Do you want to see ‘Waterworld’?

Waterworld (1995)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 5.1/10
Reviews Counted: 49
Fresh: 21 | Rotten: 28

Though it suffered from toxic buzz at the time of its release, Waterworld is ultimately an ambitious misfire: an extravagant sci-fi flick with some decent moments and a lot of silly ones.

Average Rating: 6.5/10
Critic Reviews: 10
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 2

Though it suffered from toxic buzz at the time of its release, Waterworld is ultimately an ambitious misfire: an extravagant sci-fi flick with some decent moments and a lot of silly ones.

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 2.6/5
User Ratings: 208,328

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

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 1986 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

PG-13, 2 hr. 15 min.

Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Kevin Reynolds , Kevin Costner

Written By: Peter Rader, David Twohy

In Theaters: Jul 28, 1995 Wide

On DVD: Nov 1, 1998

MCA Universal Home Video

Waterworld Trailer & Photos

Cast

Kevin Costner
Mariner
Dennis Hopper
Deacon
Jeanne Tripplehorn
Helen
Tina Majorino
Enola
Michael Jeter
Gregor
Gerard Murphy
Nord
Lee Arenberg
Djeng
Rick Aviles
Gatesman
John Toles-Bey
Plane Gunner
R.D. Call
Enforcer
Leo Cimino
Elder
Kim Coates
Drifter #2
Chris Douridas
Atoller
Laurence Fishburne
Lanny Flaherty
Trader
John Fleck
Doctor
Neil Giuntoli
Hellfire Gunner
Greg Goossen
Sawzall Smoker
Zitto Kazann
Elder #3/Survivor #1
Jack Kehler
Banker
Zakes Mokae
Priam
William Preston Robertson
Depth Guage
Sab Shimono
Elder #1
Robert A. Silverman
Hydroholic
Sean Whalen
Bone
Rita Zohar
Atoller
Robert Joy
Ledger Guy
Ari Barak
Atoll Man
Jack Black
Pilot
Chaim Girafi
Leonardo Cimino

Critic Reviews for Waterworld

All Critics (53) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (28) | DVD (13)

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

June 18, 2002 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle

| Comment

Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

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.

February 13, 2001 Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times

| Comment

Kenneth Turan

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

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.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee

| Comment

Joe Baltake

Sacramento Bee

Top Critic

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

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Rita Kempley

Washington Post

Top Critic

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

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: ReelViews

| Comment

James Berardinelli

ReelViews

Top Critic

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

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comments (2)

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

Seagoing sci-fi swashbuckler fun despite bad reputation.

December 15, 2009 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Charles Cassady

Common Sense Media

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.

October 30, 2009 Full Review Source: BrianOrndorf.com

| Comment

Brian Orndorf

BrianOrndorf.com

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.

October 22, 2009 Full Review Source: PopMatters

| Comment

Bill Gibron

PopMatters

actually pretty good

July 12, 2009 Full Review Source: Film Freak Central

| Comment

Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

Waterworld drowned in bad buzz during its theatrical release. It deserves a better fate.

November 6, 2008 Full Review Source: What Would Toto Watch?

| Comment

Christian Toto

What Would Toto Watch?

I had no idea what the characters were thinking half the time, but I had an excellent idea what they were feeling, physically.

July 23, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

| Comment (1)

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

Nowhere close to as bad as its reputation

January 19, 2005 Comment

Jon Niccum

Lawrence Journal-World

Fame swelled Costner's head.

February 12, 2004 Comments (4)

Victoria Alexander

FilmsInReview.com

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Waterworld

View All

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.

March 20, 2007