Kevin Costner and Elijah Wood are two of Hollywood’s most dynamic and celebrated performers, with the talented duo joining forces in 1994 to headline the poignant coming-of-age drama The War, a thought-provoking film that focuses on a Vietnam War veteran who returns to his home and family in Mississippi and struggles to overcome his crippling PTSD and war trauma. Wood appears as Costner’s headstrong son, who undergoes a major transformation himself as he tries to find meaning and purpose outside of his dreary household by building his own sanctuary in the form of a treehouse in the forest.
Though The War ultimately proved to be a box office dud and attracted underwhelming reviews from critics, moviegoers appreciated the wholesome chemistry between Costner and Wood, with many raving about the younger star’s vulnerable performance and the endearing father/son bond the two shared. The little-known drama served as a major stepping stone for Wood’s career while Costner remained a dominating presence on both the big and the small screen, with each leading man finding immense success in the ensuing decades.
‘The War’ Is an Underrated and Overlooked ’90s Coming-of-Age Drama
Long before Kevin Costner was the king of a sprawling Montana cattle ranch and Elijah Wood on an epic quest to destroy the mystical One Ring, the two talented actors joined forces to star in the underrated 1994 coming-of-age drama The War, which tells the story of Vietnam War veteran Stephen Simmons as he returns home to his wife Lois (Mare Winningham) and twins Stu (Wood) and Lidia (Lexi Faith Randall) after serving, only to find himself struggling with his crippling PTSD while attempting to acclimate to normal life once again. As Stephen fights to find work and provide for his family, his children wage a war of their own against a group of kids over a treehouse.
Haunted by the horrific nightmares of battle and his time in a mental hospital as a result, Stephen attempts to work through his intense trauma and make an honest living, though holding down a job proves to be difficult. Meanwhile, Stu and his sister hope to escape their bleak reality by building a treehouse out in the nearby forest, where they end up clashing with the neighboring family, the Lipnickis, who have long since harbored a grudge against the Simmons. When tragedy strikes, Stu and his sister are faced with a devastating loss and realize what’s truly important in life as they rally around their loved ones and take a stand against the opposing clan.
Kevin Costner & Elijah Wood’s Sensational Silver Screen Success
The movie titled “The War” premiered on November 4, 1994, but it didn’t receive much attention at the box office. It earned only $16 million despite having a production budget of $34 million and received negative reviews from critics. Critics felt that the script and Jon Avnet’s direction were overly lengthy and unimpressive. However, the heartwarming relationship between Kevin Costner and Martin Sheen, who played father and son in the movie, was widely praised by audiences as the film’s saving grace. Many viewers considered it the most compelling aspect of an otherwise confusing movie.
Wood’s performance specifically garnered rave reviews, with Roger Ebert praising the then 13-year-old rising star in his review and boldly proclaiming, “Elijah Wood has emerged, I believe, as the most talented actor in his age group, in Hollywood history” while ultimately giving The War two stars out of four. While critics only awarded the coming-of-age tale a 25% Rotten Tomatoes score, audiences were far more favorable and gave the film a 73% Popcornmeter based on over 10,000 user ratings. Despite The War‘s underwhelming response at movie theaters, it nonetheless served as a major stepping stone for Wood’s decorated acting career.
After appearing in popular ’90s films like The Good Son and Deep Impact, Wood achieved international prominence and fame when he starred as the hobbit Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s blockbuster fantasy trilogy The Lord of the Rings, which is now regarded as one of the greatest film series of all time that won 17 Academy Awards and grossed over $2.9 billion worldwide. Wood continued to find success in celebrated movies, including Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Happy Feet, Sin City, and No Man of God, with his most recent screen appearances being in the 2025 horror comedy The Monkey and the smash hit thriller series Yellowjackets.
Likewise, Costner has remained one of the silver screen’s most dynamic performers, with the Academy Award-winner both directing and starring in a slew of cinema hits such as Message in a Bottle, Mr. Brooks, Man of Steel, Hidden Figures, and Molly’s Game, with the actor also dominating the small screen with his Primetime Emmy-earning portrayal in Hatfields & McCoys. From 2018 to 2023, Costner appeared in arguably one of his most well-known roles when he played rancher John Dutton in the neo-Western streaming sensation Yellowstone (for which he received a Golden Globe), and in 2024, he directed the epic picture Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1. Rent/Buy The War on Prime Video.
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2025-03-15 22:33