Rent Waterworld (1995)

Post-Apocalyptic Action Film - Worthy of Re-evaluation - Waterworld review by GI

Over the years this big budget post apocalyptic film has gained a reputation of being a bad film. It's true it failed to find an audience on initial release and stories of arguments between star Kevin Costner, then at the height of his fame, and director Kevin Reynolds didn't help. Costner had invested heavily and cut the film substantially to try and recuperate potential losses against Reynolds wishes. All that aside this is actually not a bad film by any stretch and in it's restored longer cut - known as the Ulysses version - it is a very entertaining adventure film, best described as a sort of Mad Max at sea. It certainly has some impressive set piece action sequences and the story is quite clever and interesting even though you can dig holes in it easily. Set hundreds of years in the future after the polar ice caps have melted and the Earth is totally covered in water. Humanity has survived albeit just a few isolated floating bases and loners who roam the seas in various ramshackle craft. One of these is a man (Costner) who by circumstance finds he has to look after a woman, Helen (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and a young girl, Enola (Tina Majorino) who draws pictures of strange, long extinct animals. The 'pirates' of the seas are the Smokers led by psychopath Deacon (Dennis Hopper - always good as a zany baddie) who is hunting the girl as it's believed she has a map that reveals the last location of dry land, something the man believes doesn't exist. The film ripples along at a great pace, there's loads of gritty chases, fights and even some sea creatures to contend with. Some of the images of this desolate world and glimpses of the old one are impressive and if you like a good solid action adventure story then this does the trick. I strongly recommend the extended cut especially if you've only previously seen the somewhat limited theatrical version.

Well, I enjoyed it... - Waterworld review by RP

At the time this was the most expensive film ever made and it was critically panned. It also appears very derivative, sort of like Mad Max set at sea. Kevin Costner is a 'wooden' actor, but luckily here he doesn't need to say very much so comes across well as the Mariner – and his boat is amazing! The baddie (Deacon, played by Dennis Hopper) is suitably over-the-top, but the woman (Helen, played by Jeanne Tripplehorn) is very wishy washy. For what it's worth, I like 'Waterworld' and find it enjoyable – and I believe the film also made a significant profit in the end, so it can't be all bad. I'll give it 3/5 stars.

Messy but Oddly Enjoyable - Waterworld review by griggs

I vividly remember Waterworld being labelled a colossal flop upon its release, savaged by critics and held up as an example of Hollywood excess. That reputation lingered for years—but it wasn’t exactly true. Despite its astronomical budget, the film made back its money at the box office, and more still through DVD sales, TV rights, and streaming. In recent years, especially following the Mad Max reboot, it’s undergone a quiet reassessment. Once a Hollywood punchline, it’s now gained a cult following and deserves some credit for its ambition, scale, and commitment to practical effects.

Dreamed up as “Mad Max at sea,” the premise is gloriously absurd: the oceans have swallowed the Earth, dry land is a rumour, and Kevin Costner plays a brooding, mutant drifter with gills. The story features sea battles, jet-ski chases, and a makeshift family dynamic that just about holds together.

What really stands out is how it was made. Shot largely on open water off the coast of Hawaii, the production used enormous floating sets and minimal CGI—a rarity even then, and almost unthinkable now. You can really feel the world’s weight and texture. Costner’s performance is often stiff, the direction uneven, and the script forgettable—but Dennis Hopper’s gleeful villainy keeps it entertaining. It’s messy, but oddly enjoyable.