Every Kevin Costner Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

As one of the few elite movie stars in history, Kevin Costner was able to make an impact on the film sphere in each decade he was active. His first credit came in 1981, and his work continued to grow steadily over time. Kevin Costner’s career has experienced the highest box office successes, Oscar wins, and critical acclaim, as well as some career lows that would be impossible to recover from, even for many great actors.

In addition to his undeniable talent and motivation, Kevin Costner has a rare type of charm that appeals to all audiences. Their performances evoke feelings of strength, vulnerability, safety and emotions in equal measure.commanding the screen with every step. He’s been a leading man, a great supporting character, a legacy star, and even a background actor. His list of credits is long, spanning multiple genres and varying levels of quality, but whenever Kevin Coster is involved, there’s an undeniable level of class.

51

Sizzle Beach USA (1981)

Also known as Hot summer in Malibu

Costner’s first film credit, this silly and raunchy comedy, was not well received by critics or audiences at the time of its initial release (or subsequent re-release in 1986). The actor tried to buy the rights to the film later in his career, as he felt embarrassed about it, but was denied. Few people remember this rare misstep, and with a 2.7 rating on IMDbIt’s probably for the best.

50

Night Shift (1982)

Second film credit

This wacky comedy boasts an impressive main cast that includes Michael Keaton, Henry Winkler and Shelley Long. It was also directed by Ron Howard and was moderately successful at the time, with the three leads being praised for their chemistry. Kevin Costner played Frat Boy #1, so while it wasn’t a notable role, he was on his way to building a solid list of credits.

49

Shadows Run in Black (1984)

The film that almost never existed

This project was shelved for a few years after it was carried out, but due to Costner’s Rising Star Powerthe film was finally released. Poorly received and underperforming financially, this erotic thriller features the actor in a minor supporting role to the main suspect. It has a 3.1 rating on IMDb and 12% on Rotten Tomatoes.

48

Chasing Dreams (1982)

His first baseball movie

Kevin Costner is synonymous with sports movies in many ways. Football, golf and even cycling have been subjects of his films, but baseball is without a doubt the sport he is most attracted to. This is their first foray into the field and it is clear that the best is yet to come.

47

The Gunrunner (1989)

Another delayed release

In this melodrama set in the 1920s, Costner shows off his leading man credentials. The film was made years before its release and was another that accompanied the actor’s success. It has received mostly 1 or 2 star reviews and currently has a 3.9 rating on IMDb and 25% on Rotten Tomatoes.

46

Stacy’s Knights (1983)

Also known as The touch

There’s a nostalgic charm to this blackjack-themed drama. It’s an enjoyable watch, if only to see Kevin Costner’s fresh approach to acting and many delightfully outdated filmmaking techniques. The budget was as low as expectations, but it was difficult Costner fans would appreciate.

45

The New Daughter (2009)

A step into a new genre

A film that relied heavily on Costner’s star power for its lackluster marketing, this thriller has its moments. Co-starring Samantha Mathis, there are some genuine scares and the acting is commendable. Although it may not be your best material, the audience can count on the talent and experience of the actor to ground this horror that I would otherwise want. It also vastly underperformed at the box office.

44

3,000 Miles to Graceland (2001)

An Elvis heist movie

The premise of this action adventure is promising, and the impressive cast should increase its appeal, but it was one of Costner’s most critically panned films. At the moment, received five Golden Razzie nominationsincluding Worst Picture, and nods to Kevin Costner and Courtney Cox. It also didn’t perform well at the box office. Through a nostalgic lens, some viewers may find the simple plot and abundance of famous faces enjoyable to watch.

43

The Criminal (2016)

Includes a Ryan Reynolds cameo

With a plot that involves “implanting the memories of a CIA agent into the brain of a criminal,” there are two ways this could go. Unfortunately, despite co-starring the likes of Gary Oldman, Tommy Lee Jones and Gal Gadot, the film is very predictable and lacks real emotion. The reception was lukewarm, as was the box office performance, and the film failed to make an impact on the awards circuit.

42

American Flyers (1983)

An almost exhilarating ride

One of Costner’s earliest photos, This inspirational cycling drama has many heartwarming moments that make it stand the test of time. It revolves around sports and family drama, managing to engage viewers on both sides of the Venn diagram. With a very warm critical reception, this was one of the films that showed the future potential of the aspiring actor.

41

Dragonfly (2002)

Searching for your lost love through your patients’ experiences

A dark thriller full of melancholy and longing, this film firmly adheres to one type of atmosphere. It’s not as nuanced as it would like to be, and despite co-starring Kathy Bates and Joe Morton, it failed to attract audiences upon release.

Costner’s performance is solid and committedand while the story may not be full of twists and surprises, it is still compelling. Especially for fans of this particular genre.

40

Revenge (1990)

A story of passion and retribution

Co-starring Anthony Quinn and Madeleine Stowe, this action thriller was directed by Tony Scott. This is definitely a genre the actor is comfortable with, as he manages to combine his innate heroism with dramatic skill. Although not a huge box office success or critical favorite Revenge is one of those classic Kevin Costner films that viewers will want to return to.

39

Swing Voting (2008)

A chance for political satire

Kevin Costner’s charm and charisma are on full display in this comedy drama. The supporting cast includes a number of comedy greats, including Stanley Tucci and Kelsey Grammer, who share great scenes with the film’s protagonist.

Kevin Costner’s charm and charisma are on full display in this dramatic comedy.

It doesn’t pretend to be realistic, but the audience has to suspend a lot of disbelief to follow the slightly clumsy plot. Although it went a little unnoticed at the time of its release, it still has a lot to say, even today.

38

3 Days to Kill (2014)

Codenames include Vivi Delay and The Wolf

This action thriller may be filled with stereotypes and archetypes, but there are some redeeming factors that will make viewers want to come along for the ride. The cast includes Amber Heard, Hailee Steinfeld and Connie Nielsen, who play important roles in the story.

The premise is a little far-fetched, but somehow it makes the viewer root for a positive outcome for the hero. While not an instant classic, the film certainly has a core audienceespecially considering McG and Luc Besson’s involvement.

37

Fandango (1985)

Provisionally produced by Steven Spielberg

This was the first of Costner’s many future starring roles. A journey, coming-of-age comedyIt was by no means a huge success when it was released. Quentin Tarantino has admitted to being a big fan and firmly represents the target audience. Over the years, as Costner’s star rose, the film gained a new audience and cult status.

36

There are rumors that… (2005)

Co-stars Shirley MacClaine and Mark Ruffalo

Though predominantly a vehicle for Jennifer Aniston’s romantic comedy dominance of the decade, Kevin Costner stands out in this sweet, simple film. He plays Beau Burroughs, considered the inspiration behind The graduate.

TThe premise is clever, but it turns into a typically formulaic romantic comedycomplete with one-liners and uninspired jokes. It’s still an enjoyable watch, and Costner delights as a potential love interest.

35

The Postman (1997)

Winner of five Razzie Awards

A film that was supposed to be Costner’s next epic. He produced, directed and starred in this confusing dystopian story of a lonely wanderer who aims to spread hope in a post-apocalyptic world. The film’s quality may be slightly overshadowed by all the negativity it faced when it was released.

It’s long, a bit self-indulgent and the story is rather prosaic, but there are glimmers of good intentions. It’s worth seeing just to see if it’s as bad as critics thought it was in 1997.

34

Message in a Bottle (1999)

First film based on a Nicholas Sparks novel

Kevin Costner brings a lot of his aura to any romantic lead he plays, which is evident in this emotional film. He has beautiful chemistry with Robin Wright, and the film is filled with picturesque scenes that add aspects of romance.

As far as Nicholas Sparks adaptations go, This is very well done and speaks to its more mature audience. While it may not have particularly broad appeal, it offers a lot of drama to its intended target audience.

33

The Positive Side of Anger (2005)

Features a great supporting cast of women

An unexpected departure for the actor, this intelligent drama focuses on more complex family matters. The script deals with pain, distrust and guilt in very subtle ways, keeping the audience on their toes.

Co-starring the likes of Joan Allen, Evan Rachel Wood and Keri Russell, the film features insightful acting at its best. It was well received by critics and has accumulated a dedicated viewer base over the years.

32

Horizon: An American Saga (2024)

Chapter: 1 is not the whole story

This ambitious venture is expected to include four films in total, written, directed and starring Kevin Costner. Covering the history of the United States over 12 years, It’s a true passion project for the starwho has been working on it in one way or another since 1988. It’s clearly where he feels most confident and inspired, although Horizon: Part 1 bombed at the box office.