The Postman | Rotten Tomatoes

The Postman

R

1997

2h 57m

Drama

List

14%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

50%

Audience Score

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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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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Paul Tatara

CNN.com

It's about as inspiring as a movie about a vengeful meter reader.

Feb 16, 2018

Full Review

Mike Clark

USA Today

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.

Rated: 1.5/4

Jan 9, 2018

Full Review

Todd McCarthy

Variety

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.

Jul 6, 2010

Full Review

Joe Leydon

The Moving Picture Show

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.

May 14, 2024

Full Review

Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

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.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 10, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

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.

Rated: 1.5/4

Dec 18, 2019

Full Review

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Matthew G

If you were a teen in the mid 1990s, you’d remember this movie constantly advertising on pay-per-view it looks a little different on the newer TVs last time I watched it was 1998 I was 11 yeas old at the time thought it was a great movie but recently watched it again now as a 36 year old man some tear watering moments in the movie and then there are some corny moments.It is slow in the beginning but it all comes together into a serious drama I like Kevin Costner Personality in a lot of his movies so if you like his movies, you’ll probably enjoy this one

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/04/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Quite possibly the worst and most vacuous film I can remember watching. It's difficult to know what "bad" to begin with. Acting, writing, dialogue, storyline? How about the ridiculous Postman's hat that Costner wears throughout the movie? The only thing missing was playing "Muskrat Love" during the shallow cardboard love scenes. That's 3 hours that I'll never get back.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/03/24

Full Review

Honest D

This is a hidden gem in the post apocalyptic genre. It's very good. I am not a big fan of Kevin Costner. This is a good film though. It's crazy, both this and Waterworld are completely underrated takes on the post apocalyptic genre. You just can't account for taste. Especially when you consider the people responsible for these movies not getting their due were mid to late 90s Americans. They obviously didn't know which cheeks were which back then when it came to music, movies.... anything really, if it was mainstream back then it mostly sucked.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/25/24

Full Review

Rooster344

I have seen it several times over the years and I have enjoyed it every time I have watched it . I think it is a excellent fantasy fiction movie Rooster

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/04/24

Full Review

Howie

Great post-apocalyptic movie! Heartfelt, brought tear to my eye.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

Donald S

Absolutely one of my all time favorite movies. The critics got this one dead wrong. A fun and, at tims, moving epic. Give it a try, you'll be glad you did

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/01/24

Full Review

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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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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: Warner Brothers, Tig Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
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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