Kevin Costner Defines Success in Filmmaking: “He’s a Really Gifted Filmmaker”

Kevin Costner: A Study in Contrasts Between Triumph and Turbulence

Kevin Costner is one of Hollywood’s most curious case studies. Once hailed as a rugged leading man with star-making roles in The Bodyguard and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, he quickly rose to cinematic prominence. But with each major triumph—like the Oscar-winning Dances With Wolves or his recent revival on Yellowstone—Costner has also faced equally dramatic misfires.

Few moviegoers from the 1990s could forget the colossal backlash surrounding Waterworld, a box office flop that left a lasting stain on his otherwise golden decade. The Postman followed suit, widely regarded as one of his least compelling efforts. His latest endeavor, Horizon: An American Saga, remains in uncertain territory despite Costner personally investing a massive sum into its production. His flops are often spectacular—but they are also uniquely his, shaped by his own creative vision and ambition.

What makes Costner stand out isn’t just his undeniable charisma or natural screen presence—it’s the volatility of his career. His highs are meteoric, his lows just as intense. Consistency has often eluded him, a quality he deeply admires in one of his heroes: Steven Spielberg.

Spielberg, by contrast, is an unparalleled force in Hollywood. He has managed to blend critical acclaim with box office dominance, crafting everything from cult classics to family-friendly favorites and action-packed blockbusters. Rarely has he delivered a film that seriously threatened his reputation. For Costner, Spielberg represents the gold standard.

“He’s really successful, you know?” Costner once said when asked who he believes defines success. While he also mentions figures like Thomas Jefferson, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos, it’s Spielberg who stands out in his eyes: “Here’s a guy who’s probably not so dominant in his personality who’s been able to do everything he’s wanted to do.”

Costner particularly admires Spielberg’s versatility—something often overlooked because of his commercial success. “I don’t think Steven has limited himself. I think early on, people tried to say he can only make this kind of story. This guy is really gifted,” he remarked.

As someone who has also stepped behind the camera, Costner is in a strong position to comment on what defines true cinematic success. For him, Spielberg isn’t just prolific—he’s fearless in exploring every genre. “He’s a really gifted filmmaker and I think he has challenged almost all genres—he really has,” Costner added.

In the grand narrative of Hollywood careers, Spielberg may be the consistent giant, but Costner is the bold risk-taker. Though his path has been uneven, Costner’s pursuit of creative freedom—win or lose—makes him a uniquely resilient figure. By his own measure, success isn’t about never failing; it’s about doing what you love on your own terms. And in that regard, Kevin Costner may be more successful than most.