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The Postman

Play trailer Poster for The Postman R 1997 2h 57m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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The Postman

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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B B This movie hits hard considering shipping lobbyists, Congress, and DeJoy are ready to tear down the United States Postal Service and eliminate the USPS entirely from our country. They have forced the USPS to add a new line item to fund a retirement fund for non-existent employees for up to 75 yrs which placed it in the red. The USPS was able to raise enough funds from the public to meet the deadline and avoid shutdown. Once DeJoy took over the USPS, he started selling off sorting machines and other necessary equipment, forcing mail carriers to unhealthy levels of work in all sorts of weather conditions, including triple digit heat, private shipping companies foisting their packages and heavy boxes onto the USPS mail carriers, so they could cut costs to their bottom line and take out their competition. The private shipping companies also cutting out rural areas and foisting their mail onto the USPS, because once the private shipping companies put USPS out of commission, they private shipping companies will eliminate those areas entirely from their area of interest to ship. People will be forced to go without medical care and life-saving medications. But worse, they want to cut lines of communication and support to rural and hard to access areas, cut supplies to children, the disabled, and the elderly, our most vulnerable members of society members. Now with the trifecta of Republican politicians in the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, the shipping company lobbyists and corrupt Legislators in the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress are chomping at the bit for Jan 6th 2025, so that they can eliminate the USPS entirely. I feel like this is a horror movie I'm living in, but I can't just walk out of the theater this time, and be removed from this nightmare. This surreal but this is real life. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/16/24 Full Review Derek S Reading several reviews from critics I can’t imagine how they got their title. I’m not sure if their attention spans are too short, or if they are simply unable to enjoy any decent movie. This post apocalyptic action/drama is better than waterworld and mad max. Putting yourself in the shoes of someone living in a wasteland it’s not hard to imagine why simply being able to connect with friends/relatives who have been scattered across the country would give you hope, but apparently the critics can’t understand that. This film is very well acted, good dialogue, good story, and good effects. If you are someone who likes movies (including long ones) I highly suggest you watch this movie. 7/10 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/08/24 Full Review A.J. F I'm always amazed at the "critics" so obviously jaded by the years of watching movies every day, and then we're supposed to automatically agree with their opinions, cuz they just know better.🥱 Yeah right! This movie had action, comedy, tragedy, romance and I found it totally entertaining. The only minor criticism I might have had of this movie was that it was a bit long, but even that was okay IMO. Guess I'm just old fashioned, cuz I still like to see the good guys still make mistakes (cuz they're not super heroes) but still kill the bad guys in the end. Great flick! I have it in my "liberry." This just reminded me to dig it out and watch it again. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/28/24 Full Review Audience Member 15% critics is laughable. I give it a good 3.5 stars watching it in 2024 for first time. The landscapes are lush, the sentiment is inspiring and hope filled, the duality of good and evil. But, it does fall short by being a bit campy in not the best ways at times. Overall a good watch if you break it up into 2 parts imo. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/05/24 Full Review seth t This movie rocks. Immaculate world building. Don't listen to the haters. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/01/24 Full Review Arthur H Historical moments create heroes, not vice versa. If you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, you may just possibly become a hero. Who would believe an actor like Ronald Reagan could become the President of the United States. But the hero in the Postman wasn't just an actor, but a liar and a braggart. With great power comes great responsibility. The movie is saying the exact opposite. With great responsibility comes great power. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/14/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Postman

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

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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