Although Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves wasn’t the best of his movies, it still managed to nearly beat Terminator 2: Judgement Day!
Terminator 2: Judgement Day was one of the sequels to a movie that was actually good. However, it was completely overshadowed when Yellowstone star Kevin Costner’s $390 million film was screening. The movie that nearly beat Terminator 2 remains an underrated gem, and you’ve probably heard about it.
Despite criticism from critics and fans alike, Kevin Costner starred in a 1991 film called Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, which was in no way good, but the film nearly beat Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator 2: Judgement Day in terms of box office collection and was way ahead of its time..
The Kevin Costner film that nearly beat Schwarzenegger’s Terminator 2
It was the year 1991 when Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was released in June 1991. The film was an action-adventure film that showcased Kevin Costner as Robin Hood, an English nobleman who sets out with a band of villagers to take revenge on the sheriff of Nottingham, who was responsible for his father’s death.
Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | Credits: Morgan Creek Productions
Of course, the screenplay wasn’t the best, but the film had heart. According to IMDb, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves earned a total of $390 million at the global box office. At the same time, in August of 1991, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator 2: Judgement Day was released in theaters.
With James Cameron helming the project as its director, the Schwarzenegger film made numbers at the global box office collection, with IMDb reporting the earnings to be more than $500 million.
Despite the vast difference in directors and storyline, it is quite an impressive feat that the Kevin Costner movie was nearly able to beat Terminator 2: Judgement Day! Although Robin Hood didn’t have a perfect pacing or the best of comedic scenes, it still managed to be close enough to reaching one of the greatest sequels of all time.
The list of Kevin Costner hits outweighs his bombs
Although the movies weren’t too great, Kevin Costner did have a box office pulling ability. Movies like Dance with Wolves and JFK became some of the most commercially as well as critically acclaimed movies.
Kevin Costner in Yellowstone | Credits: Paramount+
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was by no means a bomb since the film had quite a strong box office collection. Films like The Postman, Waterworld, and Wyatt Earp were major box office bombs, but Kevin Costner learned from his mistakes and starred in bigger and better projects in the future.
Some critics hailed Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves as a terrible movie, while Roger Ebert called it a “murky, unfocused, violent and depressing version” of the classic story. Well, the critics weren’t entirely true as Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was more than just a piece of depressive cinema.
Why critics were wrong about Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Alan Rickman had an iconic performance in the role of the Sheriff of Nottingham, who was downright hilarious in an otherwise serious movie. Even Morgan Freeman as Azeem is a memorable character from the movie.
Alan Rickman in a still from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | Credits: Morgan Creek Productions
The 1991 film promised adventure, and adventure it did give, several thrilling escapes, large-scale battles, some impressive stunts (for the time), and a sense of epic scale.
Despite having a darker tone compared to other Robin Hood films, the Prince of Thieves offered a fresh take on the character, which was ahead of its time since almost every character was fleshed out with detail, and none of it felt flat at any time.
Although the film had its fair share of inconsistencies in pacing and didn’t know whether to be a serious drama or show its flair for comedy, it was by no means “a depressing version” of the original tale. Though it might not have been one of the best films of the time, it was certainly a good film. What do you think about this movie? Let us know in the comments below.
