“How Dances With Wolves Cemented Kevin Costner’s Legacy in Western Films”
It’s notable that despite the film’s 1990 release, Grauer’s praise for Dances with Wolves stands out, especially when contrasted with his more critical view of recent Westerns like The Harder They Fall. Released in 2021, The Harder They Fall received a low accuracy rating of 3 out of 10, highlighting the shift in how Western films are evaluated over time. Dances with Wolves emerged at a time when discussions about representation were less prominent, yet it still earned significant acclaim.
Following Dances with Wolves, Kevin Costner’s career continued to embrace the Western genre. His more recent Western work includes his role in the Taylor Sheridan TV series Yellowstone, which delves into the Dutton family’s struggle for land in Montana. Beyond Yellowstone, Costner’s Western filmography also features Wyatt Earp, Open Range, and The Highwaymen.
Costner has further explored his Western roots with the Horizon movies. Originally slated for release in June and August, the first two chapters of Horizon—Chapter 1 and Chapter 2—were intended to launch a multi-part series. However, after Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 struggled to make an impact at the box office, Horizon: Chapter 2 was removed from the release schedule and is now set to debut at the Venice Film Festival in September. Although Costner remains committed to the Western genre, he has yet to replicate the level of success achieved with Dances with Wolves.
