History YMMV / Waterworld

* CriticalBacklash: Some people don't find the movie to be that bad. One recurring theme in the film's detraction shares an odd connection with the 1980's film ''Film/{{Ishtar}}'', in that a chunk of the criticism for both was each film's utterly gigantic budget and cost overruns, as if the critics were doing double duty as the producers who financed the films. One nickname for ''Waterworld'' as it was being made and racking up giant over-expenses? "Fishtar". And it's hard to find a period review that doesn't focus on how the production went out of control, instead of discussing the actual movie.

* VindicatedByHistory: In TheNineties and the TurnOfTheMillennium, the film was seen as a poster child for overhyped and overbudget movies. However, it's since developed a CultClassic status and people have looked back and found the movie to be SoOkayItsAverage or even seen as somewhat influential in its OceanPunk setting - even WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic actually pointed out there's a lot of redeeming qualities about the movie.

** The part where Deacon promises not to kill an Atoll survivor after interrogating him and then [[ExactWords lets The Nord finish him off]] would be a lot more horrifying if the victim didn't react by taking a sharp, deep breath and comically yelling "''NAAAAAAAAAH!!''" just before he's shot

* SoOkayItsAverage: Despite being a box office flop in the U.S., the film has gotten mixed or average reviews from many film critics, who gave it [[http://www.metacritic.com/movie/waterworld an average score of 56 out of 100]] according to Metacritic.

** The [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]] and UsefulNotes/VirtualBoy games based on the film were seen as pretty bad, especially the latter (it's noteworthy for being the only movie-based game/American game on the short-lived system) for being an arcadey EndlessGame on a system that causes harm to the user for prolonged play.

* OnceOriginalNowOverdone: While it didn't entirely invent the concept of an OceanPunk post-apocalypse, it certainly codified it and brought it to mainstream attention. At the time the idea was such a novelty that it almost inverts the trope - it was so radically different that some of the flak it received was over a setting that today doesn't seem so off-the-wall and unrelatable.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: While it didn't entirely invent the concept of an OceanPunk post-apocalypse, it certainly codified it and brought it to mainstream attention. At the time the idea was such a novelty that it almost inverts the trope - it was so radically different that some of the flak it received was over a setting that today doesn't seem so off-the-wall and unrelatable.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: The SNES ''Waterworld'' game is known as a pretty bad game. However its OST by Dean Evans has a lot of awesome tracks.

* InferredHolocaust: Regardless of finding dry land or not, humanity is in an extinction phase, as there simply aren't enough people left to avoid fatal inbreeding. And that assumes there will be more people reaching dry land at all, rather than keeping it a HiddenElfVillage. Plus, while the Smokers were clearly bad guys, they probably comprised most of what was left of humanity before the Mariner wiped all them out and scuttled every bit of technology they had salvaged.

** The part where Deacon promises not to kill an Atoll survivor after interrogating him and then [[ExactWords lets The Nord finish him off]] would be a lot more horrifying if the victim didn't by taking a sharp, deep breath and comically yelling "''NAAAAAAAAAH!!''" just before he's shot

* SugarWiki/AwesomeArt: Say what you will about [[TroubledProduction the production woes]] behind them and the story they were built to serve, but the OceanPunk sets look fantastic, with an amazing attention to detail and aesthetic in every atoll and ship that makes the world feel truly lived-in. The various scenes of [[TechnologyPorn said technology in motion]] -- on top of [[ShootTheMoney being a very clear show of where a lot of the budget went]] -- is also just a feast for the eyes for fans of practical effects and engineering.

** [[Film/NapoleonDynamite Deb]] has the map to dry land!

** Also, everyone knows the movie had astronomical budget overruns but blame them on Kevin Costner's ego leading to stuff like the infamous "digital hairline restoration" rumor, or nightmarish production issues like needing to rebuild the Atoll set after it sank in a storm. Neither of these things happened.[[note]]The smaller slaver colony set did tip over at one point, but was quickly repaired.[[/note]] Instead, much of the budget overruns were due toa slow shooting schedule, a consequence of filming on an outdoor ocean set where there were often long waits for the weather to clear or the sun to be in the right position to match previous shots.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRvYkrrpMKo&t=457s Diving]] is a perfect example of an amazing ambient track on this OST.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRvYkrrpMKo&t=264s Mission Theme 1]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRvYkrrpMKo&t=1635s Mission Theme 3]]
** From the film itself, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY7swvSzGwE Escaping the Smokers]], arguably the main theme of the entire film and a ''very'' heroic-sounding piece. It's also used during the most exciting parts of the stunt show at Universal Studios.

** Also, everyone knows the movie had astronomical budget overruns but blame them on Kevin Costner's ego leading to stuff like the infamous "digital hairline restoration" rumor, or nightmarish production issues like needing to rebuild the Atoll set after it sank in a storm. Neither of these things happened.[[note]]The smaller slaver colony set did tip over at one point, but was quickly repaired.[[/note]] Instead, much of the budget overruns were due a slow shooting schedule, a consequence of filming on an outdoor ocean set where there were often long waits for the weather to clear or the sun to be in the right position to match previous shots.

** This is in fact confirmed in the extended cut/novelization of the film, where Helen notes that every year, there are fewer and fewer atolls around (its been months since they had contact with another one prior to the events of the film), and their technology is breaking down with no way of fixing it. Even the smokers note that there are fewer and fewer atolls to raid, and that they will exhaust their oil reserves in a matter of months.
* MemeticMutation: "Oh, thank God."[[labelnote:Explanation]]The "Depth Guage Guy" who lives in the Smoker's Oil Tank and serves as a living Depth Guage of how much oil is left in the tank says this after a flare is dropped into the oil, setting off a massive explosion that kills him. Usually used by people to express relief at the coming of an event that will relievce them of their suffering[[/labelnote]]

* VindicatedByHistory: In TheNineties and the TurnOfTheMillennium, the film was seen as a poster child for overhyped and overbudget movies. However, its since developed a CultClassic status and people have looked back and found the movie to be SoOkayItsAverage or even seen as somewhat influential in its OceanPunk setting - even WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic actually pointed out there's a lot of redeeming qualities about the movie.

** Also, everyone knows the movie had astronomical budget overruns but blame them on Kevin Costner's ego leading to stuff like the infamous "digital hairline restoration" rumor, or nightmarish production issues like needing to rebuild the Atoll set after it sank in a storm. Neither of these things happened.[note]The smaller slaver colony set did tip over at one point, but was quickly repaired[/note] Instead, much of the budget overruns were due a slow shooting schedule, a consequence of filming on an outdoor ocean set where there were often long waits for the weather to clear or the sun to be in the right position to match previous shots.