As a director, Costner is alive to the sweep of the country and the expansive spirit of the western-movie tradition.
Comment
02/20/09
Dances with Wolves (1990)
78
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:45
Fresh:35
Rotten:10
Average Rating:7/10
Consensus: A grand, sweeping epic with inarguably noble intentions and arresting cinematography, but one whose center, arguably, is not as weighty as it should be.
Synopsis: Actor Kevin Costner made his debut behind the camera--and won an Oscar for Best Director--with this celebrated epic. In 1865, Civil War hero Lt. John Dunbar (Costner) asks to be reassigned to the... [More]
Starring: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, Rodney A. Grant
Director: Kevin Costner
Reviews for Dances with Wolves
Plodding, simplistic and overlong politically correct Western epic.
03/02/08
The film's real joy rests in Costner's meticulous attention to historical detail, creating a world that is both moving and credible.
02/20/08
In his directorial debut, Kevin Costner brings a rare degree of grace and feeling to this elegiac tale.
01/28/08
Top CriticThe political correctness is so politically correct and sappy and sucky and conscience-appeasing and politically-pacifying and just generally brain-numbing
05/05/07
No one can doubt Kevin Costner's sincerity or vision.
02/10/07
An epic film that without its lead might have been better.
02/10/07
Not a great film by any standard, this is a western for people who are completely ignorant about the genre.
02/05/07
Sincere, capable, at times moving, but overextended, this picture is seriously hampered by its tendency to linger over everything -- especially landscapes with silhouetted figures, and not excluding its own good intentions.
02/05/07
One of the best films of our time. The finest achievement of Kevin Costner's career.
06/19/06
While the movie is not really revisionist or a new type of Western, it's a mass-oriented film in its middlebrow sensibility and acceptable message about the co-existence between the White Man and Native Americans.
06/10/06
Once you're sucked into the leisurely narrative, it's hard to resist.
01/26/06
The high-water mark of Kevin Costner's career.
08/17/05
Kevin Costner makes a good movie before falling into a pit of garbage.
06/14/05
No review available.
04/08/05
engagingly personal epic
02/26/05
No review available.
07/13/04
No review available.
04/16/04
No review available.
02/26/04
Latest News for Dances with Wolves
May 09, 2008:
Viggo Cutting in on Dances With Wolves Sequel? 
Director Simon Wincer is rumored to be working on a sequel to Dances With Wolves -- with Viggo Mortensen the favorite to replace a recalcitrant Kevin Costner. More...
February 26, 2007:
How Does "The Departed" Rank Among Oscar's Best?
So Martin Scorsese finally has his long-overdue, much-deserved Oscar. But where does "The Departed" stack up in the annals of Academy history? More...
October 10, 2005:
Uwe Boll Talks Dungeon Siege, Bloodrayne, and More.
Director Uwe Boll was kind enough to take time away from filming "Dungeon Siege" to answer a few questions about projects, past, present, and future for Skewed and... More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Fresh Links
Featured
Dressing Wonderland
Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.
Wes Anderson on Fox
The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Win Glee DVDs
We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.
Win tickets to Cold Souls
Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser
Win the entire 007 collection
Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection
IGN RSS Feeds