30 Years Later, Kevin Costner’s Notorious Sci-Fi Flop Officially Makes a Massive Streaming Comeback

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kevin costner on the Santa Barbara International Film Festival red carpet

Published Nov 1, 2026, 6:15 PM EST

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Since leaving his role as John Dutton in Taylor Sheridan's hugely popular Yellowstone, it's not been an easy ride for Kevin Costner. Having had a passion project brewing for 35 years, Costner left Dutton behind and started development on a proposed four-part epic, titled Horizon: An American Saga. Costner not only directed, co-wrote, produced, and starred, but also largely self-funded the project, which looked set to be the next big Western cinema experience.

Alas, it wasn't meant to be, with Horizon: An American Saga's first installment making less than $40 million against a reported budget of $50 million, and leaving the future of Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 in doubt, despite it having reportedly been filmed and even screened at the Venice Film Festival in 2024. But this high-profile flop is nothing new to Costner, who starred in one of the biggest financial failures of the 1990s.

The film in question is Waterworld, which was one of the most expensive films of all time in 1995 and scored just over $250 million despite having a box office budget reportedly in a similar range. The film also faced huge critical backlash: "It’s one of those marginal pictures you’re not unhappy to have seen, but can’t quite recommend," wrote famed critic Roger Ebert. Over three decades later, Waterworld is a surprise hit. At the time of writing, it is one of the ten most-watched movies on Tubi in the U.S., a list topped by the Tom Hanks-led gem The Green Mile.

What Is Kevin Costner Making Next?

After the sadly disastrous move into his American Saga, Costner is calming down with a starring role in an upcoming comedy-drama. Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, from a script by Paradise creator Dan Fogelman, Honeymoon With Harry stars Costner as the titular Harry, the father-in-law of Jake Gyllenhaal's Todd, as the pair go on a honeymoon after the latter's fiancée dies two days before his wedding. Based on a Bart Barker novel of the same name, a film adaptation of the movie has been in development hell for roughly 25 years and is finally making it over the line.

Waterworld is a free streaming hit right now on Tubi. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for the latest streaming stories.