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The Postman

Play trailer Poster for The Postman R 1997 2h 57m Drama Action Adventure Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
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14% Tomatometer 42 Reviews 51% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Years after a major global conflict has left the United States in dystopian disarray, a nomadic traveler who becomes known as the Postman (Kevin Costner) wanders through towns in the Northwest, delivering old mail. Thanks to the Postman's presence, people begin to believe that the U.S. government has been restored. During his travels, the Postman becomes involved with the lovely Abby (Olivia Williams) and clashes with the dictatorial Gen. Bethlehem (Will Patton).
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The Postman

The Postman

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Critics Consensus

A massive miscalculation in self-mythologizing by director and star Kevin Costner, The Postman would make for a goofy good time if it weren't so fatally self-serious.

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Critics Reviews

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Paul Tatara CNN.com Feb 16, 2018
It's about as inspiring as a movie about a vengeful meter reader. Go to Full Review Mike Clark USA Today Jan 9, 2018
1.5/4
Star/director Kevin Costner's futuristic folly The Postman is so loopy that, for a while, one wants to shield it from a critical storm that has already begun. Go to Full Review Todd McCarthy Variety Jul 6, 2010
The sweeping movement of the tale across half a continent, and the frequent action that facilitates it, is conveyed in a majestic and for the most part exciting manner. Go to Full Review Joe Leydon The Moving Picture Show May 14, 2024
In synopsis, The Postman may sound like a blueprint for a Saturday Night Live comedy sketch. On screen, however, the weirdly compelling plot, taken from a novel by David Brin, is all the more affecting for being played perfectly straight. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Mar 10, 2024
3/5
The Postman is probably worth a revival as a film that was laughed off the screen, but got plenty right in retrospect... a sci-fi film that’s less about machines and technology than ideas, and that’s as unfashionable now in 2024 as it was in 1997’s 2013. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Dec 18, 2019
1.5/4
Costner the director lavishes all sorts of attention on Costner the actor, from laughably reverential dialogue ("You give out hope like it was candy in your pocket") to loving close-ups to gauzy slow-motion montages. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Daniel L @Hotchopeppa Aug 16, 2026 I have no idea why this movie has such bad ratings, it’s actually brilliant. Classic Kevin Costner. Action, adventure, drama, romance, and a beautiful woman gets naked. What more could you want? The story is good, the writing is good and Costner’s portrayal of a selfish and surly drifter is great. Fantastic movie. See more Jerod S @jeroduptown Aug 4, 2026 So weird. Costner pretends to be a postman and some how (self-indulgently) creates an army of postpeople that take on a dystopian war lord. In 2016 america, no less. It's so bad. See more Jim B. @RT79102349 May 28, 2026 Entertaining in spots. A great four hour exploration of watching Kevin Costner be extra serious about delivering mail, Tom Petty being Tom Petty, and somehow everything works out. See more tj W @RT09439556 Apr 5, 2026 I think is a great film/story and great directoring by costner i do thank people need to give it a naver watch See more Daniel F @RT14036283 Dec 27, 2025 This is a great movie. It's got flaws, but I always found it to be a very entertaining, post-apocalyptic epic with a twist that most other movies like this don't have. It's very inspiring and I like the patriotic aspect of "what if we had to rebuild America" See more Derek H @sudo_nymh Dec 27, 2025 It is unbelievable that so many so-called professional critics panned this movie. No one is saying it's Oscar worthy, but to assign it a 14% approval rating says far more about the critics than this movie. One of the reasons that the critics panned this movie was because Kevin Costner produced, directed AND had the nerve to actually star in it. So what? He wanted to see himself in a fantasy. Most of us would do the same if we had the same wherewithal that Kevin does. With the exception of Roger Ebert, NO ONE ever erected a statue in honor of a critic. My rating is probably higher than it deserves to counter the undeserved ratings. See more Read all reviews
The Postman

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Cast & Crew

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Kevin Costner

Director

Kevin Costner

The Postman

Will Patton

Gen. Bethlehem

Larenz Tate

Ford Lincoln Mercury

Olivia Williams

Abby

James Russo

Idaho

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The Postman

The Postman (1997) The Postman (1997) The Postman (1997) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Years after a major global conflict has left the United States in dystopian disarray, a nomadic traveler who becomes known as the Postman (Kevin Costner) wanders through towns in the Northwest, delivering old mail. Thanks to the Postman's presence, people begin to believe that the U.S. government has been restored. During his travels, the Postman becomes involved with the lovely Abby (Olivia Williams) and clashes with the dictatorial Gen. Bethlehem (Will Patton).
Director
Kevin Costner
Producer
Kevin Costner, Steve Tisch, Jim Wilson
Screenwriter
David Brin, Eric Roth, Brian Helgeland
Production Co
Tig Productions, Warner Brothers
Rating
R
Genre
Drama, Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$17.6M
Runtime
2h 57m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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