The Postman

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The Postman

R,

1997,

2h 57m,

Drama/

Action/

Adventure/

Sci-Fi

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14%

42 Reviews

Tomatometer

50%

50,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

14%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

50%

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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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

Feb 16, 2018

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Hermione R

Apr 28, 2019

â¢ I originally didn't think anything could be worse than the book, then I watched the movie and realised how sorely mistaken I was. The extremely poor quality of the writing in the original book was emphasised by the wooden acting of Kevin Costner, who seemed to act like an alien who had only heard of humans in passing. Costner had clearly deliberately written himself as the dashingly handsome and charismatic hero, which no amount of acting could achieve. I honestly never believed I could witness anything as poorly written as the original novel but compared to the film adaptation, it looks as if it is one of the fine works of Shakespeare himself.

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George R

Apr 6, 2019

One of the greatest films i ever see. I dont know how critic and people left down this movie. An interesting concept.

Mar 8, 2019

This movie is by no means perfect. However, the story is very interesting and had a good message of hope. Plus, it has the late Tom Petty in it.

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Hermione W

Dec 17, 2018

This is a classic as far as I am concerned. It is one of those movies that I see on when flipping channels and end up watching the whole thing. Maybe I'm just a sucker for the reluctant hero. It takes such a simple concept of the mail, and turns it into the tide that changes history. I have no idea how this movie got such low scores from the critics. I find it inspirational.

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Leia M

Nov 27, 2018

Beautiful images and a musical score that takes your emotions on a rollercoaster. This is a great movie about the human spirit!

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Theodore R

Oct 12, 2018

more epic fail movies for Costner. The start of his career breakdown.

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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: 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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