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Message in a Bottle

Play trailer Poster for Message in a Bottle PG-13 1999 2h 5m Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
31% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
During her morning jog on the beach, journalist Theresa Osborne (Robin Wright Penn) discovers a bottle protruding from the sand. Inside it, she finds a heartbreaking, anonymous love letter. After her paper publishes the letter, Osborne tracks down the letter's reclusive author, world-weary widower Garret Blake (Kevin Costner), in the Carolinas. But, as Osborne finds herself falling hopelessly in love with Blake, she becomes wracked with guilt over the real impetus for her visit.
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Message in a Bottle

Message in a Bottle

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Critics Consensus

Handsome-looking but dramatically inert, Message in a Bottle maroons a formidable cast in a trite romance that lacks spark.

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Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000
2/4
The climactic events are shameless, contrived, and wildly out of tune with the rest of the story. To saddle Costner, Penn and Newman with such goofy melodrama is like hiring Fred Astaire and strapping a tractor on his back. Go to Full Review Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy Apr 3, 2012
3/10
Costner has a free pass to be as lazy as he can possibly be, and the result is one of the most smugly alienating romantic lead performances that I can quickly call to mind. Go to Full Review John J. Puccio Movie Metropolis Apr 18, 2009
5/10
If it had just quit while it was ahead.... Go to Full Review John Venable Supercala.com Dec 31, 2005
4/10
Leaves one feeling empty. Go to Full Review Jeanne Aufmuth Palo Alto Weekly May 14, 2003
2/4
John R. McEwen Film Quips Online Feb 8, 2003
4/5
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Audience Reviews

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The J @RT60227988 Aug 7, 2026 With the caliber of actors this was a shame. You won't care about these characters and Robin Wright is the cause - she is NOT believable and there zero chemistry between any of the characters. The fude is not believable and kinda stupid. Unfortunate mistake from a great writer's book. Gotta be careful who gets ahold of books in Hollywood the can surely tear them to shreds. See more Debi M @RT70254073 Nov 5, 2025 Good story, but mediocre acting, especially by Costner. See more babarizam D @RT59932316 Oct 25, 2025 She might be a good actress but in this movie she was as flat as one can be. See more Seth K @RT03219903 Jul 14, 2025 I like the cast but think that this story was overwrought and not the finest work of any of the cast members. A bit of a mess and disappointing. See more Alejandra F @RT10747964 May 3, 2025 Amazing cast for a clever and moving script. A movie that rewards you for your attention with new ideas and deep insights. Must see if you like movies with substance and depth See more Richard T @RT45756023 Dec 29, 2024 I have to confess that I have been a fan of Robin Wright from the Forest Gump era. I've watched it maybe ten times. While Robin was great in that movie, I have always wanted more. The recent news about the sequel had me searching for Robins past. Tonight I watched, Message In A Bottle. I'm an old softy and I had a tissue available for much of the movie. I cry for Joy, I cry for Love, I cry for lost chances and Beauty of Women, of Beautiful Vistas and Happy endings. This Movie has a warm coastal Backdrop and Beautiful Sailboats that are part of my childhood and of course this helped me fit right in to the story. I would have Loved for Kevin and Robin to walk off into the sunset at the end, but the plot wouldn't allow it. There are many times in this Movie to cry and smile and it left me with a hunger saying, Give me more Robin and Kevin and I'll be a happy old man. See more Read all reviews
Message in a Bottle

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Cast & Crew

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Luis Mandoki

Director

Kevin Costner

Garret Blake

Robin Wright

Theresa Osborne

Paul Newman

Dodge Blake

John Savage

Johnny Land

Illeana Douglas

Lina Paul

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Message in a Bottle

Message in a Bottle (1999) Message in a Bottle (1999) Message in a Bottle (1999) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis During her morning jog on the beach, journalist Theresa Osborne (Robin Wright Penn) discovers a bottle protruding from the sand. Inside it, she finds a heartbreaking, anonymous love letter. After her paper publishes the letter, Osborne tracks down the letter's reclusive author, world-weary widower Garret Blake (Kevin Costner), in the Carolinas. But, as Osborne finds herself falling hopelessly in love with Blake, she becomes wracked with guilt over the real impetus for her visit.
Director
Luis Mandoki
Producer
Kevin Costner, Denise Di Novi, Jim Wilson
Screenwriter
Nicholas Sparks, Gerald Di Pego, Nicholas Sparks
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros.
Production Co
DiNovi Pictures, Bel Air Entertainment, Tig Productions
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 12, 1999, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$52.8M
Runtime
2h 5m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround
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