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Kevin Costner, Will Patton, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams, James Russo ... see more see more... , Daniel von Bargen , Tom Petty , Scott Bairstow , Giovanni Ribisi , Roberta Maxwell , Joe Santos , Peggy Lipton , Ron McLarty , Rex Linn , Todd Allen , Brian Anthony Wilson , Shawn Hatosy , Charles Esten , Ryan Hurst , Mary Stuart Masterson , George Wyner , Abraham Benrubi

Kevin Costner directed and stars in this adaptation of David Brin's science fiction novel The Postman (1985), first published in 1982 issues of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. Costner's retur... read more read more...n to directing after his Oscar-winning Dances With Wolves(1990) is a futuristic epic depicting the aftermath of a destructive war. Some 16 years from the present day, America has been turned into a wasteland of separated communities minus a national government. A vagabond (Costner) who travels through these little villages performing Shakespeare is captured by marauders known as the Holnists, and thrown into a totalitarian labor camp run by a Hitler-like dictator, General Bethlehem (Will Patton). Making an escape, the drifter, known to some as "Shakespeare," stumbles across an abandoned U.S. Postal Service jeep and dons the dead postal-worker's uniform. With a scheme simply to get food, he sets out to deliver 15-year-old mail, proclaiming himself The Postman, and discovers that residents accept his lies about a restored United States government because they desperately need something to believe in. This hope leads to the thought that perhaps the United States of America could indeed be restored, so an unusually inspired young man, Ford (Laren Tate) is deputized with the "Neither snow, nor rain..." oath to become the country's second Postman. At the town of Pineview, the attractive Abby (Olivia Williams), who has an impotent husband, asks The Postman to impregnate her. After Abby's husband is killed during a raid by Bethlehem, she is taken prisoner but injures Bethlehem and makes an escape. Pregnant, she spends the winter nursing the wounded Postman in a snowbound cabin. When spring comes, they emerge to discover that Ford has organized an entire squad of mail deliverers who regard The Postman as a mythical hero. The Postman reluctantly accepts his messianic role in the rebirth of the country, even as it becomes clear that the rebel force must ultimately battle and defeat the Holnist army in order to regain the American Dream. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

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51% liked it

53,792 ratings

Critics

9% liked it

32 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 57 min.

Directed by: Kevin Costner

Release Date: December 25, 1997

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DVD Release Date: June 23, 1998

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Stats: 2,219 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,219)

  • moonrivers
    December 21, 2011
    moonrivers
    Costner plays with an unlikely concept: that the little threads that form society are among the most resonant , like a thing as easily dismissable as the delivery of the mail being the hope in an apocalyptic aftermath. Sometimes corny, yes, but a point well taken.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    November 11, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Considering all the flack that The Postman has received, I'm surprised that I enjoyed the film, and that it is actually pretty good. The film is certainly better than what the mainstream critics have said about the film, and I think that this film is quite frankly underrated. The... read more film is pretty entertaining, and has a pretty good cast to support the film. Kevin Costner tends to direct biog, sweeping epic style films, and though this isn't exactly Dances With Wolves, the story is quite grand. What surprised me about The Postman was Will Patton's performance, he was really intense on-screen, and he plays a great villain in any film he does. Patton lights up the screen, and he is a terrific antagonist. The Postman is a very good, underrated film that Costner fans should check out. The Postman is quite frankly underrated and it's a better film than what most critics have said. This film has a good story, despite the fact that it's not perfect, the film is entertaining and has a good cast to boot. The Postman is well constructed post-apocalyptic action drama that doesn't deserve the flack it has received. I agree that the film could have been much better, but for what it is, The Postman is good entertainment. Kevin Costner directs an entertaining film that is far better than what most people have said it would be. Watch this film with an open mind, and you be the judge. I enjoyed it, it's not perfect, but it definitely isn't awful.
  • CloudStrife84
    July 5, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    Sometimes I feel kind of sorry for Kevin Costner. Two out of two post-apocalyptic movies he's made, that both flopped and were torn a new one by the critics. One being Waterworld, which I personally find highly underrated, and the other being this, which altough not as goo... read mored, has also become the victim of an undeserved degree of heckling. I may concur on it being cheesy and weak in its writing, but in a grander perspective, it's actually not that bad. It was worth the view at least, even if it's a little too lengthy for its own good.
  • superclerk25
    February 26, 2009
    superclerk25
    I had to bump this one up a little after giving it another watch. It's an excellent movie with a great cast that pulls off every role.
    Costner plays the Postman perfectly and it's awesome to see this character act like a real man with flaws. He isn't the white knight who ride... read mores into town and saves everyone without any worries in the world. He is a conflicted man who finds himself over his head very fast and stands up to that challenge when given no other choice.
    The production value on the flick is great as we travel through a world that has suffered war and disease.
    It's a long one... three hours... but the story is well crafted and every part feels important.
    Will Patton plays a great villain in the movie and, for me, is one of the great baddies in cinema.
  • Redlats
    August 4, 2008
    Redlats
    What happens after the world as we know it disappears? The postman saves the day!

    Alright, its a corny movie, and too long. But I enjoyed the premise of the story and you can't help liking the ending.
  • sanjurosamurai
    January 25, 2008
    sanjurosamurai
    Underrated. The critics get this one wrong. Perfect story about the little guy, reminds me of Ben Franklin.
  • ironclad1609
    November 25, 2007
    ironclad1609
    Cosnter already got a lot of crap from everyone for the mere set-up of this moviea. Not deservedly so, I should say, because the main idea is kinda neat, actually. Where he is going from there is sometimes a little too melodramatic and slow, but also contains some really good sce... read morenes. Most of the movie is rather beautifully shot and there are moments that are hard to forget, while others make you cringe at the sappiness. Still, far from bad.
  • puffchunk
    October 18, 2007
    puffchunk
    Another movie that might have been good if Kevin Costner hadn't sullied it.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    July 6, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    A slow moving long movie about the last Postman (Kevin Costner) in post-apocalyptic America. Society has been reduced to a new frontier, and the Postman character must deliver the mail again. Interesting setting, but Kevin Costner shouldn't be given so much film to work with.
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    May 30, 2007
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    Not nearly as bad as everyone says. Way to long though.

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Critic Reviews

Luke Y. Thompson
May 3, 2006
Luke Y. Thompson, LYTRules.com

...wasn't bad for the first two hours, but then kept going another hour Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
March 3, 2006
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com

The first half of Costner's The Postman is actually quite interesting, but it falters badly in the second half with a few unintentional howlers.

Rob Vaux
November 1, 2002
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

A good idea hopelessly strangled by Kevin Costner's ernestness.

Jeffrey Westhoff
October 17, 2002
Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

Not as bad as everyone says, but still not worth seeing.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
March 1, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

Emblazons hope as a powerful spiritual force. Full Review

James Sanford
January 1, 2000
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

The postman doesn't deliver on Christmas Day, and 'The Postman,' Kevin Costner's Christmas gift to America, doesn't deliver much in the way of entertainment, regardless of what day it is. Full Review

Michael Dequina
January 1, 2000
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

Die-hard Kevin Costner fans may find themselves changing their mind after seeing this overlong, lumbering mess, a miserable failure in just about every respect. Full Review

Maitland McDonagh
January 1, 2000
Maitland McDonagh, Film Journal International

All bloated spectacle studded with leaden attempts at humor. Full Review

Elias Savada
January 1, 2000
Elias Savada, Nitrate Online

The year is 2013. There is no order. There is no peace. Return to sender. Audience unknown. Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
September 7, 2011
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

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The Postman Trivia

  • Add together the missing words to make a film title. ____ of the Flies Shaun __ the Dead Pirates of ___ Caribbean The Postman Always _____ Twice The ______ of Jafar Shaun __ the Dead Pirates of ___ Caribbean ____ Arthur  Answer »
  • What film starring Kevin Costner, in which he portrays a drifter who restores hope to post-apocalyptic America by delivering mail, won the Razzie for worst picture of 1997?  Answer »
  • "I remember you. You were famous." Quotes Kevin Costner to this rock star in the 1997 movie THE POSTMAN.  Answer »
  • What famous singer had a small part in the movie The Postman?  Answer »
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