Kevin Costner Discusses the Art of Long Films

Kevin Costner recently shared his reflections on the art of making longer films during the History Channel’s History Talks at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

On September 21, he reminisced about attending a birthday party at the Cinerama Dome when he was just seven or eight years old, where he watched How the West Was Won. “It was a four-hour movie, so it’s no surprise mine are three,” joked the Yellowstone star.

Known for his epic Westerns, Costner has created films that are both grand in scope and length, including Dances with Wolves, which runs three hours and one minute. His upcoming Horizon saga features parts one and two at three hours one minute and three hours ten minutes, respectively.

While he accurately recalled the runtime of How the West Was Won as 2 hours and 44 minutes, he reflected on how it felt like a marathon to his young self. He was captivated by the film’s “magic”—the vast mountains, the “moving, real” water, and the authentic costumes. When intermission arrived, he was so engrossed that he chose to stay in his seat rather than risk losing his spot. “I waited for that movie to start again, and when it was over, it left a mark on me,” he recalled.

Costner also spoke about the profound effect the 1956 film Giant had on him. “It’s another three-hour movie. You get the picture,” he said. At just 12 years old, he realized it shaped his aspirations. “For all the artifice of movies, they teach us so much about who we want to become,” he remarked.

Discussing films from the 1950s and 1960s, he emphasized the timelessness of cinema. “It doesn’t matter when you make a movie; it will endure, so the details you include are crucial. If you get those right, the film will remain relevant. That’s what I aspire to in my life.”

“It’s easy to be popular, but very challenging to be relevant. I want my life to matter, and I believe you do too,” he concluded.