the camera to show. The real-life story follows Molly Bloom (Jessika Chastain), a former Olympic athlete who makes a more infamous name for herself by hosting high-stakes poker games. Her unexpected journey to fortune ultimately puts her in the crosshairs of the law. Also at the center of the story is her struggle with her estranged father (Costner).

Costner is known as an iconic movie star, however Play Molly’s game Showed how effective he can be in a supporting role. His character of Larry Bloom is a complex one, as he is a flawed family man whose mistakes have led to his poor relationship with his daughter. However, when she is at her lowest, he is there with some helpful fatherly support. Sorkin delivers yet another smart and energetic script, while also proving his skills as a director. Chastain is excellent in the complex leading role.

11

Thirteen Days (2000)

Like Ken O’Donnell

Kevin Costner has featured in a number of political thrillers throughout his career. While Thirteen days Might not be the most famous, it’s still a gripping film worth checking out. Set during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the film takes a look behind closed doors as President John F. Kennedy and his most trusted advisers attempt to handle the situation before it escalates into a conflict that could end the entire world.

Costner plays Ken O’Donnell, a consultant and friend of President Kennedy, who helps steer the president away from a devastating war. The talented cast adds a lot to this tense and compelling story of one of the most significant moments in American history. While Bruce Greenwood is the standout with his performance as Kennedy, Costner helps ground the story with his nuanced performance In the tense and claustrophobic tale.

10

Hidden Figures (2016)

Like Al Harrison

Hidden figures is one of those incredible true stories that, amazingly, has been kept a secret for all these years. The movie stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe as the female African-American mathematician who served a vital role in the early years of NASA’s space program. Along with the rest of the supporting cast including Mahershala Ali, Kirsten Dunst and Glen Powell, Costner stands out as Al Harrison, Henson’s tough but supportive boss.

The movie is a charming, heartwarming, and relatable story that celebrates the real-life people who never get the recognition they deserve. While the racial politics of the era are explored in a surface-level way, it is an inspiring look at people who defied society and convention to show their brilliance. It is a movie filled with wonderful performances and positive energy, earning it high praise from critics and three Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.

9

Silverdo (1985)

Like Jake

In Kevin Costner’s first Western movie, the actor played a role far different from the stoic and serial Western heroes he is known for. Silverdo is a western adventure with a nice comic tone, which follows a misfit collection of unlikely heroes who come together in a small town to right a wrong that has been done. Costner plays the youngest of the group, the gung-ho gunslinger Jake.

The movie features a standout cast that includes Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Danny Glover and Jeff Goldblum. however, Costner gives a breakout performance, stealing the show with the funniest and most entertaining performance in the movie. It’s a lot of fun to see him playing a wild character like this. While the Western genre was falling out of popularity at the time, SilverdoIts fun throwback energy helped to keep it alive a little longer.

8

Open Range (2003)

Like Charlie White

After the failure of the post-apocalyptic drama The postman, Kevin Costner took a five-year break from directing movies. When he returned, it was in a genre he was comfortable with and he reminded everyone of his immense talents behind the camera. Open Range Costner partners with Robert Duvall as two villains who have a run-in with a corrupt sheriff. Costner’s character, Charlie Waite, is a reformed gunslinger who finds himself returning to his old ways of taking on the wrongdoing.

Costner is comfortable enough to give Duvall the more talkative role while delivering a quiet and reserved performance as a man with a dark past. HoweverThe two make a formidable on-screen team as the unassuming heroes in a small but effective Western story. Costner is able to keep the audience hooked throughout, all leading to an excellent climatic shootout.

7

No Way Out (1987)

Like Lieutenant Commander Tom Farrell

In another one of his earliest leading man roles, Kevin Costner showed his ability to manage a complex and intriguing story in a cast that featured some big names. in no way outCostner plays a naval officer who investigates the murder of a politician’s mistress with whom he was also involved. When he digs deeper, he finds that he is being targeted for the coverup.

The movie is a throwback to the classic conspiracy thrillers and fits nicely among the best of the genre. Gene Hackman does a great job as a politician at the center of this scandal. It’s a star-making performance from CostnerWith him excelling at playing the hero who is sometimes in over his head, but smarter than people give him credit for. No way out Makes for a pulse-pounding thriller with plenty of twists and turns till the end.

6

Dances with Wolves (1990)

Like Lieutenant John J. Dunbar

While he was already a star in Hollywood, Kevin Costner made a stunning debut as a director in this Western epic. Costner also stars in the film as a Union officer during the Civil War who is assigned to a remote outpost where he meets the local Native Americans in the area. As he learns more about the people and their culture, he forms a bond with them.

Although some critics argued that the lack of substance of the story is a weak point of the film, Costner was praised for his direction. The epic feel of the film is captured in stunning and beautiful sequences that showcase the western frontier. The three-hour runtime of the movie did not intimidate the audience as much Dances with wolves became a huge box office success. Its success continued at the Oscars, where it won seven awards, including Best Director for Costner and Best Picture.

5

JFK (1991)

Like Jim Garrison

years before Thirteen daysKevin Costner starred in another political thriller with John F. Kennedy, this time around the president’s assassination. Oliver Stone JFK Tells the story of New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison (Costner), who digs deeper into the infamous assassination and finds that the government has not told the full story to the public. This leads to him being embroiled in one of the most shocking court cases in American history How Garrison sought to blame someone else for the Kennedy assassination.

Like much of Stone’s work, the film was met with a lot of controversy, with many criticizing its factual accuracy. However, taken as a political thriller, JFK Keep the audience on the edge of their seats with this dizzying saga of secrets and lies surrounding the assassination. The cast is filled with notable names, including Tommy Lee Jones, Joe Pesci, Kevin Bacon, John Candy, and others. however, Costner’s performance helps ground the story from spiraling out of control with all the conspiracy theories.

4

A Perfect World (1993)

Like Robert “Butch” Haynes

While Kevin Costner is often considered among the best actors turned directors, He worked with another legend of the category, Directed by Clint Eastwood in A perfect world. Costner plays Butch, an escaped convict who kidnaps a young boy while on the run from the law. With a determined lawman on their tail (played by Eastwood), Butch and the boy begin to develop a bond.

The movie strikes an impressive balance of comedy, thrills and drama with Costner helping achieve this through his layered character. Butch is charming and funny, but he can also be dark and threatening. The interactions with the young boy show the unique relationship with Butch simply wanting to be his protector and father figure, but also just wanting a friend. This is one of Costner’s best performances and certainly his most underrated.

3

The Untouchables (1987)

Like Elliot Ness

Kevin Costner secured one of his biggest leading man roles to date in Brian De Palma’s crime epic, The Untouchables. Set in the Prohibition era, Costner plays Elliott Ness, a determined and professional federal agent who assembles a special task force to take on notorious crime boss Al Capone (Robert De Niro). However, as the team starts to destroy Capone’s bootlegging business, the gangster targets them as well.

Costner fits the hero role perfectly with Ness as the “boy scout” lawman who wants to see justice done. He shows off his movie star credentialsCapably leading a cast with the likes of De Niro and an Oscar-winning turn from Sean Connery. It is true that the movie bears little accuracy to the actual gangster story, but it is still a highly entertaining ride with some unforgettable sequences staged by De Palma, especially the iconic train station sequence.

2

Field of Dreams (1989)

Like Ray Kinsella

The sports drama Field of dreams has gone down as one of the most heartwarming films of all time, serving as an ode not only to the sport of baseball but also to father-son relationships. It stars Costner as a man who, hearing voices, decides to build a baseball diamond in his cornfield. When he does, it magically brings back the players of the 1919 Chicago White Sox, including the disgraced Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta).

The movie takes a strange fairy tale premise and turns it into a sweeping and emotional story that will resonate with many viewers. Costner is terrific in the lead role, mixing the charm of a man who follows his instincts with the anxiety of a man who might lose his mind.. The film’s sentimentality is never overdone, and it makes for a wonderful story of redemption, family, and baseball.

1

Bull Durham (1988)

Like Crash Davis

Field of dreams Wasn’t Kevin Costner’s only baseball film to strike a chord with audiences. Bull Durham is a romantic comedy that stars Costner as a veteran catcher on a minor league team who begins mentoring a talented yet troubled pitcher (Tim Robbins). As the two men form an uneasy partnership, a seductive fan (Susan Sarandon) comes between them.

Along with Kevin Costner’s best sports movie, Bull Durham Is just the best movie the actor has ever starred in. It’s a fun look at the sport of baseball and those who play for the love of the game, even if it doesn’t always love them back. However, it’s also a funny and sexy rom-com with Costner pulling off the sports hero role and the romantic lead. He has great chemistry with both Robbins and Sarandon, which makes for a wonderful sports movie love triangle long before Challengers Made a splash.