Waterworld (1995)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
In a future where the sea has swallowed the continents, a mutated drifter must navigate a perilous ocean to find the fabled Dryland.
The story
In the year 2500, the Earth's ice caps have melted, and the sea level has risen to cover nearly all land. Human civilization survives on makeshift floating communities called atolls. The story follows the Mariner, a mutated drifter who sails the ocean in a trimaran. While trading for supplies at an atoll, he is captured and sentenced to death. However, a pirate attack by the Smokers provides a distraction, allowing him to team up with a woman named Helen and her ward, Enola. Together, they must navigate the dangerous waters and evade the pirate gang while searching for the mythical Dryland.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the year 2500, the world is submerged in water, and humanity lives on floating atolls. The Mariner, a mutated drifter with gills and webbed feet, is captured by atoll residents after a confrontation. During a pirate raid by the Smokers, he is freed by Helen, who is traveling with her ward Enola. The trio escapes on the Mariner's trimaran. They are pursued by the Smokers, led by the Deacon. The group eventually discovers that Enola has a map to 'Dryland' tattooed on her back. After a series of skirmishes and a confrontation at the Smokers' base—the remains of the Exxon Valdez—the Mariner rescues Enola and the group escapes. They eventually find Dryland, a land of vegetation and wildlife. The Mariner, feeling he does not belong on land, departs on a different vessel, while Helen and Enola remain.
- First release year
- 1995
- Runtime (minutes)
- 135
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Kevin Reynolds
- Writers
- Peter Rader · writer; David Twohy · writer
- Cast and characters
- Kevin Costner · The Mariner; Dennis Hopper; Jeanne Tripplehorn; Tina Majorino; Michael Jeter
- Genres
- action; science fiction
- Themes
- survival; environmental impact
- Tone and mood
- action-packed; adventurous
- Premise and plot tags
- post-apocalyptic; dystopian; maritime
- Source material / true-story basis
- Peter Rader's original 1986 screenplay
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the setting but criticized the execution and acting. It was a box office disappointment initially but became profitable through home media sales.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 56 · scale: 100 · review count: 17
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Sound · 68th Academy Awards · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was the most expensive movie ever made at the time of its release.; The film's title was inspired by the story of Helen of Troy.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…