--- title: "Waterworld: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/waterworld/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/waterworld" critics_score: 56 critics_reviews: 17 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Waterworld (1995): what the critics said Critics' score 56 from 17 reviews: 5 positive, 7 mixed, 5 negative. Most critics agree on the one thing Waterworld does well: the spectacle is real. The stunts, the sets and the waterborne action sequences draw praise across almost every review, and several single out Dennis Hopper’s villain as the film’s liveliest presence. The drowned-world design is the department where even the harshest notices concede something. The spread is wide, with the reviews split nearly evenly between positive, mixed and negative. Reservations cluster on the script, a second half that loses momentum, and Kevin Costner’s taciturn lead, which Collider finds sullen enough to drain the fun from the adventure. The clearest pattern is one of time: the notices from its 1995 release are cooler, while later reassessments in The Guardian, Empire and The Ringer argue it never deserved its reputation as a turkey. The AV Club stands apart, calling it grim, joyless and ugly. ## Empire — Jeff Dawson Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic finds the film a surprisingly impressive sci-fi adventure and a cut above average over-hyped sequels, praising the capsule world created by Reynolds along with its spectacular stunts and sets. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/waterworld-review/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 30 July 2020. The critic argues that Waterworld does not deserve its reputation as one of the worst Hollywood turkeys and is instead a solid B-movie. They single out the ambitious action set-pieces and Dennis Hopper's villainous performance for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/jul/30/waterworld-kevin-costner-cult-classic) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The film succeeds as an eyecatching blockbuster that creates a convincing waterlogged world with inventive design and action sequences. It loses momentum in the second half with formulaic plotting and a softening of its taciturn hero. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/waterworld) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 24 July 1995. It is a not-bad futuristic actioner owing a debt to Mad Max, with astounding sequences, an unusual hero, nifty villain, and spectacular physicality from muscular direction and stunts, but lacks sufficient humor and true exhilaration. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1995/film/reviews/waterworld-2-1200442100/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 2.5/4. 28 July 1995. The film is a decent futuristic action picture with some great sets, intriguing ideas, and memorable images, but it could have been better and fails to make the viewer care about the characters. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/waterworld-1995) ## Little White Lies — Anton Bitel Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 14 January 2019. The critic views the restored film as a spectacular but flawed seaborne adventure that excels in ambitious world-building around environmental themes and post-apocalyptic survival. It falters in characterisation, with a dull lead performance and overlong extended cuts that dilute the theatrical version's impact. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/home-ents/waterworld-review-kevin-costner) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 28 July 1995. It is a moderately successful guy’s movie with weak and strong elements, brilliant explosions, and haunting underwater moments, but flat dialogue, jokeyness, and a plot that does not hold together. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-07-28-ca-28832-story.html) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 28 July 1995. The big, brawny epic has daring action scenes that remain exciting despite sloppy assembly and slack stretches between explosions; its storytelling is crude and lacks coherent fantasy. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/28/movies/film-review-waterworld-aquatic-armageddon-with-plenty-of-toys.html) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 4 August 1995. The critic calls the film an inevitable vast aquatic turkey given its enormous cost and premise but argues that Costner has unwittingly forged a truly modern myth that is symbolic and visionary. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/wet-wet-wet-1594935.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Hunter Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 24 July 1995. The film is an uneven, uninvolving post-apocalypse epic hampered by script troubles and creative compromises. Chaotic battle sequences and aquatic feats provide occasional thrills amid the flaws. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/waterworld-review-movie-1995-1221421/) ## The New Yorker — Terrence Rafferty Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 1995. The over-budget production is no good and amounts to three ordinary pictures in one, undone by smug environmental parable elements, weak humor, and Costner’s self-aggrandizing star vehicle vanity. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1995/08/07/lost-at-sea) ## The AV Club — Nathan Rabin Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 20 June 2007. Waterworld is portrayed as an epic folly and grim, joyless adventure that damaged Kevin Costner's career. It stands out for its pessimism, ugliness, and extravagant but hideous production design compared to similar films. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/my-year-of-flops-case-file-42-waterworld-1798211631) ## Eye for Film — Gator MacReady Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 27 April 2007. The critic finds Waterworld a strong, enjoyable action/sci-fi adventure that delivers escapism, impressive stunts and effects, an excellent score, and strong production values despite its troubled history and unfair reputation. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/waterworld-film-review-by-gator-macready) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 February 2019. The critic argues the film is ambitious and entertaining with impressive real-world production design and scale, despite flaws like a wooden lead performance and occasional narrative drift; the Ulysses Cut expands it enjoyably for fans. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/564197/waterworld-blu-ray/) ## The Ringer — Miles Surrey Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 28 July 2025. The critic argues that Waterworld deserved better than its reputation as a punchline, praising its unapologetic weirdness, practical spectacle, and environmental themes as impressive ambition. While not calling it a masterpiece, the piece highlights its unique scale and crowd-pleasing elements amid production chaos. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2025/07/28/movies/waterworld-movie-30th-anniversary-kevin-costner) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 3/5. 3 March 2010. The critic finds Waterworld a flawed but enjoyable action adventure that holds up reasonably well despite its troubled production. They single out the real waves, spectacular practical sequences, and stunts for praise while noting the film is long and meandering. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/waterworld-blu-ray-review/) ## Collider — Andre Dellamorte Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 15 November 2009. The critic views the film as a dull slog dragged down by Kevin Costner's sullen lead performance, which drains the fun from what should be a swashbuckling adventure. The production's ambitious water-based action and sets earn some acknowledgment despite the flaws. [Read the review](https://collider.com/waterworld-blu-ray-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/waterworld.md