Kevin Costner has captivated audiences for decades as one of Hollywood’s most iconic leading men and acclaimed filmmakers. The veteran actor is known for playing characters with a solid personal morality as a portrait of the ideal "American" male that people identified with for the latter part of the 20th century. Costner’s first feature film role was in Sizzle Beach, USA, which, according to Outsider, he tried to purchase from Troma Entertainment because of an embarrassing sex scene he didn’t want to do but was afraid to say no out of fear that he’d never work in Hollywood again.

From there, he went on to star in some of the most iconic films ever made, which include Bull Durham, The Untouchables, and Dances With Wolves, for which he earned two Academy Awards for Best Director and Producer. Since then, he has transitioned from major movie star to television star as his role on the hit series Yellowstone made it one of the biggest shows on broadcast television. Here is a look at the actor's best performances, ranked.

Update December 13, 2023: This article has been updated with even more great Kevin Costner performances and where each title can be streamed.

12 The Big Chill (1983)

The Big Chill poster
The Big Chill
Release Date
September 28, 1983
Director
Lawrence Kasdan
Cast
Tom Berenger , Glenn Close , Jeff Goldblum , William Hurt , Kevin Kline , Mary Kay Place , Meg Tilly , JoBeth Williams

We’ll start out with the most controversial entry on this list since Costner gets only seconds of screen time in The Big Chill as a corpse in a coffin, and all flashback scenes with him were cut out of the final edit. To this day, Costner's role in this wonderful film is one of the most legendary performances ever left on the cutting room floor, and even without his physical presence, he plays the most critical role in this classic 1983 film about a group of college friends who reunite at a South Carolina vacation house to remember their friend who died by suicide.

What Makes Costner's Performance in The Big Chill Great?

While his death serves as the central device that brings all these thirty-somethings together to examine their lives, and none of it happens without the metaphorical ghost of Costner’s character Alex looming over the entire film, the fact that Kevin Costner is only present for a few moments sort of makes it difficult to rank this great movie higher. That said, Costner's appearances, no matter how minor, are seriously affecting. Rent on AppleTV+

11 Draft Day (2014)

draft day
draft day
PG-13
Release Date
April 11, 2014
Director
Ivan Reitman
Cast
Chris Berman , Dave Donaldson , Patrick St. Esprit , Chi McBride , Mel Kiper , Jon Gruden
Runtime
120
Main Genre
Drama

In one of the top sports drama films of the last decade, Draft Day gives NFL fans and movie lovers alike a glimpse into what happens inside NFL front offices and organizations. The film depicts Cleveland Browns General Manager Sonny Weaver Jr. (Costner) and the events leading up to the fictionalized 2014 NFL Draft.

What Makes Costner's Performance in Draft Day So Compelling?

Costner leads a loaded cast that includes the likes of Jennifer Garner, Denis Leary, Sam Elliott, Chadwick Boseman, Terry Crews, Griffin Newman, Sean Combs, and many others. Despite being a box office failure, Costner's portrayal of Weaver is one that should make fans feel more passionate about the NFL, his naturally effortless charisma, and authentic on-screen charm help to lift Draft Day as well as his fellow cast members' peformances. Stream on Prime Video and Tubi

10 McFarland, USA (2015)

McFarland, USA
McFarland, USA
PG
Release Date
February 20, 2015
Director
Niki Caro
Cast
Kevin Costner , Maria Bello , Morgan Saylor , Vincent Martella , Elsie Fisher , Martha Higareda
Runtime
128
Main Genre
Drama

The release of McFarland, USA, in 2015 marked the second consecutive year that Kevin Costner starred in the main protagonist role of a sports drama. The setting of the story is McFarland, California, in 1987, and Costner portrays the role of football coach Jim White, who has recently been fired for injuring a player. After losing his new assistant coaching gig for pulling off an injured player, he becomes a track coach after seeing the speed of certain students. In a predominantly Latino area, White helps the team overcome bigotry en route to winning a state championship.

What Makes Costner's Display in McFarland, USA So Brilliant?

Costner's portrayal of White earned strong reviews from The Hollywood Reporter, which stated, "It is Costner who holds the picture together." And hold the picture together he does, delivering a display full of empathy and a palpable sensitivity. This movie is a true story and one for movie lovers who enjoy sports, family, and inclusion. Stream on Disney+

9 Yellowstone (2018 to Present)

yellowstone
Yellowstone
Drama
Western
Release Date
June 20, 2018
Cast
Kevin Costner , Kelly Reilly , Luke Grimes , Wes Bentley , Kelsey Chow , Cole Hauser , Gil Birmingham , Danny Huston
Main Genre
Drama

The Dutton family, led by patriarch John (Costner), must survive as one of the biggest ranches in Montana in a world that feels that the cowboy life should already be extinct. Costner is giving one of his most charismatic performances as the patriarch of this family, who must do everything in his power to survive in a world that doesn’t think his life profession is worth it anymore. Creator Taylor Sheridan gives him enough dramatic moments to prove Costner still knows how to show decency and a moral compass with a few words and a smirk.

Related: Yellowstone: Why Is Kevin Costner at the Center of Controversy?

Why Costner's Performance in Yellowstone Is Great

The actor's presence has made Yellowstone one of the most-watched shows in not just the United States, but in international territories, too. Yellowstone has brought Costner to a new audience who have been impressed by his more seasoned approach to acting, as well as by his imposing, blockbuster-star presence. With news of Costner leaving the series, all eyes are on the popular franchise to see how it will fare without him. Stream on Paramount+

8 The Bodyguard (1992)

the bodyguard
the bodyguard
R
Release Date
November 25, 1992
Director
Mick Jackson
Cast
Kevin Costner , Whitney Houston , Gary Kemp , Bill Cobbs , Ralph Waite , Tomas Arana
Runtime
130

Rachel Marron (Whitney Houston) is a famous singer and has been receiving threatening notes from a stalker fan, so her team hires a bodyguard (Costner). Although she hates him at first, they end up falling in love. This is Whitney Houston’s movie, both for her acting and singing, but it wouldn’t work without Costner’s stern, weary performance as The Bodyguard, which makes her performance shine even more.

Why Kevin Costner is Sensational in The Bodyguard

Costner's character gives Rachel a perfect balance and perspective, and you believe the respect they feel for each other and their work evolves into something different and more intimate, culminating in a memorable climactic scene. The incredible soundtrack still resonates with anyone who listens to it. The film relies heavily on the palpable chemistry between Houston and Costner, who work together harmoniously to amplify this delightful tale. Stream on Prime Video.

7 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
PG-13
Release Date
June 14, 1991
Director
Kevin Reynolds
Cast
Kevin Costner , Morgan Freeman , Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio , Christian Slater , Alan Rickman , Geraldine McEwan
Runtime
143
Main Genre
Action

Robin Hood (Costner) decides it's time to steal for the rich and give to the poor as the Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman) isn’t helping anyone but himself. In Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Costner plays the legendary character, a skilled archer and swordsman with a heart of gold, showing why he was a massive movie star at the time. The actor’s performance is as athletic as it is charismatic, even if his English accent is weird and anachronistic.

Why Costner's Display as Robin Hood Is Excellent

Costner transforms the folk legend into a medieval action hero, creating an entertaining film full of great set pieces. The movie also works because there’s an incredible cast of supporting actors giving their all: Morgan Freeman, Christian Slater, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and especially Alan Rickman (who had already been Hans Gruber in Die Hard) as the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham. It speaks volumes when Costner's radiant offering outshines an ensemble of this kind, and it is certainly one of his best action roles to date. Stream on Prime Video

6 Dances With Wolves (1990)

Dances with Wolves
Dances With Wolves
PG-13
Release Date
March 30, 1990
Director
Kevin Costner
Cast
Kevin Costner , Mary McDonnell , Graham Greene , Rodney A. Grant , Floyd Westerman , Tantoo Cardinal
Runtime
180
Main Genre
Adventure

The film that famously beat Goodfellas for Best Picture in 1991, Dances With Wolves, is the most polarizing film on this list that both sides have legitimate arguments for. It follows Union Soldier Lt. Dunbar as he escapes the horrors of The Civil War and eventually finds himself as he lives among members of the Sioux Tribe of Native Americans.

Related: How Kevin Costner's Career Almost Died from Two Box Office Bombs

Why Costner is Masterful in Dances With Wolves

Some say that it is a classic example of Hollywood's “White Savior” trend that's existed since its inception, while others defend the film by claiming it was actually the Indigenous People who saved him. No matter what side you agree with, Costner's effort came from a good place, and his performance was honest, making it worth a watch. Stream on Prime and Pluto TV

5 A Perfect World (1993)

kevin-costner-a-perfect-world
Warner Bros.

Set in early 1960s Texas, A Perfect World follows Butch (Costner) as he escapes prison and takes a little boy raised in a family of Jehovah's Witnesses as a hostage to help him escape. Along the way, they become friends as Butch provides the kid with certain indulgences he is not allowed to have or participate in due to his family's strict faith, and Butch becomes a somewhat father figure type that he never really got to have when he was young.

Why Kevin Costner's Performance is Sublime in A Perfect World

It's a shame that this film is somewhat forgotten by the average movie watcher because this is one of the most underrated Clint Eastwood movies, and the character Costner takes on is both heartwarming and tragic and is definitely worth revisiting. Costner's presentation of Butch oozes this paternal and protective instinct over his newfound friend. Despite being a criminal who has essentially kidnapped a child, Costner portrays Butch in such a likable, compassionate way. Rent on Prime Video.

4 The Untouchables (1987)

the untouchables
The Untouchables
R
Release Date
June 3, 1987
Director
Brian De Palma
Runtime
119
Main Genre
Crime

Brian De Palma's 1987 film follows Eliot Ness as he assembles a team of agents to take down infamous gangster Al Capone in this crime drama set in prohibition-era Chicago. The Untouchables may be more of a romantic portrait of early 20th-century America that is more tinsel-town fantasy than historically accurate, but this love letter to the classic gangster films of old Hollywood is something to appreciate on its own terms.

Why The Untouchables is One of Costner's Best Performances

While Costner's take on Eliot Ness can be borderline cheesy at times, it is the perfect foil to De Niro's Capone and an outstanding balance to Sean Connery's Academy Award-winning performance as the jaded veteran police officer, Jimmy Malone. The Untouchables is the perfect example of how a combination of supreme acting, a watertight script, and a masterful director can work in perfect unison. Stream on Prime Video

3 JFK (1991)

JFK
JFK
R
Release Date
December 20, 1991
Director
Oliver Stone
Cast
Sally Kirkland , Anthony Ramirez , Ray LePere , Steve Reed , Jodie Farber , Columbia Dubose
Runtime
189
Main Genre
Drama

Oliver Stone's intense conspiracy thriller sees both Stone and Costner at the peak of their creative powers. In what might be his finest acting performance, Costner takes on the role of Jim Garrison as the former New Orleans district attorney who is tasked with finding out who killed John F. Kennedy. This is the prototypical Costner role. A character with a moral backbone who is willing to take on the Federal Government to ask the questions that he believes are worth asking.

Why Kevin Costner's JFK Display is Incredible

JFK is another film that, while historically inaccurate, captures the chaos that surrounded that moment in history with a passion and intensity that only an Oliver Stone film can. It's also one of the best movies about politics from the 20th century. With Costner entrusted with taking on the monumental mantle of portraying this icon of not just American but world politics, it required a seriously dexterous and nuanced performance, and Costner certainly didn't disappoint. Rent on Vude and Prime Video

2 Bull Durham (1988)

Bull Durham
Bull Durham
R
Release Date
June 15, 1988
Director
Ron Shelton
Cast
Kevin Costner , Susan Sarandon , Tim Robbins , Trey Wilson , Robert Wuhl , William O'Leary
Runtime
108
Main Genre
Comedy

In the land of baseball movies, Costner is King. Bull Durham ranks up there as one of the greatest sports movies ever made and one of the funniest ever made, making it onto the American Film Institute’s 100 Years 100 Laughs list. Costner pops off the screen as Crash Davis, a career minor leaguer who is sent to help the talented but raw rookie Ebby Calvin Laroosh (played by Tim Robbins) control his wild pitching and groom him into a bona fide major league ace while also competing with him for the affection of Annie, a baseball groupie who chooses one player each year to be her lover.

Why Costner's Portrayal of Crash Davis is For the Ages

This film is widely regarded as one of Costner's finest performances and among the most accurate portrayals of life in the minor leagues. Costner is utterly spellbinding as Crash Davis, an arrogant and deeply complex character whose massively flawed ego offers this film a fascinating character examination. Haunted by insecurity and his self-perceived failure as a baseball player, Crash is Bull Durham's driving force. Stream on Prime, Hulu, and Max

1 Field Of Dreams (1989)

Field of Dreams
Field of Dreams
PG
Release Date
April 21, 1989
Cast
Kevin Costner , Amy Madigan , Gaby Hoffmann , Ray Liotta , Timothy Busfield , James Earl Jones
Runtime
107
Main Genre
Drama

Field of Dreams is more than just a movie about baseball. This is a movie about fathers and sons, risks and rewards, and the lengths someone will go to when they lose themselves in the things in life that don't matter and the lengths they will go to find themselves again.

Why Field of Dreams is Arguably Kevin Costner's Best Performance

This is the role that Costner will probably be most remembered for because of his tender and empathetic portrayal as Ray Kinsella, an Iowa corn farmer who is afraid of growing old without ever accomplishing anything extraordinary but through a series of trials and tribulations, he ends up giving closure to the ghosts of the talented young men responsible for one of the greatest scandals in sports history and himself a reconciliation between him and his estranged late father. Stream on Netflix