Kevin Costner has been one of the most beloved leading men in Hollywood for decades. Though we aren't sure what the future holds for John Dutton on Yellowstone season 5, Costner has steadily built up a solid feature film career ever since rising to fame in the early 80s. He's developed a reputation for being able to pretty much do it all -- he's an action star who can easily fit into a period piece just as well as a political thriller while having the depth to be a perfect male lead for a romantic drama or comedy. From Oscar-winning films to low-budget indies, you've seen Costner dabble in everything, with a fair amount of baseball and Western movies thrown in the mix.
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Consistently referred to as one of the nicest guys in Hollywood, Costner has worked with some of the biggest names in the business. He starred opposite pop sensation Whitney Houston in the 90s, is currently producing an upcoming Civil War series with Morgan Freeman, and has worked with the likes of Lonesome Dove alums Diane Lane and Robert Duvall while managing to make time to produce his own projects like his upcoming Western saga Horizon.
Though it was hard to narrow down, here are our picks for the best Kevin Costner movies from his celebrated career and where you can stream each of them.
Hatfields & McCoys (2012)
IMDB/Chris Large
Okay sure, this is a miniseries, but Costner was too good in this not to mention it. The miniseries follows the true story of the historic Hatfield-McCoy feud with Costner starring as "Devil Anse" Hatfield and the late Bill Paxton as Randolph "Randall" McCoy. Costner earned a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for his performance in this History Channel show. We know that Costner loves a period piece as well as a western and this memorable performance manages to check both boxes. Not to mention his band, Kevin Costner & Modern West, actually recorded music for the series.
Where to watch: Netflix
The Bodyguard (1992)
IMDB/Warner Bros
Who could forget the film that gave us Whitney Houston's timeless rendition of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You?" Originally written for Steve McQueen and Diana Ross, Costner plays former secret service agent Frank Farmer who becomes a bodyguard for superstar Rachel Marron (Houston). While critics widely panned the film, it's a fan favorite for the intoxicating love story between the bodyguard and his damsel in distress.
Where to watch: HBO Max
Silverado (1985)
IMDB/Columbia Pictures
Costner's breakout role was in this Western film directed by future Wyatt Earp director, Lawrence Kasdan. Also starring Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn and Danny Glover, the film follows a group of misfits in the Old West traveling out to make their fortune in the town of Silverado. It's easily one of the best westerns of the 80s, still widely beloved for its iconic cast, thrilling action, and fun moments of comedy.
Where to watch: Sling, Rent on Prime Video
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
IMDB/Warner Bros
Costner stars in the leading role of England's folk hero Robin Hood. Pretty much only Costner could show up to set, keep his American accent and still make this work. Alan Rickman also does an incredible job as his enemy, the Sheriff of Nottingham. Some critics panned Costner's performance as the arrow-wielding hero, but he had the last laugh. It was the second-highest-grossing film at the box office in 1991.
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
No Way Out (1987)
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In this political thriller, Costner stars as Lieutenant Commander Tom Farrell, U.S. Navy, during the end of the Cold War. Farrell gets falsely accused of murder by dirty politicians and has to figure out a way to clear his name. Gene Hackman co-stars as Secretary of Defense David Brice. Costner is cool and calculated, and you'll never see the ending coming.
Where to watch: HBO Max
JFK (1991)
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This Oliver Stone-directed thriller follows New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It examines an alleged cover-up as Garrison attempts to file charges against Clay Shaw (Tommy Lee Jones). Gary Oldman co-stars as Lee Harvey Oswald. It's a really interesting story about one of the biggest events in United States recent history, with Costner, as usual, knocking it out of the park.
Where to watch: HBO Max
Field of Dreams (1989)
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Costner returned to the baseball diamond the year after Bull Durham to star in Field of Dreams. Costner plays Ray Kinsella, a farmer who builds a baseball field in his Iowa cornfield hoping that one of his father's favorite former MLB players can play the game again. Ray Liotta plays Shoeless Joe Jackson, one of the players banned from the MLB due to the "Black Sox Scandal." The actual field where the movie was filmed is still there today for fans to visit as well as the farmhouse featured in the film.
Where to watch: Roku, Rent on Prime Video
A Perfect World (1993)
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This Clint Eastwood drama follows escaped convict, Butch Haynes (Costner), who takes a young boy hostage while on the run. He ends up starting to care for the child as they travel together across Texas, showing that Costner has the acting chops to thrive as an anti-hero. Eastwood co-stars as the Texas Ranger on their trail.
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
The Untouchables (1987)
IMDB/Paramount Pictures
This crime drama, directed by Brian de Palma, follows a Bureau of Prohibition agent Eliot Ness (Costner) as he works to stop Al Capone's (Robert De Niro) criminal activity in the city of Chicago. Sean Connery co-stars as the veteran officer, Jim Malone, who helps Ness. The film earned Connery a Best Supporting Actor Oscar and helped put Costner on the map as a leading man and box office draw.
Where to watch: Paramount+, Showtime
Bull Durham (1988)
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This beloved sports movie was loosely based on writer/director Ron Shelton's experience as a minor league baseball player, centered around the Durham Bulls in Durham, North Carolina. Costner plays veteran ballplayer "Crash" Davis who gets brought on to help prepare newbie Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh (Tim Robbins) for a career in the majors. Susan Sarandon plays Crash's love interest, Annie, a dedicated baseball groupie who is also determined to help Ebby become a great pitcher. It's widely considered one of the best sports films ever made.
Where to watch: HBO Max
Dances With Wolves (1990)
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The prime spot on this list has got to go to Costner's Oscar-winning Dances With Wolves. The Western film was based on the Michael Blake novel, which follows Lieutenant John J. Dunbar (Costner) as he travels out to the American frontier and befriends the Lakota Native American tribe. After its release in 1990, it won a total of 7 Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Picture. Leave it to the incredible Costner to direct a film for the first time and end up not only winning an Oscar but getting credited with renewing interest in films set in the Old West.
Where to watch: AMC+
Let Him Go (2020)
IMDB/Mazur Kaplan Company
In this thrilling Western, Costner takes on the role of retired sheriff George Blackledge. He and his wife Margaret (Diane Lane) are mourning the loss of their son, when his widow takes their only grandson to live with a dangerous family living off the grid. Based on Larry Watson's novel of the same name, the story takes place in the 60s with George and Margaret traveling from Montana to the Dakotas to save their grandson and his mother before it's too late.
Where to watch: Rent on Prime Video
Editors Note: This article was originally published on Oct 7th, 2020.
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