Kevin Costner's Forgotten 117-Minute Action Thriller Is Mandatory Viewing on HBO Max

Published Nov 8, 2026, 10:59 PM EST

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While he has been one of the biggest names in entertainment for more than four decades, Kevin Costner isn't immune to his movies getting overlooked by audiences. Just a couple of years ago, his long-awaited Western project Horizon: An American Saga totally bombed at the box office, putting the film's planned sequels on hold. Not every movie can be Dances With Wolves or Bull Durham, and a couple are going to slip through the cracks every now and again.

Such is the fate of a 12-year-old thriller that starred Costner as an international spy battling brain cancer. 3 Days to Kill, directed by Charlie's Angels helmer McG, was released in 2014 to mixed reviews and a less-than-stellar box office performance. More than a decade later, however, the thriller is streaming on HBO Max, where it is looking to capture a new audience, and remind folks of how consistently great Costner has been over the years.

'3 Days to Kill' a Forgotten Thriller

When it first hit theaters back in 2014, 3 Days to Kill made just over $53 million at the global box office. That's not the worst result imaginable, considering its production was right around $28 million, but suffice it to say the film didn't really latch on with audiences. A lot of folks, even major Costner fans, missed out on the thriller the first time around, leaving it up to home media releases and streaming to help it build an audience over time.

3 Days to Kill isn't the best of its genre — not by a long shot — but it does feel like the kind of movie that would've easily found a following at Blockbusters or on cable reruns back in the day. It's very much an afternoon TNT kind of flick. Now, with streaming lineups as filled to the brim as they are, a film like this is a little harder to discover. That said, it's kind of the perfect rainy day or late night watch on HBO Max, especially with its stacked cast that will keep your attention throughout.

What Is '3 Days to Kill' About?

If you're one of the many who missed 3 Days to Kill over the years, it's the same kind of thriller you've seen a bunch of times before, but with a few fresh wrinkles and a pretty great cast. Costner stars as Ethan Renner, a CIA operative who has discovered that he's dying of brain cancer. With the sickness changing his entire outlook on life, his new focus is on getting out of the spy game and fixing his relationship with his estranged wife and teenage daughter. While spending time with said daughter, he's given a final job — a job he only takes because the payment includes an experimental drug that could potentially save his life. Renner now has to navigate the tangled web of a dangerous international conspiracy while also protecting his daughter, who is now accidentally caught up in the mess as well.

Costner was obviously the big draw for 3 Days to Kill, but he's one of several notable stars in the cast. Connie Nielsen plays his wife, while Hailee Steinfeld co-stars as their daughter. The film also stars Amber Heard as a fellow agent in the CIA, as well as Justified's Raymond J. Barry, who plays the CIA director.

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  Agent Ethan Renner

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  Agent Vivi Delay

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  Zooey Renner

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  Christine Renner