Kevin Costner Beating Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola With His $424M Movie at the Grandest Stage Is His Biggest Career Accomplishment

When Kevin Costner’s $424M epic triumphed over Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola, cementing his status as a Hollywood legend.

right image by Gerald Geronimo, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Kevin Costner is a celebrated figure in Hollywood, and over his career spanning decades, he has given us some of the most memorable portrayals and films of all time.

A brilliant actor as well as a talented director, his time in the industry has been defined by remarkable, memorable achievements and prestigious accolades.

Kevin Costner | Credits: Yellowstone / Paramount Network

However, one of his achievements stands out as the crowning jewel of his legacy: his $424 million epic triumphing over the works of cinematic legends like Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola on the grandest stage of filmmaking.

When Kevin Costner defeated two cinematic legends with his legendary film

Kevin Costner (L) in Dances With Wolves (1990) | Credit: Orion Pictures
Kevin Costner‘s career has been marked by many unforgettable performances, yet he is also prolific when it comes to filmmaking.

While his latest venture, the Horizon film saga might not have turned out the best, his past works stand among Hollywood’s Hall of Fame.

His 1990 American epic Western, Dances With Wolves, which he directed and starred in, is one such film.

One of his highest-ranked films critically, the epic accumulated over $424 million worldwide against a meager budget of just $19 million (via The Numbers).

While its financial success is certainly remarkable, what makes the film a crowning jewel in Costner’s filmography are its achievements: awards.

The film won a record 12 nominations at the 63rd Academy Awards, taking home seven of those Golden trophies with two alone for Costner: Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director as well as a Best Actor nomination.

Making the win even more special is the fact that the same year, Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese were both nominated for the two awards for their films, The Godfather Part III and Goodfellas, respectively (via Oscars).

Not only did Kevin Costner achieve an all-time career-high accomplishment, solidifying his place as a talented actor and a prolific director at the same time, but it also demonstrated his ability to surpass some of the industry’s greatest visionaries.

Kevin Costner’s Dances With Wolves remains one of his most outstanding films

Kevin Costner as Lt.John J.

Dunbar in Dances With Wolves | Credit: Orion Pictures

Kevin Costner’s Dances With Wolves remains a cinematic masterpiece and continues to stand as one of the most outstanding achievements in his career.

Released in 1990, the epic Western not only showcased the versatility of Costner both as an actor and filmmaker but is credited with revitalizing the Western genre as a whole.

Adapted from Michael Blake’s novel of the same name, the film immersed audiences into the journey of Lieutenant John Dunbar, a Union Army officer who became immersed in the culture of the Sioux people during the Civil War era.

The movie was groundbreaking in its portrayal of Native American culture and is now preserved in the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

Now a cultural phenomenon, the film’s enduring legacy lies in its ability to humanize historical narratives and challenge stereotypes, making it more than just a Western film.

To this day, when it comes to the Western genre, the film remains a benchmark for storytelling while simultaneously solidifying Kevin Costner’s reputation as a multi-talented force in the film industry.

Dances With Wolves is available to be streamed on Prime Video.