Set in a distant future, Waterworld takes place in a world where the Earth is almost entirely covered by water, following the melting of the polar ice caps. The few remaining survivors live on floating communities or makeshift islands, struggling to find resources in an unforgiving world. The only hope for the future lies in a legendary place called “Dryland,” a rumored last piece of habitable land.

The film follows the protagonist, known only as the Mariner (Kevin Costner), a mysterious, solitary drifter who has adapted to life on the water. The Mariner is a mutant with gills and webbed feet, allowing him to breathe underwater and swim with ease. He makes a living by trading, scavenging, and protecting his boat from raiders.

The plot picks up when the Mariner encounters a woman named Helen (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and her young companion, Enola (Tina Majorino), who are on a quest to find Dryland. Enola has a tattoo on her back that is a map to Dryland, and the trio becomes a target for the film’s antagonist, the Deacon (Dennis Hopper), a ruthless leader of a group of pirates called the Smokers. The Deacon believes that Enola’s tattoo is the key to locating Dryland and is willing to do anything to get it.