The Postman (1997)
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An unnamed nomad finds a discarded postal uniform and inadvertently sparks a movement to restore the United States under a tyrannical regime.
The story
In a post-apocalyptic world where technology and knowledge have been lost, a nomad travels through the Western United States. After finding a United States Postal Service uniform, the nomad is mistaken for a 'Postman' from a restored federal government. This claim sparks hope among local residents and begins to challenge the authority of a tyrannical warlord, General Bethlehem. The nomad must navigate the dangers of a fractured society while the growing movement for a restored government threatens the warlord's control over the region.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In a world devastated by apocalyptic disasters, a nomad traveling through the Western U.S. finds a discarded postal uniform and is hailed as a 'Postman' from a restored government. This claim inspires a local community and a young boy, Ford Lincoln Mercury, to establish a postal network. The news reaches General Bethlehem, a tyrannical warlord who views the movement as a threat to his power. After a series of skirmishes and the loss of several carriers, the Postman and a woman named Abby escape into the mountains, where they eventually have a child. As the 'Restored United States' grows, Bethlehem intensifies his persecution of the postal carriers. The Postman eventually leads a group of carriers to Bridge City and faces Bethlehem in a ritualistic duel. The Postman wins, and Bethlehem is killed by a former rival. Thirty years later, the Postman's daughter, Hope, gives a speech at a memorial, signaling the full restoration of modern society.
- First release year
- 1997
- Runtime (minutes)
- 177
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Kevin Costner
- Writers
- Eric Roth · screenplay; Brian Helgeland · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Kevin Costner · The Postman; Will Patton · General Bethlehem; Larenz Tate · Ford Lincoln Mercury; Olivia Williams · Abby Cartwright; James Russo · Captain Idaho; Tom Petty · Bridge City Mayor
- Genres
- epic; post-apocalyptic adventure
- Themes
- hope; community; restoration of civilization
- Tone and mood
- serious; epic
- Premise and plot tags
- post-apocalyptic; neo-Western; survival
- Source material / true-story basis
- David Brin's 1985 book of the same name
- Reception
- The film was panned by critics for its performances, screenplay, direction, and long runtime. It was a notorious failure at the box office, grossing $30 million against an $80 million budget.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 14% · scale: percentage · review count: 42; Metacritic · score: 29 · scale: 100 · review count: 14
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Raspberry Award · Worst Picture · Win
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in locations including Metaline Falls, Fidalgo Island, and parts of Oregon and Arizona.; Costner refused to edit the film's three-hour running time despite poor test screenings.; The film was included in Rolling Stone's list of the fifty worst decisions in film history.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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