Kevin Costner Defends 'Waterworld' and Swears It Is 'Beloved' Around the World

Kevin Costner has spoken out in defense of “Waterworld” after a film critic reached out to apologize for trashing the movie upon its 1995 release.

“I know that people might think of ‘Waterworld’ as a low point for me. It wasn’t. It could have had a better, more obvious outcome,” Costner told Jeff Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere. “The thing I know is that I never had to stand taller for a movie when most were going the other way. The movie with all its imperfections was a joy for me… a joy to look back upon and to have participated in.”

Costner went on to say that it is easy to criticize a film if you don’t know how hard people worked on it. “I’m not sure you know how hard people work [on films]. I’m not sure you know how beloved the movie is around the world,” Costner said.

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“Being hard [on a film] is really easy if you don’t know the underbelly of what [went into it]. When you do know the forensics of a movie — the participation and decisions of others that one has to stand in front of — you can’t help but see it differently,” he continued.

Costner concluded by reminding Wells that “Waterworld” was made with minimal CGI, a rarity for such a film in this day and age. “I hope you have a chance to watch ‘Waterworld’ again on a very minimal green screen,” he said. “That was me flying around the boat, up and down on the mast and in the water. Not overly dramatic but just the way it was. Again good luck to you. ‘Nothing’s free in Waterworld.'”

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At the time of it’s release, “Waterworld” was the highest-budgeted film of all time at $175 million. The film went on to gross a disappointing $88 million at the domestic box office after being beaten up critics. However, the film made more than $175 million internationally, bringing its worldwide box office total to $264 million.

10 Highest-Grossing Boxing Movies of All Time - From 'Rocky' to 'Million Dollar Baby' (Photos)

A number of boxing movies have cleaned up at the box office -- mostly those starring Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa. Now that "Creed II" is entering theaters, also starring -- you guessed it -- Sly Stallone, let's look at the highest-grossing boxing films of all time.

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10. Cinderella Man (2005) Domestic gross: $61.6 million - Starring Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger and Paul Giamatti, the film is about a washed-up boxer who returns to the sport in the 1930s.

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Universal
9. Rocky Balboa (2006) Domestic gross: $70.3 million - Thirty years after his first fight, Rocky Balboa (Stallone) comes out of retirement and steps into the ring for his final fight against the reigning heavyweight champion, Mason "The Line" Dixon.
MGM
8. Rocky II (1979) Domestic gross: $79. 2 million - Rocky (Stallone) struggles in family life after his losing match against Apollo Creed, but the defeated champ goads him into a rematch so that Rocky can pay his bills.
MGM
7. Real Steel (2011) Domestic gross: $85.5 million - The movie stars Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo and Evangeline Lilly, and follows a man who thinks he found a champion in a discarded robot -- in the future, robot boxing has become the go-to sport.

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Disney
6. The Fighter (2010) Domestic gross: $93.6 million - Starring Mark Wahlberg, Amy Adams and Christian Bale, the film gives us a look at the starting years of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his brother, who helped him train before going pro.

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Paramount
5. Million Dollar Baby (2004) Domestic gross: $100.4 million - Starring Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, Jay Baruchel and Morgan Freeman, the film follows a determined woman who trains with a hardened boxing trainer to become a professional.

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Warner Bros.
4. Creed (2015) Domestic gross: $109.8 million - Future "Black Panther" director/star duo Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan teamed up with Stallone for this critically acclaimed spinoff, in which Apollo Creed's son Adonis convinces Rocky to train him to follow in his father's footsteps.
Warner Bros.
3. Rocky (1976) Domestic gross: $117.2 million - Rocky Balboa, a small-time boxer, gets the rare opportunity to fight heavy-weight champion, Apollo Creed.
MGM
2. Rocky III (1982) Domestic gross: $125 million - Rocky (Stallone) has been holding the title of heavyweight champion until he is defeated by a challenger -- then, he must regain his title by defeating his previous opponent: Apollo Creed.

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MGM
1. Rocky IV (1985) Domestic gross: $125.5 million - Starring Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers, the movie follows Rocky to Russia for 15 brutal rounds of boxing revenge after Soviet athlete Drago kills Apollo Creed in an exhibition match.
MGM

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As Adonis Creed returns to the ring, we look at the box office’s most prestigious pugilists

A number of boxing movies have cleaned up at the box office -- mostly those starring Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa. Now that "Creed II" is entering theaters, also starring -- you guessed it -- Sly Stallone, let's look at the highest-grossing boxing films of all time.

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10 Highest-Grossing Boxing Movies of All Time - From 'Rocky' to 'Million Dollar Baby' (Photos)

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