Summary
Kevin Costnerhas had a vast film career with many significant hits and several underrated films that deserve more love. Appearing in over 50 films,Kevin Costner is best known for his Western movies, though he has dabbled in many genres throughout his career.The actor’s first role was in the 1981 filmMalibu Hot Summer. Costner,who has been acting for over 40 years, has become a significant Hollywood celebrity over the past four decades, starring in both television and film.
Apart from film,Costner also had a country music and sporting career,the latter givingKevin Costner influence in the sports movie genre. Some of Costner’s films,likeWaterworld, are infamous flops, though they are still considered well-known in popular culture. Some of Costner’s underrated films, however, were hidden or overlooked over the years and deserve another watch and more love from modern audiences.
All Kevin Costner Movies On Netflix
The success of Yellowstone has brought Kevin Costner new fans, and here’s every one of the veteran actors movies currently available on Netflix.
10Mr. Brooks (2007)
Dir. Bruce A. Evans
The movie is a psychological thriller about Mr. Brooks, played by Costner,a businessman with a murderous alter ego (played by William Hurt), who takes a protégé after being blackmailed. Detective Atwood, played by Demi Moore, begins digging deep into the case, putting pressure on Brooks. The movie has lots of twists and subplots, almost to the point of being overdone and too tropey. However, it toes the line well.
The movie received mixed reviews from critics, with a 55% on Rotten Tomatoes. It had a more successful audience reception.Mr. Brooksprofited with $48.1 million at the box office on a $20 million budget.Some audiences consider the film a future cult classic, though it has yet to reach that level.Not only does the movie deserve a rewatch and a critical reassessment, but it could also benefit from more world-building in the form of a sequel or prequel.
Costner directed, produced, and starred inThe Postman, performing as the titular postman.Released in 1997,The Postmanis a post-apocalyptic adventure epic set in the year 2013. The movie follows Costner, a post-apocalyptic drifter who dons a postman’s suit and inspires hope in a “Restored United States of America.” Some found it strange that Costner chose to cast himself in the role, though he is able to execute the Western nomadic vibe well.
The movie is based on David Brin’s 1985 book of the same name.
Released on Christmas Day in 1997,The Postmanmade only $30 million on a $80 million budget and was a commercial failure.Despite its critical faults, Costner has publicly spoken about his pride in the movie.The film arguably hurt Costner’s career, with him not appearing in another movie until 1999. For better or worse,The Postmanremains one of Costner’s most infamous films and deserves another watch.
Rumor Has It…
Cast
Rumor Has It… stars Jennifer Aniston as Sarah Huttinger, a woman who discovers her family might have been the inspiration for the book and film The Graduate. Directed by Rob Reiner, the film follows Sarah as she navigates her complicated family history and her current relationship with her fiancé, played by Mark Ruffalo. Kevin Costner and Shirley MacLaine co-star in this romantic comedy-drama.
Rumor Has It…is a romantic comedy starring Kevin Costner, Jennifer Aniston, Shirley MacLaine, and Mark Ruffalo. In the rom-com, Costner plays Beau Burroughs, a wealthy technician in Silicon Valley who becomes entangled with multiple generations of a family of women. The plot is a little outlandish, asa woman learns her family might have been the inspiration for the novellaThe Graduate,upon which the famous 1967 film is based. On a $70 million budget,Rumor Has It…made $88.9 million at the box office.
Led by infamous rom-com director Rob Reiner,many consider the movie intelligently written, directed, and acted,though audiences tend to be split on the merits of the film. Unfortunately, the movie received only a 21% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite some underlying morality issues brushed over in the movie, the all-star cast and comedic premise makeRumor Has It…better than it might initially seem.
The Company Menfollows a rising star who is laid off at a shipping and manufacturing company. He and his coworkers must redefine their lifestyles and reassess their priorities.Costner plays the main character’s blue-collar brother-in-law,who hires him after the layoff. Though often depressing in tone, the film is made better by a stellar cast. Starring alongside Costner are Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, and Chris Cooper, among many others.
The Company Menexplores the crushing grind of capitalism juxtaposed against the power of employees.The drama connects with audiences emotionally, especially those who have ever lost a job, exploring the reactions and behaviors that often follow. The film shows its biases but doesn’t go overboard or become preachy. While critical reception of the film is on the higher end, with a 68% Rotten Tomatoes score,the audience score is significantly lower at just 55%.This doesn’t mean that the film is an acquired taste, only that it might deserve reevaluation from a non-critical or theoretical lens.
6The New Daughter (2009)
Dir. Luiso Berdejo
Costner’s only horror film,The New Daughter, follows a family haunted by an evil presence after moving to a new home.Costner plays a recently divorced writer whose daughter begins to change in unexpected ways,which are determined to be related to the strange mound near their house.It is both an exploration of horror monsters and a family drama about a post-divorce family. The film has a Rotten Tomatoes critics score of 40%.
For better or worse, the film follows many horror movie tropes,including researching important backstories on the property and multiple jumpscares.ThoughThe New Daughtercan still satisfy the genre by creating a good enough horror film, it doesn’t do much original storytelling. However, all hope forThe New Daughteris not lost. What setsThe New Daughterapart is the novelty of seeing Costner play in the horror genre.
The Highwaymenis based on the true story of Bonnie and Clyde’s final days,told from the perspective of the men who killed them. The titular highwaymen include Costner as Texas Ranger Frank “Pancho” Hamer and Woody Harrelson as Ben Maney Gault. Kathy Bates also has a significant role in the film.The Highwaymenwas filmed in many real-life locations in the Bonnie and Clyde story and includes several factual details.
With a 76% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is generally liked among audiences. However, the critics' score is lower,with many noting that the film is relatively generic.The film had a limited theatrical release, with its wide release on Netflix. With two big stars in the lead, the movie promised to be a Western outlaw action film, and it was able to deliver. Despite middling critics' reviews, audiences agree the film is lovable and perhaps a future classic.
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Costner starred alongside Kurt Russell in the action film3000 Miles to Graceland,where the two play Elvis impersonators attempting a major Las Vegas heist. The men and their team attempt to steal over $3 million and leave many casualties behind. The movie is considered one of Russell’s worst films, though Costner’s acting is seen as better-than-average. The film received a mere 15% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.The film made $18.7 million at the box office, less than half of its $47.4 million budget.
The film was significant in Costner’s career as he attempted to break out of the wholesome all-American image he had developed in previous movies.Costner and Russell feuded over3000 Miles to Graceland’stone, with Costner’s suggestion of a violent film winning.Costner attempted to change his persona to that of a villainous rebel,though the movie’s lack of success failed to change his reputation. Upon rewatch, the film, with its interesting premise and iconic performances, might still have the ability to alter Costner’s public persona.
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Kevin Costner tried to shatter his clean-cut movie star image with an intense 2001 heist movie, but the film itself was destined to fail.
Wyatt Earpis one of Costner’s less successful Western films. The movie focuses on the titular Arizona law Marshall, whose feud led to the O.K. Corral gunfight. A main criticism of the film is its bloated runtime, which is over three hours. However,fans of the genre often find this satisfies their Western shootout needs.The film was added to many “worst of” lists in 1994, which definitely diminished its prominence on Costner’s resume. However, the film is still an exciting and dramatic take on an important historical figure.
The market for Earp-related films is highly saturated.Wyatt Earpwas released shortly afterTombstone, another movie about Earp and Doc Holliday,lessening its box office appeal and hurting the film’s profits.Costner was supposed to be involved inTombstone, but an argument about Earp’s prominence in the film led to his movie’s creation a year later. Ultimately, because of the premiere date and runtime, Costner’s film lost theTombstoneversusWyatt Earpbattle. However, that doesn’t diminish the quality or effort put into Costner’s performance in the movie, which has more positive overall Rotten Tomatoes reviews than not.
2Dragonfly (2002)
Dir. Tom Shadyac
Costner stars inDragonflyas a grieving doctor whose patient’s near-death experiences seem to be messages from his dead wife. Costner’s performance is notably well-done, adding to the movie’s charm.Though the film has a mere 7% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes, the audience reviews are much more optimistic, with 62%.The movie only made $52.3 million on a $60 million budget.
ThoughDragonflyhas a darker tone, it becomes a good and refreshing watch and take on grief.
Dragonflyblends genres as a supernatural mystery thriller. However, many find that the story is a classic story told rather simply, which adds to its charm.Some viewers praised the film for being heartwarming and touching, specifically towards those who have lost a loved one.ThoughDragonflyhas a darker tone, it becomes a good and refreshing watch and take on grief. The movie also has an interesting twist ending, making it worth another watch and perhaps a reassessment.
1A Perfect World (1993)
Dir. John Lee Hancock
Costner stars alongside Clint Eastwood in this crime thriller. Costner plays Robert “Butch” Haynes, an escaped convict who takes a young boy hostage. Eastwood is Chief “Red” Garnett, the Texas Ranger in pursuit of the criminal. Despite complaints that the film was rambling and Costner couldn’t accurately pull off the villain character,the film’s critical reception was largely positive.CriticRoger Ebertgave it four stars and called it “a film any director alive might be proud to sign.”
The movie had a mediocre domestic box office, though it made three times as much overseas, grossing a total of $135 million worldwide. In retrospect,Costner said he knew the film was high risk and probably disappointed many, though he still felt it was an opportunity to grow as an actor.The film is considered an acting success fromKevin Costnerand one of Eastwood’s better films. The film received a good amount of worldwide love at the time of its release but should be recirculated into discussions of modern pop culture.
