Skip to content
MovieCove
Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner

Actor and producer, also director and writer · Born January 18, 1955 (71) · Lynwood, California, USA

2 Oscars · Primetime Emmy winner · 3 Golden Globes · 7 other major award bodies

Kevin Michael Costner (born January 18, 1955) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Costner starred in Fandango, American Flyers, Silverado and many other films. He rose to prominence with his starring roles in The Untouchables and No Way Out (1987). He then starred in Bull Durham (1988), Field of Dreams (1989), Dances with Wolves (1990), for which he won two Academy Awards, JFK (1991), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), The Bodyguard (1992), A Perfect World (1993), and Wyatt Earp (1994). In 1995, Costner starred in and co-produced Waterworld. His second directorial feature, The Postman, was released in 1997. He later starred in Message in a Bottle (1999), For Love of the Game (1999), Thirteen Days (2000), 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001), Dragonfly (2002), Rumor Has It (2005), The Guardian (2006), Mr. Brooks (2007), 3 Days to Kill (2014), McFarland, USA (2015), Draft Day (2014), and Criminal (2016). He has also played supporting parts in such films as The Upside of Anger (2005), Man of Steel (2013), Hidden Figures (2016), Molly's Game (2017), and Let Him Go (2020). On television, Costner portrayed Devil Anse Hatfield in the miniseries Hatfields & McCoys (2012), winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Since 2018, he has starred as John Dutton on the drama series Yellowstone for which he received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 18, 1955 (71)
From
Lynwood, California, USA
Works as
Actor and producer, also director and writer
Titles
73 on MovieCove · 94 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 12% in 30 days

What are Kevin Costner's films like?

Across their 69 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile
: browse their Documentary movies
Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 93rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
19%
Self
18%
Morality
17%
Society
14%
Survival
11%
Power
10%
Ideas
10%
Family bonds15 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice15 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth7 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy8 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief7 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity10 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 63 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 21 · Serious 21 · Dark 21

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 41 · Stylized 18 · Heightened 4

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 15 · Charged 26 · Intense 22

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 24 · Shifting 34 · Whiplash 5

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 47 · Some laughs 14 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 26 · Even-paced 33 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 24 · Engaged 34 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 20 · Affecting 19 · Heavy 24

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 50 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

48 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 29 of 48 analyzed roles.

Hero
29 of 48
Mentor
10 of 48
Shadow
3 of 48
Ally
3 of 48
Shapeshifter
2 of 48
Herald
1 of 48
Show the 48 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
44
Hopeful
29
Melancholic
26
Contemplative
17
Warm
18
Other
54

How their films linger

Hopeful30 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet42
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous11
  • Cyclical1
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Kevin Costner's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 53 of their 73 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (20).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kevin Costner's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

94 credits, 73 with a MovieCove page; 62 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Gray House(2024)

    Show 8 episodes · Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • Kevin Costner Presents: The First Christmas(2025)

    Executive Producer · as Self - Host

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Kevin Costner's the West(2025)

    Show 8 episodes · Creator · Executive Producer · as Self - Host

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Yellowstone to Yosemite with Kevin Costner(2025)

    Show 3 episodes · Executive Producer · as Self - Host

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2(2024)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · Story · as Hayes Ellison

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1(2024)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · Story · as Hayes Ellison

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Yellowstone: One-Fifty(2022)

    Show 4 episodes · Executive Producer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Zack Snyder's Justice League(2021)

    as Jonathan Kent (voice) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Let Him Go(2020)

    Executive Producer · as George Blackledge

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Art of Racing in the Rain(2019)

    as Enzo (voice)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Highwaymen(2019)

    Executive Producer · as Frank Hamer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Yellowstone(2018)

    Show 53 episodes · Executive Producer · as John Dutton

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The People of the Standing Stone: The Oneida Nation, The War for Independence, And The Making of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Molly's Game(2017)

    as Larry Bloom

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Hidden Figures(2016)

    as Al Harrison

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Hurt Business(2016)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Criminal(2016)

    as Jerico Stewart

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Fastball(2016)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice(2016)

    as Jonathan Kent

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Billy The Kid: New Evidence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • McFarland, USA(2015)

    as Jim White

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Black or White(2014)

    Producer · as Elliot Anderson

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Draft Day(2014)

    as Sonny Weaver Jr.

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • 3 Days to Kill(2014)

    as Agent Ethan Renner

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit(2014)

    as William Harper

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Regarding Susan Sontag(2014)

    as Crash Davis

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Man of Steel(2013)

    as Jonathan Kent

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Frame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Jonathan Kent

  • Hatfields & McCoys(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · Producer · as 'Devil' Anse Hatfield

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Field of Dreams 2: Lockout (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Iowa Farmer's Dad

  • The Company Men(2010)

    as Jack Dolan

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Petty Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The New Daughter(2009)

    as John James

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • JFK: 3 Shots That Changed America(2009)

    as Jim Garrison

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • NASCAR: The Ride of Their Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Swing Vote(2008)

    Producer · as Bud Johnson

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Brooks(2007)

    Producer · as Earl Brooks

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Ever Again(2006)

    as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Guardian(2006)

    as Ben Randall

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • On Native Soil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Rumor Has It...(2005)

    as Beau Burroughs

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Upside of Anger(2005)

    as Denny Davies

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Open Range(2003)

    Director · Producer · as Charley Waite

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Dragonfly(2002)

    as Joe Darrow

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • 3000 Miles to Graceland(2001)

    as Thomas J. Murphy

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Thirteen Days(2000)

    Producer · as Kenneth O'Donnell

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • When It Was a Game 3(2000)

    as Passage Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Play It to the Bone(1999)

    as Kevin Costner (Ringside Fan)

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • For Love of the Game(1999)

    as Billy Chapel

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Message in a Bottle(1999)

    Producer · as Garrett Blake

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Spirit: A Journey in Dance, Drums & Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Narrator

  • The Postman(1997)

    Director · Producer · as The Postman

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Fierce Creatures(1997)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Tin Cup(1996)

    as Roy 'Tin Cup' McAvoy

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Waterworld(1995)

    Producer · as Mariner

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • 500 Nations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 8 episodes · Producer · as Himself - Host

  • The War(1994)

    as Stephen Simmons

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Wyatt Earp(1994)

    Producer · as Wyatt Earp

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Rapa Nui(1994)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • A Perfect World(1993)

    as Robert 'Butch' Haynes

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Bodyguard(1992)

    Producer · as Frank Farmer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • JFK(1991)

    as Jim Garrison

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves(1991)

    Producer · Production Consultant · as Robin of Locksley / Robin Hood

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Dances with Wolves(1990)

    Director · Producer · as Lieutenant Dunbar

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Gunrunner(1989)

    as Ted

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Earth Day Special(1990)

    as Bartender

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Revenge(1990)

    Executive Producer · as Michael J. Cochran

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Chasing Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Ed

  • Field of Dreams(1989)

    as Ray Kinsella

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Bull Durham(1988)

    as Crash Davis

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • No Way Out(1987)

    as Lt. Cmdr. Tom Farrell

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Untouchables(1987)

    as Eliot Ness

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Amazing Stories(1986)

    as Captain

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Shadows Run Black (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Jimmy Scott

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • American Flyers(1985)

    as Marcus Sommers

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Silverado(1985)

    as Jake

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Fandango(1985)

    as Gardner Barnes

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Testament(1983)

    as Phil Pitkin

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Big Chill(1983)

    as Alex (corpse)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Stacy's Knights(1983)

    as Will Bonner

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Table for Five(1983)

    as Newlywed Husband

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Frances(1982)

    as Luther (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Human Highway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Manager of Operations

  • Night Shift(1982)

    as Frat Boy #1

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Phil Pitkin

  • Malibu Hot Summer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as John Logan

  • Custer State Park: Spirit of Tatanka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Narrator

  • Headhunters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · Writer · as Lazer

  • Honeymoon with Harry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Harry

  • Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · Story · as Hayes Ellison

  • Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · Story · as Hayes Ellison

  • Untitled Kevin Costner/Ariel Vromen Project (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Producer · Writer · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 92 titles, 86 of them dated from 1981 to 2026; peak year 2015.

Biggest box office

Man of Steel (2013)

$670M worldwide

Highest rated

Hidden Figures (2016)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Yellowstone (2018)

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutAward winNomination
19812026

Peak 2015 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 44 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 4 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting83 of 92: 60 only acting, 23 with another role · typical Midcredits score71stDirecting7 of 92: 0 only directing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score78thWriting6 of 92: 0 only writing, 6 with another roleProducing30 of 92: 6 only producing, 24 with another role · typical Midcredits score70thOther crew4 of 92: 2 only other crew, 2 with another role

92 titles, 24 with more than one role — acting and producing overlap on 23 of them.

By decade

1980s20 · 19 acting · 1 crew1990s21 · 18 acting · 11 crew2000s14 · 14 acting · 4 crew2010s22 · 22 acting · 4 crew2020s9 · 4 acting · 8 crew

Billing

usually 1st · top billed in 72% of 50 roles
838893980308

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

2 Oscars, a Primetime Emmy, 3 Golden Globes, 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards and 5 other major awards from 25 major nominations, 1991–2023.

WinNomination
  1. 2023
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama
  2. 2022
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  3. 2017
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  4. 2015
    • Critics Choice Award, won
  5. 2013
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Producers Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television
  6. 2012
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Miniseries or Movie
  7. 2006
    • Critics Choice Award, nominated · Best Supporting Actor
  8. 1997
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
Show 2 earlier years
  1. 1992
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actor
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Direction
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Film
  2. 1991
    • Oscar, won · Best Director
    • Oscar, won · Best Picture
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actor in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Director - Motion Picture
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • +4 other major bodies · 4 wins and 1 nomination
      • Berlinale award, won · Outstanding Single Achievement
      • Berlinale award, nominated
      • Directors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
      • Producers Guild Award, won · Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
      • Independent Spirit Award, won

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Kevin Costner's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 70th percentile, the median of all 66; across their 63 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 63

Approval · how many liked their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 63

Reach · how many have seen their films

92ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 63

Midcredits score across 73 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up33
  • 50th to 74th22
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

41 of their 73 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser41
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

The Earth Day Special (1990)

94th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

JFK: 3 Shots That Changed America (2009)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 50 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Kevin Costner's work okay for kids?

Across up to 43 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore40 titles8–78 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity43 titles10–62 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity40 titles35–79 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs38 titles25–53 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense39 titles14–65 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Kevin Costner work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kevin Costner's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Jim Wilson shares the most, 10.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles