Every Cowboy Movie Starring Kevin Costner, Ranked.

Kevin Costner is an actor with a diverse and decorated filmography. A Hollywood leading man, he’s captivated audiences with his commanding screen presence and his ability to dissolve into a wide range of characters for decades now. His artistic ambitions and knack for choosing projects are what makes him so successful. But as far as Westerns go, Costner’s foray into the genre is relatively limited in number.

Fans probably know him best for his Academy Award-winning turn in Dances With Wolves, which was not only the actor’s first directorial effort, but also one of his most commercially successful movies of all time. Before and since, Costner proved that he’s a compelling performer and has enough range to navigate the morally complex world of the American West.

Costner left an indelible mark on the Western genre, and has continued to do so recently in the monumentally popular drama series Yellowstone. Whether he’s playing a rugged rancher or a world-weary lawman, he brings a certain authenticity to the role, a quiet strength, and an unmatched charm, all of which are hallmarks of the genre’s greatest characters and stories. This list takes a quick look at all seven unforgettable Western movies starring Kevin Costner.

A post-apocalyptic adventure drama directed by Kevin Costner himself (his second directorial effort), The Postmanfamiliarizes us with the once-mighty United States now crumbled into a wasteland after a catastrophic event impacted human civilization and technology. Costner plays a nameless drifter who stumbles upon a postman’s uniform and mailbag and decides to pose as a postman, delivering letters to scattered communities and inspiring hope for a restored nation.

Panned by critics upon its initial release, The Postman ended up getting an enormously positive response from audiences, who were quick to praise the ambitious storytelling and Costner’s heartfelt performance in the lead role. The movie deftly combines the gritty realism of the neo-Western genre with the speculative wonder of science fiction and delivers a story about staying hopeful and resilient in the face of overwhelming odds. Costner’s character, particularly, is responsible for reviving America and, as the beating heart of this epic movie, he delivers a commanding and unforgettable performance.