Kevin Costner’s 139-Minute Western Classic ‘Open Range’ Finds a New Free Streaming Home

Before Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga struggled at the box office, the actor and filmmaker delivered a very different Western success. His 2003 film Open Range, a rugged, character-driven drama starring Robert Duvall, earned strong reviews, attracted audiences to cinemas and has continued to stand out as one of the most memorable modern Westerns.

Now, the 139-minute film has found a new streaming home, giving viewers another opportunity to experience its sweeping landscapes, compelling performances and celebrated gunfight scenes without paying a subscription fee.

Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall Lead a Classic Western Story

Released in theatres on August 15, 2003, Open Range marked Costner’s third feature as a director, following Dances with Wolves and The Postman. He also stars as Charley Waite, alongside Robert Duvall as Boss Spearman.

The two men are free-grazing cattlemen who travel across open pastureland with their herds, making a living far from the restrictions of settled towns. Their independent lifestyle is peaceful until they arrive in a small Montana community dominated by wealthy rancher Denton Baxter, played by Michael Gambon.

Baxter’s influence soon brings trouble. After a violent confrontation, Boss and Charley become entangled in a dangerous conflict that puts both their livelihood and their lives at risk.

The story is based on Lauran Paine’s 1990 novel The Open Range Men. The book initially attracted limited attention, but Costner’s film helped introduce the story to a much wider audience. Despite the movie’s success, however, the novel never became a bestseller.

A Box Office Success With Strong Reviews

Made on a reported budget of $22 million, Open Range went on to earn approximately $68.3 million worldwide during its theatrical run — more than three times its production cost.

While those figures did not match the success of Costner’s Dances with Wolves, they represented a far stronger result than The Postman. That 1997 film brought in only around $30 million against an $80 million budget.

The Western also found favour with critics and audiences. It currently holds a 79% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, alongside an 84% audience score.

The film’s critical consensus highlights the on-screen chemistry between Costner and Duvall, describing it as “a sturdy modern Western with classic roots.”

That combination of traditional Western storytelling, memorable performances and striking landscapes has helped the film remain popular years after its original release.

‘Open Range’ Is Now Free to Stream on Tubi

One of the film’s most celebrated sequences is its intense gunfight, often regarded as one of the standout shootouts in modern Western cinema. Together with its measured storytelling and strong cast, the scene has helped Open Range maintain its reputation as a Western worth revisiting.

For viewers who have not yet seen it — or simply want to watch it again — there is now another option. The film has joined Tubi’s free streaming catalogue, where audiences can watch it with advertising breaks rather than paying for a subscription.

It is also part of a broader Western selection on the platform, which includes Kurt Russell’s Bone Tomahawk and Michael Fassbender’s Slow West.

What’s Next for Kevin Costner?

Costner’s next project is Honeymoon with Harry, a dramedy co-starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

The story follows a man who embarks on a honeymoon with his future father-in-law after his fiancée dies just two days before their wedding. The Amazon MGM Studios production is currently in post-production, although no release date has been announced.

In the meantime, Open Range offers a chance to revisit one of Costner’s most successful directing projects — a Western that pairs old-fashioned storytelling with a memorable central performance from two Hollywood veterans.

Open Range is now available to stream for free on Tubi, with ads.