Waterworld poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Kevin Costner, Dennis Hopper, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tina Majorino, Michael Jeter ... see more see more... , Gerard Murphy , Lee Arenberg , Rick Aviles , John Toles-Bey , R.D. Call , Leo Cimino , Kim Coates , Chris Douridas , Laurence Fishburne , Lanny Flaherty , John Fleck , Neil Giuntoli , Greg Goossen , Zitto Kazann , Jack Kehler , Zakes Mokae , William Preston Robertson , Sab Shimono , Robert A. Silverman , Sean Whalen , Rita Zohar , Robert Joy , Ari Barak , Jack Black , Chaim Girafi , Leonardo Cimino

Widely considered to be an expensive failure, Waterworld was an epic vehicle for Kevin Costner, who starred in and co-produced the film, with his friend Kevin Reynolds as director. It was based on a 1... read more read more...986 screenplay by Peter Rader and cost an estimated $235 million, more than any film in history up to that time. Costner eventually fired Reynolds and directed the last few scenes himself. The story was filmed in Hawaii, using several artificial islands, and is set in an apocalyptic future, after global warming has melted the polar ice caps and flooded civilization. The Mariner (Costner) is one of the human beings who has adapted by growing gills. The survivalist lives on a boat on which he is growing a precious tomato plant. He tries to sell the plant and its dirt to the residents of an artificial island built of industrial waste. They imprison him when they discover that he's a mutant with gills. But the island is attacked by the Smokers, a group of oil-guzzling raiders on jet skis headed by the Deacon (Dennis Hopper). The Mariner escapes with Helen (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and her daughter Enola (Tina Majorino). Back at sea, the Smokers repeatedly attack, using planes and boats, until they kidnap Enola. Enola's back is tattooed with a map showing how to get to Dryland, the last unflooded area on Earth. But Deacon, who needs to get to Dryland to replenish the Smokers' oil supply, can't immediately decipher it. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Flixster Users

46% liked it

208,328 ratings

Critics

43% liked it

49 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 15 min.

Directed by: Kevin Reynolds, Kevin Costner

Release Date: July 28, 1995

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: November 1, 1998

Get It:

Stats: 9,460 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Waterworld Waterworld waterworld TRimaran Deacon waterworld Waterworld Waterworld waterworld Waterworld waterworld waterworld Waterworld waterworld waterworld waterworld waterworld Waterworld
Upload a Photo | View All Waterworld Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (9,460)

  • jmanard52
    March 29, 2007
    jmanard52
    I think this movie got ragged far more than it needed to. Kevin Costner wasnt given a break at the time and the huge budget was just insane. But I enjoyed the movie.
  • flutieman07
    May 14, 2012
    flutieman07
    Excellent! Only took me 17 years to get around to it...
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    January 9, 2012
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Waterworld is famous for being one of the biggest flops in cinematic history. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive motion picture ever produced. So is the question is, "is Waterworld the worst film ever made?" Definitely not. In fact Waterworld is an awesome act... read moreion adventure epic. Sure the film has its numerous flaws, but it's really entertaining, and deserves more credit than it deserves. This film is loads of fun to watch, and despite the fact that it doesn't really boast likeable characters, it more than makes up for it with exciting action. Waterworld is visually appealing and is reminiscent of The Road Warrior, albeit not as well acted or awesome as The Road Warrior. I really think that Wterworld is underrated. Sure the film is at times silly, and is not perfect, but for the most part this is still an entertaining film that delivers on the action. Dennis Hopper plays the villain and he brings a certain morbid comic relief to the role, much like his role in Speed. Waterworld is very much underrated and it's not as bad as what everyone has said it was. The plot is weak at times, but the action makes up for it. The film is silly too, but overall it's simply a very entertaining action adventure. The cast are good, and if you enjoy some mindless action film, Waterworld delivers the thrills that you'd expect. A very underrated film that doesn't deserve the flack it has received. The film is not perfect, but it's constantly exciting, and fun, epic with a great cast. Don't believe the negative reviews, this is one impressive adventure.
  • fb7018436
    December 16, 2011
    fb7018436
    Widely considered to be one of the biggest flops of all time, it's easy to see why.
  • spielberg00
    December 3, 2011
    spielberg00
    Aquatic Kevin Costner epic is brilliant, big-budget filmmaking wrapped up in an excruciatingly shallow plot.

    Even if you're into futuristic epics, let me tell you that this is a good one to skip. At just 135 minutes, the running time cuts heavily into its performance. Truncate... read mored by two hours, this would be spectacular. Try AVATAR instead if you want a good sci-fi epic.

    Full Review: http://wp.me/p1Urcx-w6
  • cosmo313
    August 15, 2011
    cosmo313
    This movie is actually really well done. I don't see why so many people seem to hate it. It's really imaginative and pretty interesting. I love it for what it is, but I do have to agree with Roger Ebert on how it would have been nice had this film not simply been an overblown act... read moreion movie, and tried to have some substance and explore the world and address issues with how the survivors deal with stuff like storms.

    Costner isn't amazing here, but he's not bad. Hopper is a little too hammy, but still fun to watch. Jeanne Tripplehorn looks good, and I wish her performance matched her looks, but she's not terrible either.

    Maybe it's because I saw this at a young age and was so floored by the concept that I'm unable to join the masses who hate this movie, but honestly it's really pretty good. It dosn't deserve the jeers it gets.
  • skeletonking101
    August 8, 2011
    skeletonking101
    To me this is a underrated film. Sure it had a lot of hate with the critics and people at the time, and it was the biggest budget film made at the time, and it didnt come close to making its money back, which is a shame, because I honestly thought it was a entertaining film. The ... read moreacting was decent, though it was over the top a few times, it still did its job at telling a entertaining and interesting story. Sure it has a few plot holes and some pretty stupid characters, but that doesn't mean its a horrible film. Also the musical score for the film was fantastic, especially the beginning song which sounded like an african kind of song. Its also interesting in the film how in the film you see how everything works in this world, like how a boat works, or how a plane works, which I honestly thought was pretty cool to watch and see how this world worked.
  • moonrivers
    April 17, 2011
    moonrivers
    better than most of hollywood's get-rich-quick scum.
  • Gx7
    September 19, 2010
    Gx7
    Damn you guys are horrible how could the majority of you rate this as average? It was one helluva movie!
  • guaybanex
    July 16, 2010
    guaybanex
    Promising concept executed disastrously.

View All Waterworld Reviews

Critic Reviews

Mick LaSalle
June 18, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

It's a genuine vault at greatness that misses the mark -- but survives. Full Review

Kenneth Turan
February 13, 2001
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

A moderately successful guy's movie with both weak and strong elements where lots of things are brilliantly blown up and few things make any kind of sense. Full Review

Joe Baltake
January 1, 2000
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Waterworld is the movie that didn't happen. Which is a roundabout way of saying that the infamous Universal film is very good, damn good -- not great, mind you, but rousing and continually entertaining. Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Waterworld isn't Fishtar, but Kevin Costner's pricey, post-apocalyptic sloshbuckler isn't a seafaring classic either. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

In the tradition of the old Westerns and Mel Gibson's Road Warrior flicks, this film provides good escapist fun. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It's one of those marginal pictures you're not unhappy to have seen, but can't quite recommend. Full Review

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

Has the makings of a cult movie.

Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

If the story seems a little waterlogged, it's still big, loud, and fun to watch. Full Review

Brian Orndorf
October 30, 2009
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com

Regardless of faults, I embrace Waterworld as the pure matinee escapism it was intended to be, readily devouring the sci-fi excitement both Reynolds and Costner are happy to dish up. Full Review

Bill Gibron
October 22, 2009
Bill Gibron, PopMatters

While it is true that time, and the obsessive culture of the Internet, has lessened Waterworld's "Fishtar" reputation to some extent, this is still one massively flawed film. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Sunshine
    Sunshine (95%)
  • Blade Runner
    Blade Runner (85%)
  • Mad Max
    Mad Max (81%)
  • A Boy and His Dog
    A Boy and His Dog (100%)

More Movies like Waterworld

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Pilot: Don't shoot the girl.
Submit a Fact | View All

Waterworld : Watch Free on TV

Waterworld Trivia

  • What was the name of the bad guys in "Waterworld"?  Answer »
  • Which movie was NOT directed by Steven Speilberg?  Answer »
  • Which of the following is NOT a Steven Speilberg film?  Answer »
  • Who played the evil Deacon in Waterworld?  Answer »
More Waterworld Trivia

Movie Quizzes

Create a Quiz |

All Quizzes

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Waterworld Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Waterworld to favorites

Recent News

Submit a Story |

View Waterworld News

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

supernowhere Skin by supernowhere
132 Profiles
Add to Profile

More Skins