The Postman

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The Postman

R

1997

2h 57m

Drama

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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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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Dick V

@RT00810767 Sep 24, 2026

It's a happy go lucky, clichéd take on a dystopian future. Having many entertaining moments, it's not award winning quality. However it is certainly worth a watch if you're looking for something in the apocalypse or dystopia genre.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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"

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Kevin Costner

Director

Kevin Costner

The Postman

Will Patton

Gen. Bethlehem

Larenz Tate

Ford Lincoln Mercury

Olivia Williams

Abby

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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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