The star’s latest venture is a four-part western film series titled Horizon: An American Saga. Costner, who both stars in and directs the movies, has invested millions of dollars into his passion project.
With the first instalment underperforming at the box office, the future of the franchise now appears uncertain. Read on to learn how much the project has cost him so far and why this isn’t the first time Costner has risked his own fortune, with mixed results.
All dollar amounts in US dollars
Costner’s first epic triumph
Costner made his acting debut in 1981, appearing in the rom-com Malibu Hot Summer. He worked steadily throughout the 80s, with his most notable role coming in the 1989 drama Field of Dreams.
His career reached new heights when he produced, directed, and starred in the 1990 Western epic Dances with Wolves. The film received critical acclaim, winning seven Oscars and earning 12 nominations. Costner took home the prestigious awards for Best Director and Best Picture.
A tidy return on investment
Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images
Dances with Wolves marked the first time Costner invested his own money into a film – and the risk paid off. Thanks to a lucrative backend profit deal that gave him a slice of the box office revenues, he earned $50 million, equivalent to a staggering $121 million (£96m) when adjusted for inflation.
The film grossed $424 million worldwide, or around $1 billion (£780m) in today’s money.
Costner strikes gold again
Warner Bros.
The following year, Costner scored another box office hit with Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (pictured). He both starred in and produced the adventure epic.
The movie earned $390 million globally, equivalent to around $895 million (£703m) today. Another backend profit deal reportedly saw Costner bank $40 million for the project, or a juicy $92 million (£72m) in 2024 money. However, he went on to sue the film’s production team in 2012 for reportedly cutting him out of the profit share since 2010. The case was settled in 2014.
