“Why Kevin Costner Says He ‘Doesn’t Give a Sh*t’ About This in Movies”

Kevin Costner is a legendary movie star with decades of iconic roles, yet he often feels at odds with mainstream entertainment culture.

At the height of his fame in the late 1980s and ’90s, Costner was arguably the most famous actor on the planet. Yet, he managed to reinvent his career in the 21st century, winning critical acclaim with the miniseries Hatfields & McCoys and later leading the hit neo-western Yellowstone. However, both phases of his career have been marked by his ego and insistence on creative control, which have derailed some of his projects. In the ’90s, Costner took the reins on films like Wyatt Earp and Waterworld, both of which underperformed, casting doubt on his star power. More recently, at the peak of Yellowstone, he walked away from his audience to pursue his self-financed multi-part epic Horizon: An American Saga.

Despite critical backlash, Costner has remained unfazed by public opinion.

“I don’t mind Hollywood, after all, I don’t make avant-garde or hard-to-understand films,” he explained. “I just like to make mainstream movies that retain the edges of the original writing. I don’t like seeing them flattened to cater to audiences.”

Costner’s career, however, is defined by undeniable successes. He helped redefine the sports movie genre with Bull Durham and Field of Dreams, and reinvented an iconic hero in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Given this track record, it’s easier to see why he bristles at critics who don’t understand the craft.

“I don’t really give a shit what people think about my movie after a test screening,” Costner said. “What matters is how they experience it in its purest form. My films aren’t for everyone—sometimes they’re more adult, which excludes kids.”

Creative authority is clearly Costner’s top priority. His departure from Yellowstone may reflect disagreements with Taylor Sheridan over his character, while Horizon: An American Saga remains constrained only by financial realities. The first chapter of the epic failed at the box office, leading Warner Bros. to shelve the second installment. With ongoing lawsuits, even the release of the second chapter is uncertain, and the third and fourth films now look unlikely.

Costner’s reputation for being difficult on set is well-known, but so is his passion and unwavering commitment to projects he believes in. For him, the story—and his creative control—always comes first.