They say experience is the best teacher, but in Kevin Costner’s case, it was Steven Spielberg’s advice that could’ve saved him from sinking millions into Waterworld, Hollywood’s most bloated misadventure of the ‘90s. Waterworld screenwriter Peter Rader once revealed to Yahoo that Costner had directly asked Spielberg for advice on filming in the ocean. Spielberg didn’t hesitate and warned:
Kevin said, ‘Steven, I’m doing this Waterworld movie, and we’re shooting on water. Do you have any advice for me?’ And Spielberg was unequivocal: ‘Do not shoot on water! You’re going to need a couple of shots on water, so use second unit for that. Do all of your coverage in a tank or a stage.’
Steven Spielberg wasn’t waxing poetic; he was reliving his own Jaws nightmare, which ballooned over budget and nearly capsized his career before becoming a cultural monolith. But Costner didn’t take the lifeline. Instead, he pushed forward, filming almost entirely on open water.
The result? A $175 million production bill, a nightmarish 157-day shoot, and a film that, despite a $264 million global haul, flopped hard thanks to bloated marketing costs and sky-high expectations. It had action, yes. Visual spectacle? Sure. But it lacked soul, and critics knew it.
As if the ghost of Waterworld wasn’t enough, Kevin Costner’s turbulent tendencies followed him to the small screen. Recently, reports surfaced that another storm brewed on the set of Yellowstone, this time behind the scenes.
Why Waterworld Cost So Much: Why Kevin Costner Film Failed At The Box Office
Back in 1995, when Waterworld was released, the idea of spending $175 million on a single original film with no franchise attachments was nothing short of lunacy. Originally budgeted at $65 million, Universal’s confidence and Kevin Costner’s insistence on realism turned that modest number into a Hollywood horror story. Tropical storms destroyed sets, rewrites caused delays, and a 96-day shoot ballooned to 157 soul-grinding days on open sea.
To grasp the absurdity, Independence Day, a blockbuster in every sense, was released a year later for less than half that amount. Meanwhile, Waterworld reportedly cost more than three times the combined budget of George Miller’s entire Mad Max trilogy at the time (per Screen Rant). The media didn’t waste time skewering the film, dubbing it “Kevin’s Gate” and “Fishtar” before it even hit theaters.
When it finally dropped, Waterworld opened at #1 and raked in a global total of $264 million, decent numbers on the surface. But an extra $65 million was spent on marketing alone, pushing the breakeven point far beyond reach. With box office math being what it is, where studios only take a portion of global sales, Waterworld never had a fighting chance.
Critics delivered mixed reviews, praising its scope but panning the story and characters. Worse yet, it was slammed with four Golden Raspberry nominations, including Worst Picture and Worst Actor.
Kevin Costner’s Clash With Yellowstone Co-Star Halted Production: Report
Turns out, the on-screen tension between Kevin Costner and Wes Bentley in Yellowstone wasn’t just great acting; it mirrored a real-life power struggle that halted production altogether. Sources close to the production told The Hollywood Reporter that Costner, who doubled as both star and executive producer, grew increasingly frustrated with Bentley’s refusal to veer from Taylor Sheridan’s script.
Costner reportedly demanded a different take on a particularly intense scene. Bentley refused, asserting he signed on for Taylor Sheridan’s vision, not Costner’s. An eyewitness described the confrontation as electric. “Kevin didn’t like that, and he lunged at him,” they said. Though no punches flew, it turned physical enough that the cast had to separate them.
Everyone loved Wes and so that really made Taylor upset. Kevin and Taylor butted heads from there on out. It got very awkward.
The fallout was swift. Production paused. Morale tanked. Another insider confirmed, “Everything was different after that.” Bentley’s team later acknowledged the scuffle, calling it a “work-related argument during an emotional and physically tough scene.” Costner’s camp? Radio silence.
Yellowstone, which concluded its five-season run in December 2024, began with critical acclaim but ended with behind-the-scenes chaos. By the time Costner announced his exit in a June 2024 Instagram video, fans were left wondering if the man behind the cowboy hat had become too hard to wrangle.
Should Costner have listened to Spielberg and saved Waterworld from disaster? Do you think his Yellowstone exit was a blessing in disguise or a career misstep?
Drop your wildest hot takes, opinions, or movie memories in the comments below!
And for those looking to revisit Waterworld or catch up on Yellowstone, both are currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+, respectively.
