Dances with Wolves
“Inside everyone is a frontier waiting to be discovered.”
Synopsis
Wounded Civil War soldier John Dunbar tries to commit suicide—and becomes a hero instead. As a reward, he's assigned to his dream post, a remote junction on the Western frontier, and soon makes unlikely friends with the local Sioux tribe.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Director Michael Apted Reflects On DANCES WITH WOLVESOfficial
Type: Featurette • Published 2025-11-21
Top Cast
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Kevin Costner
Lieutenant Dunbar
Mary McDonnell
Stands With A Fist
Graham Greene
Kicking Bird
Rodney A. Grant
Wind In His Hair
Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman
Ten Bears
Tantoo Cardinal
Black Shawl
Robert Pastorelli
Timmons
Charles Rocket
Lieutenant Elgin
Maury Chaykin
Major Fambrough
Jimmy Herman
Stone Calf
Nathan Lee Chasing Horse
Smiles A Lot
Michael Spears
Otter
Jason R. Lone Hill
Worm
Tony Pierce
Spivey
Doris Leader Charge
Pretty Shield
Tom Everett
Sergeant Pepper
Larry Joshua
Sergeant Bauer
Kirk Baltz
Edwards
Release History & Theatrical Window
Göteborg Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
November 9, 1990
Wide Cinema Exhibition
May 22, 2019
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$22M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$424.2M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
19.28x
+$402.2M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Kevin Costner
- Screenplay & Story
- Michael Blake
- Original Score
- John Barry
- Original Title
- Dances with Wolves
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 3h 1m
- Production Budget
- $22M
- Worldwide Gross
- $424.2M
- Production Studios
- Tig Productions, Majestic Films International, Allied Filmmakers
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Kevin Costner
Michael Blake
John Barry
Dean Semler, John Huneck, Philip C. Pfeiffer
Neil Travis, William Hoy, Steve Potter
Kevin Costner, Jim Wilson, Jake Eberts
Department Leadership Roster
Michael Blake
Screenplay
John Barry
Original Music Composer
Neil Travis
Editor
Kevin Costner
Producer
Jim Wilson
Producer
Elsa Zamparelli
Costume Design
Kevin Costner
Director
William Hoy
Editor
Steve Potter
Editor
Dean Semler
Director of Photography
Jeffrey Beecroft
Production Design
Chip Masamitsu
Editor
Norman Howell
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Dances with Wolves.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Dances with Wolves.
Academy Awards
Best Movie
North American Cinema
Auto-generated by festival-lists — do not edit by hand.
Movie Collection
金球奖最佳剧情片
Golden Globe Best Drama 金球奖历届最佳剧情片。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:43:13 UTC+8)*
奥斯卡历届最佳影片
Oscar Winning Films: Best Picture 奥斯卡历届最佳影片。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:42:59 UTC+8)*
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:40:36 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About Dances with Wolves
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Dances with Wolves about?
Wounded Civil War soldier John Dunbar tries to commit suicide—and becomes a hero instead. As a reward, he's assigned to his dream post, a remote junction on the Western frontier, and soon makes unlikely friends with the local Sioux tribe.
Who directed Dances with Wolves?
Dances with Wolves was directed by Kevin Costner.
Who stars in Dances with Wolves?
The principal cast of Dances with Wolves includes Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, Rodney A. Grant, Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman.
When was Dances with Wolves released and how long is it?
Dances with Wolves was released in 1990 with a total runtime of 3h 1m.
What was the box office and production budget of Dances with Wolves?
Dances with Wolves had a reported production budget of $22M and grossed $424.2M at the worldwide box office (19.28 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Dances with Wolves?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Dances with Wolves was composed by John Barry.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Dances with Wolves?
Dances with Wolves holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); CA: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).