Kevin Costner's incredible and ever-changing career has made him a Hollywood icon. While his work behind the camera with Dances with Wolves earned him an Oscar for Best Director, it's his acting work that has made him the star he is today.
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 out and becoming one of Hollywood's most popular leading men. He now focuses more on character actor roles in a variety of films which has been another exciting chapter in his acclaimed career. Here are Kevin Costner's best movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
McFarland USA (81%)
Costner has a quality as an actor that seems tailor-made for inspirational sports dramas. McFarland USA is one such film that stars Costner as a man who takes a job as a gym teacher at a small high school after losing his football coaching job. There he finds a group of talented students who he transforms into a competitive cross-country team.
Critics 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.
The Untouchables (82%)
Costner secured one of his biggest leading man roles to date in Brian De Palma's crime epic, The Untouchables. Set during the Prohibition Era, Costner plays Elliott Ness, a determined and professional federal agent who assembled a special task force to take on notorious crime boss Al Capone (Robert De Niro).
Costner fits the hero role perfectly and he is backed up by Sean Connery in a memorable supporting role. The film itself is an exciting, violent and crowd-pleasing gangster story with some very memorable sequences.
Molly's Game (82%)
Aaron Sorkin has established a successful career as a celebrated screenwriter, but Molly's Game was the first time he stepped behind the camera to direct. This real-life story follows Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), a former Olympic athlete who makes a more infamous name for herself by hosting high-stakes poker games.
Sorkin delivers another clever and energetic script while also proving skills as a director. Chastain is excellent in the complex leading role and Costner provides a stellar supporting performance as Molly's estranged father.
Thirteen Days (83%)
Costner has featured in a number of political thrillers throughout his career. While Thirteen Days might not be the most famous one, it is still a gripping film worth checking out. Set during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, Costner plays Ken O'Donnell, consultant, and friend to President John F. Kennedy who helps guide 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.
Dances With Wolves (83%)
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 these people and their culture, he forms a bond with them.
Though 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.
JFK (84%)
Costner starred in another political thriller involving JFK, this time surrounding the president's assassination. Oliver Stone's JFK tells the story of a 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.
Like much of Stone's work, the film was met with a lot of controversy with many criticizing its factual accuracy. However, critics largely agreed that Stone puts together a complex, taut and exciting courtroom thriller that asks thought-provoking questions.
Field Of Dreams (86%)
Sports drama Field of Dreams has gone down as one of the most heartwarming films of all time. It stars Costner as a man who, hearing voices, decides to build a baseball diamond in his field. When he does, it magically brings back the players of the 1919 Chicago White Sox.
Who knew such a strange premise would create such a beloved film? The sentimentality of the film is never overdone, and it makes for a wonderful story of redemption, family and baseball wrapped up in a modern fairy tale.
No Way Out (91%)
Costner returns to the political thriller genre though this time it's not based on a true story. Costner plays a naval officer who investigates the murder of a politician's mistress who he was also involved with. As 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 great work as a politician at the center of the scandal and critics called this a star-making role for Costner who was just breaking into the leading man roles.
Hidden Figures (93%)
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 mathematicians who served a vital role in the early years of NASA's space program. Costner plays Henson's tough but supportive boss.
The movie is a charming, heartwarming and crowd-pleasing story that celebrates these real-life individuals who never got the recognition they deserved. It is a movie filled with wonderful performances and positive energy.
Bull Durham (97%)
Field of Dreams was not 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 unsteady partnership a seductive fan (Susan Sarandon) comes between them.
Critics called Costner's performance in the film one of his best, showing off his comedic chops as well as his considerable charisma. The movie also received praise for having as much fun with the romance as it does with the baseball.