Every Kevin Costner Movie, Ranked Worst to Best — The Rise, the Falls, and the One Film That Changed Everything
Every Kevin Costner Movie, Ranked Worst to Best — The Rise, the Falls, and the One Film That Changed Everything
Hollywood has crowned few true icons, but Kevin Costner stands in a league of his own. Oscar winner. Box-office king. Western legend. And yet, for every timeless classic, there’s a career gamble that split audiences straight down the middle.
Costner’s filmography is not a straight climb to glory — it’s a rollercoaster of ambition, backlash, redemption, and reinvention. From infamous flops that nearly derailed his career to masterworks that cemented his legacy, here is the definitive ranking of every Kevin Costner movie — worst to best.
Brace yourself. Some placements will surprise you.
17. 3000 Miles to Graceland
All style. No soul.
An Elvis-themed heist with explosions, excess, and zero emotional core. Despite a wild concept, the film collapsed into chaos — becoming one of Costner’s most widely criticized performances.
16. Dragonfly
A ghost story that never quite haunted.
Haunting visuals couldn’t save this muddled meditation on grief and the afterlife. Costner tried to ground it emotionally, but the story drifted into melodrama.
15. Criminal
A brilliant idea trapped in a noisy mess.
Mind transfer. Identity theft. Moral chaos. The ingredients were there — but execution faltered, leaving Costner underused and the impact diluted.
14. The Guardian
Heroic, heartfelt… and painfully long.
Costner brought gravitas as a Coast Guard mentor, but the film drowned in predictability. Emotional moments landed — eventually.
13. Rumor Has It…
The role no one expected him to take.
A meta romantic comedy loosely tied to The Graduate. Light, charming, but forgettable — though Costner’s charisma carried more weight than the script.
12. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
Solid tension, limited impact.
As a CIA veteran, Costner offered steady authority, but the franchise reboot never fully ignited.
11. Draft Day
One phone call away from disaster.
A surprisingly gripping sports drama where Costner thrived under pressure. Even non-football fans found themselves hooked.
10. Swing Vote
Ridiculous premise. Unexpected heart.
One man decides a presidential election. Absurd? Yes. But Costner’s everyman sincerity made it strangely compelling.
9. The Postman
Mocked, misunderstood — and reclaimed.
Once a Hollywood punchline, this ambitious epic has gained cult status for its optimism and emotional ambition.
8. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
An accent fans never forgot — but a classic anyway.
Despite criticism, this remains a defining adventure film for a generation, powered by Costner’s earnest heroism.
7. Let Him Go
The quiet rage that stunned audiences.
A devastating performance that proved Costner had entered a darker, more fearless phase of his career.
6. The Highwaymen
The Bonnie and Clyde story — told by the men chasing them.
Restrained, mature, and haunting. Costner delivered weary authority in one of Netflix’s most respected crime dramas.
5. Mr. Brooks
Kevin Costner as a serial killer — and it works.
Disturbing, daring, and criminally underrated. One of his most shocking performances.
4. Field of Dreams
If you build it… they will cry.
A film that transcends sport, time, and genre. Costner became the emotional anchor of one of cinema’s most beloved stories.
3. Open Range
Violence, honor, and silence.
A masterclass in restrained storytelling. Its final gunfight is legendary — its emotional weight unforgettable.
2. JFK
Truth, obsession, and paranoia.
Electrifying and relentless, Costner carried Oliver Stone’s explosive vision with conviction and intensity.
1. Dances with Wolves
The film that defined everything.
Seven Oscars. A cultural moment. A career forever changed. This wasn’t just Costner’s best movie — it was his legacy sealed in cinematic history.
The Final Verdict
Kevin Costner’s career isn’t perfect — and that’s exactly why it’s fascinating. His failures were ambitious. His triumphs were transformative. And even at his lowest points, he never stopped swinging big.
The real question now isn’t which movie is his best —
it’s which Kevin Costner era do you think deserves more respect?