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The Postman

  • 1997
  • R
  • 2h 57m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
82K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,437
841
Kevin Costner in The Postman (1997)
Home Video Trailer from Miramax
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
99+ Photos
Dystopian Sci-FiActionAdventureDramaSci-Fi

A nameless drifter dons a postman's uniform and bag of mail as he begins a quest to inspire hope to the survivors living in post-apocalyptic America.A nameless drifter dons a postman's uniform and bag of mail as he begins a quest to inspire hope to the survivors living in post-apocalyptic America.A nameless drifter dons a postman's uniform and bag of mail as he begins a quest to inspire hope to the survivors living in post-apocalyptic America.

  • Director
    • Kevin Costner
  • Writers
    • David Brin
    • Eric Roth
    • Brian Helgeland
  • Stars
    • Kevin Costner
    • Will Patton
    • Larenz Tate
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.1/10
    82K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,437
    841
    • Director
      • Kevin Costner
    • Writers
      • David Brin
      • Eric Roth
      • Brian Helgeland
    • Stars
      • Kevin Costner
      • Will Patton
      • Larenz Tate
    • 492User reviews
    • 79Critic reviews
    • 29Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 7 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Postman
    Trailer 0:31
    The Postman

    Photos103

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    + 95
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    Top cast91

    Edit
    Kevin Costner
    Kevin Costner
    • The Postman
    Will Patton
    Will Patton
    • General Bethlehem
    Larenz Tate
    Larenz Tate
    • Ford Lincoln Mercury
    Olivia Williams
    Olivia Williams
    • Abby
    James Russo
    James Russo
    • Idaho
    Daniel von Bargen
    Daniel von Bargen
    • Pineview Sheriff Briscoe
    Tom Petty
    Tom Petty
    • Bridge City Mayor
    Scott Bairstow
    Scott Bairstow
    • Luke
    Giovanni Ribisi
    Giovanni Ribisi
    • Bandit 20
    Roberta Maxwell
    Roberta Maxwell
    • Irene March
    Joe Santos
    Joe Santos
    • Colonel Getty
    Ron McLarty
    Ron McLarty
    • Old George
    Peggy Lipton
    Peggy Lipton
    • Ellen March
    Brian Anthony Wilson
    Brian Anthony Wilson
    • Woody
    Todd Allen
    Todd Allen
    • Gibbs
    Rex Linn
    Rex Linn
    • Mercer
    Shawn Hatosy
    Shawn Hatosy
    • Billy
    Ryan Hurst
    Ryan Hurst
    • Eddie March
    • Director
      • Kevin Costner
    • Writers
      • David Brin
      • Eric Roth
      • Brian Helgeland
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews492

    6.181.8K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    TxMike

    A much better movie than the "user ratings" would indicate.

    I own this movie on DVD, I've seen this movie a number of times, and it is overall better than 80% of the commercial movies being released these days.

    Those of you familiar with statistics and "normal" distributions, look at the "user ratings" for this movie. The "1" ratings are bogus. Look at the shape of the distribution, and you'll see that the valid rating for this movie is somewhere between 7 and 8, which are the most "common" ratings, which makes perfect sense. A 7.5 on a 10 point scale is where most people would rate it.

    It has such an uplifting story of a reconstruction after a war, and banning together to fight evil, that I don't see how anyone with a heart could give it less than about 6 or 7. See it if you haven't already!

    PS - My old college friend Dan von Bargen is in this as Sheriff Briscoe of Pineview, who near the end shouts "Ride Postman, ride!" Unfortunately Dan died in 2015.
    7Fitzy14

    The Postman Delivers

    Listen I know that Costner has a rep. For long drawn out story lines and his movies can be on the slow side, but give this one a chance, it makes you feel proud at the end and I tell you that you will not feel like you wasted your time and if you do I will refund your money on this review, with your receipt of course.

    It is Post-Apocalyptic, but don't hold that against it, it has some great twists and turns, it has action and even some romance, if you are into that sort of thing and in the end you feel better about the world in general. I enjoyed 2 bowls of Popcorn and a beer with this movie.

    Who knows you may want to hug your postal carrier after this movie.
    gagliano

    First of all...I liked it...I really did!

    First of all...I liked it...I really did! It is a film by Kevin Costner, starring Kevin Costner, surrounds Kevin Costner's character, and a movie that is simply...Kevin Costner. But if you liked Kevin Costner in such films as "Dances With Wolves", "Robin Hood", "The Bodyguard", and even slightly in "Waterworld", then you will like this film. I know it is three hours long (I got refills on both the popcorn and super-size soda and still ran out), but I didn't find it as unbearable as those less-than-perfect-movie-critics have claimed. I found the time to go by quite like you would expect three hours to go by and didn't find myself being bored or dozing off. Yes, the story line was a bit predictable and Kevin played the reluctant hero that he is known for...but I liked it. Bottom line...if you want to do something nice for your postman, tell them you are going to go see the film in their honor...because like their motto says...not rain, nor shine, nor sleet, nor nothing...not even the lack of being a country will stop the mail from getting through.
    Zuria

    Bum Rap

    I found the movie to be better than anticipated (perhaps because I feared the worst, thanks to all the "anti"hype). Costner did a great job transforming a hokey script into an attractive film. It's use of symbolism and Shakespearian references were well placed, though seemingly not accepted. This only strengthens the fact that movies "wax too philosophical" for the general audience, especially an American audience which usually can't handle any movie beyond 1 and a half hours. This is why the Action genre is so popular while the Epic genre sees a rare release. Also, Great scenery and camera work help the story along, not to mention good acting. In its roots, Postman is an old fashioned movie without the heavy, overdone special effects we badly crave(Armaggedon, Starship Troopers). The Postman is merely a metaphor for strength, courage and conviction. The movie could have been about "The Cook" and still work as well. Shame on Hollywood for trashing such a great star!! (lest we forget the references to "Kevin's Gate" during DANCES WITH WOLVES, The negative buzz surrounding ROBIN HOOD, and even WATER WORLD.) Movies that went on to become hits!!
    7sol-kay

    Don't listen to it's critics, see the movie for yourself and come to your own conclusions.

    A Far better movie then it's critics make it out to be. "The Postman" is a good solid film about the end of the world and the chaos and confusion that follows with the unwitting soul that destiny choose to bring those who survived the apocalypse back to a better life and promising future.

    Corny yes but in a positive and constructive sort of way. With the cast of Kevin Costner on down giving the film the sort of believability that you just don't see in most of the "End of he World" movies that have been projected on the silver screen since "Things to Come" back in 1936.

    "The Postman" unlike most "End of the world" movies carries through the entire movie, which is almost three hours long, a positive and uplifting theme that you rarely get to see in these type of films. The ending of the film, call it corny it you will, was really moving without being obnoxious like it could have been had it been made by a lesser talent then Kevin Costner.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Kevin Costner's children all appear in the film.
    • Goofs
      The main character assumes his role because he found an old abandoned mail truck containing the remains of a long dead mailman and pilfered the uniform from the skeleton. The problem here is the condition of the clothing he takes. When a person dies, the body goes through many stages of decomposition on its way to being merely a skeleton. As the tissues break down, many chemicals and enzymes are released, including the hydrochloric acid of the digestive system. In the final stages of decomposition, this is referred to as liquefacation or liquiescence. Given enough time and a suitable environment this combination of byproducts, with the addition of the bacteria that will inevitably emerge, would make any cloth or fabric (with the exception of treated leather products) not only disgustingly filthy, but also so weakened from exposure to what amounts to a corrosive liquid, that the fibers would tear apart from any stresses put on them. Even the act of taking the jacket off of the remains (and certainly that of putting the jacket on himself) would have pulled the fabric apart.
    • Quotes

      The Postman: Wouldn't it be great if wars could be fought just by the assholes who started them?

    • Connections
      Edited from Universal Soldier (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      You Didn't Have To Be So Nice
      Written by John Sebastian and Steve Boone

      Produced by Ted Templeman and Ben Schnee

      Performed by Amy Grant and Kevin Costner

      Amy Grant Appears Courtesy of A&M Records, Inc. A PolyGram Company

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    FAQ25

    • How long is The Postman?Powered by Alexa
    • What is The Postman about?
    • How is this different from the book?
    • How long since the apocalypse took place?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 25, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Warner Bros.
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El mensajero
    • Filming locations
      • Bend, Oregon, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Tig Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $80,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,626,234
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,260,324
      • Dec 28, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $17,626,234
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 57m(177 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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