After sinking into forgotten waters, The Guardian has been rescued from the depths of obscurity and is now swimming laps around its compeтιтion on a free streaming service. The 2006 film stars Kevin Costner as a legendary rescue swimmer for the United States Coast Guard.
Now, 19 years after its release, The Guardian ranks first on Tubi’s Top 10 movies in the United States, where it has been for the past four days. It ranks above The Mummy (1999), Breaking In, Practical Magic, Last Holiday, Saw II, Olympus Has Fallen, and Abduction.
The Guardian is also streaming on Prime Video.
Directed by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive), with a script written by Ron L. Brinkerhoff, The Guardian follows a veteran Coast Guard rescue swimmer (played by Kevin Costner) who, haunted by the loss of his crew in a tragic accident, channels his grief into training new recruits, including a talented yet arrogant swimming champion (played by Ashton Kutcher), whom he takes under his wing and into the perilous waters of the Bering Strait for the ultimate test.
In addition to Oscar winner Kevin Costner (Dances with Wolves) and Ashton Kutcher, the cast also includes Neal McDonough, Melissa Sagemiller, Leigh Hennessy, Clancy Brown, Brian Geraghty, two-time Emmy winner Sela Ward (Sisters, Once and Again), Omari Hardwick, Bonnie Bramlett, John Heard, Emmy nominee Dulé Hill (The West Wing), Tilky Jones, and Travis Willingham.
The Guardian received mixed reviews from critics, as some praised it for finally giving the Coast Guard its turn in the cinematic spotlight, while most criticized the film for failing to properly honor them, recycling one tired trope after another from superior military dramas, resulting in a 37% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, The Guardian has fared much better with audiences, holding an 80% audience score.
The Guardian grossed $95 million at the box office against its $70 million budget.
Today, Kevin Costner remains in the headlines for his Yellowstone exit and his Horizon: American Saga project. From 2006’s The Guardian to nearly two decades later, Costner has remained a constant presence in Hollywood, his career weathering highs, lows, and ongoing public scrutiny. Whether leading water rescues or Western epics, Costner continues to draw attention, proving that he’s never far from the deep end of American pop culture.
