Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves • The Next Reel

Kevin Costner and Kevin Reynolds had been buddies from early in their careers before Reynolds directed Fandango, which starred Costner. Their friendship lasted for a decade before temporarily being waylaid by the production problems on Waterworld, but before their rift, they were called upon to make an update of the Robin Hood tale. The film received mixed reviews but audiences loved it and it became the second highest grossing film in 1991. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Robin Hood series with Reynolds’ rousing 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

We talk about the myth of Robin Hood and how some of that history influenced this story. We chat about Costner, our opinions of him as an actor and how he does in this role. We look at some of the rest of the cast – Morgan Freeman, Alan Rickman, Christian Slater, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Wincott – and talk about what they bring to the table. We also give a nod to the Sean Connery cameo and discuss how it works for us. We talk about the scenes added back in for the extended edition and wonder how much they’re needed. And we praise Michael Kamen’s score, which is still as thrilling now as it was then.

It’s a film with problems that are more visible now, but still one that’s a blast to watch. Check it out then tune in! The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins.

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel!

Film Sundries

Thank you for supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast on Patreon!

• Watch this film: iTunes • Amazon • Netflix • YouTube
• Script Transcript
• Original theatrical trailer
• Original poster artwork
• Flickchart
• Letterboxd

Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:

• Become a member for just $5/month or $55/year
• Join our Discord community of movie lovers

The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:

• Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and Movements
• The Film Board
• Movies We Like
• The Next Reel Film Podcast
• Sitting in the Dark

Connect With Us:

• Main Site: Web
• Movie Platforms: Letterboxd | Flickchart
• Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | Pinterest
• Your Hosts: Andy | Pete

Shop & Stream:

• Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & more
• Watch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussed
• Originals: Source material from our episodes
• Special offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible