Movies

Waterworld: The Epic Flop You Need to Watch

BBG News

In the ’90s, Kevin Costner enjoyed significant creative control, which he utilized to produce the current Peacock streamer that garnered a disappointing $264 million at the box office despite its infamy. Notably, Dances With Wolves, earning an impressive $424 million, granted its Oscar-winning director and star an esteemed Hollywood free rein.

After solidifying his audience’s admiration with the 1992 hit movie “The Bodyguard”, Costner capitalized on his success by investing in an action-adventure production of grand proportions, with a budget reaching up to $175 million. However, even before its release in 1995, there were already whispers of negative sentiment surrounding the film due to rumors about escalating costs and off-screen drama.

Kevin Costner’s Waterworld Is Now Streaming On Peacock

It Arrived July 1

Negative reviews additionally fueled the unfavorable hype surrounding Waterworld, a film that flopped at the box office with a total earning of $264 million, currently streaming on Peacock. It’s said that Universal invested more than $235 million in the production, considering marketing and distribution expenses, but it was home video sales that finally made it profitable.

30 years after the release of “Waterworld” significantly affected Universal’s finances and reshaped Kevin Costner’s career storyline, subscribers of Peacock can now watch this notorious flop, as it became available on the platform starting from July 1.

Why You Should Watch Waterworld

The Epic Movie Is Ripe For Rediscovery

Currently, the movie “Waterworld” has a 45% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting generally unfavorable reviews from critics. Despite its reputation as one of the most infamous flops in cinema history, this assessment isn’t entirely accurate. This is supported by some positive feedback from critics and acknowledgements of praise from the film’s creators.

Roger Ebert’s 1995 review is representative of what many critics said about Waterworld. He praised the film’s set design and visuals, but criticized its weak character development, labeling it as “a borderline movie” and advising against seeing it.

30 years post its debut, the movie Waterworld remains remarkable for its technical prowess. The fact that its sets are authentic and the water-based stunts were executed without digital enhancement, stands out significantly amidst today’s oversaturation with computer-generated effects.

1995’s Waterworld is now seen as remarkably vintage, with time erasing the negative connotations that once surrounded it due to production troubles and rumors of a skyrocketing budget.

It’s interesting to note that although the movie had a detrimental effect on Costner’s career, he still holds it dear, as he expressed in 2013 (as reported by Huffpost): “I still love that movie.

This film is exceptionally unique and appealing, boasting a distinct charm. Admittedly, it wasn’t perfect – it had its flaws. However, considering the whole picture, it’s an incredibly imaginative and captivating movie. It’s quite solid.

As a movie critic, I found myself particularly intrigued by the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding “Waterworld.” The intense disagreements between director Kevin Reynolds and actor Kevin Costner on set were so fierce that Reynolds ultimately chose to step away from the project before its completion.

Despite this tumultuous experience, Reynolds maintains a positive view of the film, stating in an interview with Den of Geek back in 2008 that “Waterworld” is better than its reputation suggests.

As a cinephile, I must admit that this movie isn’t without its flaws, yet, on a different plane, it manages to hold its own against some of the bigger blockbusters out there.

Today, the movie ‘Waterworld’ is often viewed as a notable relic from the ’90s, and is primarily discussed in relation to Kevin Costner’s career timeline. It resurfaces occasionally when discussing Costner’s expansive Western saga, ‘Horizon’.

Costner and Reynolds argued that critics were eager to tear apart the film Waterworld when it debuted, possibly driven by a desire to bring down the actors from their lofty positions. However, all this debate is irrelevant for Peacock subscribers seeking an engaging epic movie in 2025.

People might choose to watch the movie “Waterworld” due to its notoriety as a flop in history, and they could end up delightfully discovering that it has been underestimated for quite some time.

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2025-07-04 16:41

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