Watch Yellowstone Star Kevin Costner’s Most Expensive Film Ever — Now Streaming on Prime Video
From Box Office Disaster to Cult Classic
Before he became the stoic patriarch of the Dutton family in Yellowstone, Kevin Costner was the face of one of Hollywood’s most ambitious (and infamous) projects — Waterworld. Once hailed as the most expensive movie ever made, the 1995 epic has finally found a new home on Prime Video, giving audiences a chance to revisit the blockbuster that nearly sank its own studio.
The Movie That Made Hollywood Hold Its Breath
Riding high from the Oscar-winning success of Dances With Wolves, Costner set his sights on a daring post-apocalyptic adventure. Directed by Kevin Reynolds, Waterworld imagined a future Earth completely submerged under water, where survivors search for the mythical “Dryland.”
With influences from Mad Max and Dune, the film promised sweeping action and groundbreaking visuals — but its production quickly spiraled into chaos.
Originally budgeted at around $100 million, Waterworld ballooned to $175 million, breaking records to become the most expensive movie ever made at the time. Behind the scenes, there were last-minute script rewrites by Joss Whedon, a scrapped musical score, and even a near-death experience for Costner himself during a stormy shoot in Hawaii.
From “Flop” to Fan Favorite
Despite its disastrous press and underwhelming box office numbers in 1995, Waterworld eventually found redemption. Home video sales and theme park attractions based on the movie helped it turn a profit — and over the years, it’s been reappraised as a cult favorite for its bold vision and practical stunts.
Costner’s performance as the mysterious “Mariner” remains one of his most physically demanding roles, combining rugged heroism with quiet melancholy — qualities that would later define his work in Yellowstone.
Streaming Details
For those who missed it the first time — or want to see where Costner’s taste for sweeping epics truly began — Waterworld is now streaming on Prime Video.
Dive back into the waves of Hollywood history and witness the ambitious film that almost sank, but ultimately survived — much like its star.