Prime Video Just Landed Kevin Costner’s Ambitious $424 Million Western

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Published Oct 7, 2026, 10:00 PM EDT

Makuochi Echebiri is a News Writer for Collider. He has been interested in creative writing from as far back as high school, and he would consume pretty much anything that’s film or TV. However, his truest love lies in the presence of historical epics and thrillers.

Lured by the brilliance of Middle Earth from an early age both in print and on screen, his palate has since expanded to other realms including Westeros, Kattegat among others. He also possesses a great appetite for the stories that emanate from the vastness of space. Even though he is no Avenger.

Obsessed with storytelling and having works of his own that have yet to make it to print, he is content to use that ability to communicate to as many as are reachable. In his spare time, he looks out for avenues where he can aid people aside from his plans to reign over this earthly realm. Yes…you heard that first here.

Kevin Costner may be going through the wringer with his latest western project, but there's no denying the talent behind one of Hollywood's most enduring careers or the massive legacy he's built in the genre. Costner is credited with helping revive the western at a time when it appeared to be facing extinction, and his impact has continued to resonate with generations of audiences. Younger viewers may know him best as John Dutton in Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone universe, but the actor's western legacy stretches back decades, and now one of his most celebrated classics has found a new home.

The project in question is a definitive entry in Hollywood's western history and, without a doubt, essential viewing for any fan of the genre. The film tells a revisionist story centered on Lt. John J. Dunbar (Costner), a Civil War veteran who relocates to the frontier and gradually forms a relationship with the Lakota people. We're, of course, talking about Dances with Wolves, the 1990 epic that defied expectations at the box office, grossing $424 million against its modest $22 million budget. Its extraordinary commercial success, coupled with its critical acclaim, helped resuscitate a western genre that had been struggling to remain relevant in Hollywood.

Making Dances with Wolves' success even more staggering is the fact that it marked Costner's directorial debut. Critics praised his bold vision, particularly the film's approach to Native American representation. The movie went on to receive 12 Academy Award nominations, winning 7, including Best Picture and Best Director for Costner. More than three decades later, Dances with Wolves has aged remarkably well and continues to earn its share of pop culture references. It's the kind of title streamers are always eager to bring back to their libraries, and now Prime Video has become the latest platform to house the film following its brief absence from the service.

What's the Current Status of Kevin Costner's 'Horizon' Project?

While Costner's fans have no shortage of his classic and modern works to revisit, many are still eagerly awaiting the second chapter of his latest passion project, Horizon: An American Saga. The first installment, which Costner largely self-funded, was a box office disappointment, which hindered the release of its follow-up. Costner is also currently dealing with lawsuits filed against the production of the first film. But despite the setbacks, the Oscar winner remains committed to seeing the saga through, with plans for a total of four films. He's already in production on the third chapter while continuing to seek funding for the fourth. His fans also remain hopeful, with some already projecting the movie series will rise to cult status. However, it remains unclear when Chapter 2, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, will finally receive its long-overdue theatrical release.