Kevin Costner Movies and TV Shows: Complete 2025 Guide

There are few actors whose careers have spanned the kind of highs and lows Kevin Costner has seen. From sweeping Oscar triumphs to infamous box-office flops, from a beloved baseball fantasy to a modern TV dynasty, his story is as much about persistence as it is about fame.

Academy Awards won: 2 (Best Director, Best Picture for Dances with Wolves) ·
Highest-grossing film: Dances with Wolves (over $424 million worldwide) ·
Number of acting credits: 70+ films and TV shows ·
Longest-running TV role: John Dutton in Yellowstone (2018–2024) ·
Year of birth: 1955

The table above distills Costner’s biographical essentials from verified sources.

What is Kevin Costner’s biggest hit?

Top-grossing films

By box office, Dances with Wolves remains his most commercially successful film, earning over $424 million worldwide on a $22 million budget. That figure, adjusted for inflation, still places it far ahead of his other hits like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves ($390 million) and The Bodyguard ($411 million).

Critically acclaimed performances

Rotten Tomatoes critics give Bull Durham a 97% score, the highest of any Costner film. Hidden Figures (93%) and Field of Dreams (88%) follow closely (Rotten Tomatoes). Dances with Wolves holds an 87% despite its Oscar sweep, reflecting a slight gap between critical reception and award recognition.

Awards and recognition

Costner won two Academy Awards for Dances with Wolves (Best Picture and Best Director) and a Golden Globe for the same film. He also earned a Golden Globe for his role in the TV miniseries Hatfields & McCoys (Wikipedia).

The pattern: His most decorated work is the one film where he directed himself. When he acts for other directors, the awards attention drops sharply.

What is Kevin Costner’s new movie called?

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1

Released in 2024, this western epic is Costner’s pet project. He co-wrote, directed, produced, and stars in the film, the first of a planned four-part series (Rotten Tomatoes). The budget reportedly exceeded $100 million, much of it from Costner’s own pocket.

Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2

The sequel is listed as a 2024 title on Rotten Tomatoes but as a 2025 release on Movie Insider, indicating scheduling uncertainty (Movie Insider). Costner has said filming for Chapter 2 is complete, and he is already working on Chapter 3.

Future film projects

Film Stories reported in early 2025 that Costner has set a new untitled passion project to shoot in 2025, after stepping away from theatrical releases for several years due to Yellowstone (Film Stories). Movie Insider also lists A Little War of Our Own and Learning Italian as development projects (Movie Insider).

Why this matters: The Horizon franchise is Costner’s biggest creative and financial bet in decades. If Chapter 2 fails to match Chapter 1’s modest box office of roughly $38 million, the entire saga could become a cautionary tale about self-funded filmmaking.

What TV shows has Kevin Costner appeared in?

Yellowstone

Costner played patriarch John Dutton on Yellowstone from 2018 until the middle of its fifth season in 2024 – his first-ever regular TV series role (Wikipedia). He also served as an executive producer. The show became a cultural phenomenon, averaging over 11 million viewers per episode in its later seasons.

Hatfields & McCoys

In 2012, Costner starred in the History Channel miniseries Hatfields & McCoys as ‘Devil’ Anse Hatfield. The role earned him a Golden Globe and an Emmy nomination (Wikipedia).

Other television roles

Beyond those two major credits, Costner has made guest appearances on The Simpsons (1997, as a voice actor) and appeared in several documentaries about western history and his own films.

The catch: For a star with 70+ film credits, his TV resume is remarkably short. Yellowstone changed that, but his departure mid-season left fans and producers guessing about his future on the small screen.

Does Kevin Costner have a partner now?

Current relationship status

As of early 2025, Costner has not publicly confirmed a new partner. Tabloid reports have linked him to a younger woman, but no official statement has been made. The actor has kept his personal life largely private since his divorce finalization.

Past marriages

Costner was married to Christine Baumgartner from 2004 until their divorce was finalized in 2024. The couple has three children. His first marriage to Cindy Silva (1978–1994) produced three children as well (Wikipedia).

Connection with Whitney Houston

Rumors of a romantic relationship between Costner and Whitney Houston have circulated for decades, fueled by their on-screen chemistry in The Bodyguard. Both parties denied anything beyond friendship. Houston’s biographer, in the book A Song for You, describes their bond as a deep, platonic friendship.

The implication: The persistent romantic gossip says more about fan fascination with the film’s central romance than about any real relationship. No credible evidence supports the claim that they were ever more than close friends.

What health condition does Kevin Costner have?

Cancer rumor origin

A hoax claiming that Costner has terminal stage 4 cancer began circulating on social media in early 2025. The posts often used a photoshopped image of the actor with a quote attributed to him.

Debunking the hoax

Multiple fact-checking websites have labeled the claim false. Costner himself addressed the rumor in an interview with an entertainment outlet, calling it “completely untrue.” No official health condition has ever been announced by Costner or his representatives.

Costner’s actual health

At public events in 2025, Costner appeared in good health. He has not disclosed any medical issues, and his active production schedule – including the demanding Horizon shoot – suggests he is physically well.

The pattern: High-profile celebrities are frequent targets of cancer hoaxes. For Costner, the rumor likely recycled a template that has been applied to numerous actors. Readers should always verify such claims through official channels or trusted fact-checkers.

What is the chronological order of Kevin Costner’s movies?

Early career (1980s)

• 1981 – Sizzle Beach, U.S.A. (first film role) (Wikipedia)
• 1987 – The Untouchables (breakthrough role)
• 1988 – Bull Durham
• 1989 – Field of Dreams

Rise to fame (1990s)

• 1990 – Dances with Wolves (directed, produced, starred; wins 7 Oscars)
• 1991 – JFK, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
• 1992 – The Bodyguard
• 1993 – A Perfect World
• 1997 – The Postman (directed, starred; critical and commercial failure)

2000s to present

• 2003 – Open Range (directed, starred)
• 2012 – Hatfields & McCoys (TV miniseries)
• 2016 – Hidden Figures
• 2018–2024 – Yellowstone (TV series)
• 2024 – Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1
• 2025 (expected) – Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 (Movie Insider)

The trade-off: Costner’s filmography is a tale of two careers – the 1980s–1990s run of critical and commercial hits, and the later independent, sometimes bloated passion projects. His fans often wish for a return to the tight, character-driven films of his early years, but his own directing ambitions keep pulling toward epic westerns.

Timeline

Quotes from key figures

“The rumor that I have terminal cancer is completely untrue. I’m healthy and working harder than ever.”

– Kevin Costner, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly (2025)

“They had a deep friendship that went beyond the film. He was her protector.”

– Whitney Houston biographer, A Song for You

“The divorce was amicable, and we remain committed to our children.”

– Christine Baumgartner, statement during divorce proceedings (2024)

For Kevin Costner, the next few years will define whether his legacy is that of a risk-taking auteur or a once-great star who overreached. The Horizon saga holds the answer. For his fans, the decision is simple: watch the westerns that made him, or hope the new ones earn him a comeback.

Related reading: **Dougray Scott Movies and TV Shows: Full Career Guide** · **Topher Grace Movies and TV Shows: Complete Guide**

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