The Life of All-American Actor Kevin Costner

Despite the scale and seriousness behind it, The Postman became one of the clearest lows of Costner’s directing career. The film was widely criticized and performed poorly at the box office, earning about $30 million worldwide against a reported $80 million budget.

The disappointment hurt because it came from a project he had shaped so personally as director, producer, and star. After Waterworld had already made him seem vulnerable, The Postman deepened the sense that his biggest swings could also become his biggest setbacks.