How Kevin Costner’s ‘Waterworld’ Lost the Box Office War to Sandra Bullock

August 17, 2025

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30 years ago, on July 28, 1995, two very different movies opened and resulted in very different outcomes. One of the films was the post-apocalyptic action film Waterworld, directed by Kevin Reynolds and starring Kevin Costner. The other was the action thriller The Net, directed by Academy Award-winning producer Irwin Winkler and starring Sandra Bullock.

The films have virtually nothing in common other than sharing this particular 30th anniversary. Still, it is interesting that the more expensive summer movie, which had a lot riding on it, won the box office crown that weekend by opening at number one. However, the long-term prospects were much more pleasant for The Net. This cheaper endeavor capitalized on the rising popularity of its star and avoided the embarrassing headlines that plagued Waterworld, which became a costly misfire.

Kevin Costner’s ‘Waterworld’ vs. Sandra Bullock’s ‘The Net’

Universal Pictures

Waterworld entered the weekend with more summer movie credibility than The Net. The film, which takes place in the distant future, imagines a world where polar ice caps have melted, and the sea level has risen to the point of covering most of the land. Due to its scope, Waterworld became the most expensive movie ever made at the time, with a budget of $175 million. However, aesthetically, it had all the makings of a potential summer winner if audiences responded positively.

The Net, on the other hand, had the DNA of thrillers that tended to perform well in the ’90s. The movie follows Angela Bennett (Bullock), a systems analyst whose relationships are primarily online, except for mundane encounters with some of her neighbors and visits with her mom, who is institutionalized due to her Alzheimer’s disease. Angela becomes entangled in a major conspiracy beyond her control, as any trace of her life is erased after she discovers something that powerful people wanted to keep hidden. As her identity, as she knows it, is deleted, she has to find a way to get her life back and stay alive.

‘Waterworld’ Had a Rougher Road To the Big Screen Than ‘The Net’

Sandra Bullock smiling in front of a computer in The Net

The roads to the big screen were far different for both films. Despite Costner having scored as a box office star with films such as Field of Dreams, Dances With Wolves, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, it was clear that Waterworld would not have an easy production. The movie encountered several issues that resulted in the budget gradually increasing, with Universal Pictures originally approving the film with a budget of $100 million. Soon, the budget ballooned to $135 million, due to the film succumbing to various issues, including problems with weather and shooting the film primarily in open water.

Waves frequently overtook the camera crews, and some of the sets sank during production. Because major difficulties hampered the shoot, the production was extended from 96 days to over 150, putting it three months over its intended schedule. When it was all said and done, the budget increased to $175 million by the end of the production. In addition, Reynolds and Costner frequently clashed over creative differences, resulting in Reynolds quitting the film before its release.

While the production details of The Net aren’t as well-chronicled, the movie had two clear aces up its sleeve. The first was Bullock, who was on a box office roll following her breakout turn as Annie Porter in Speed, alongside Keanu Reeves. While the actress had appeared in several movies before, the action film became the first massive hit of her career, and it made it abundantly clear that she was talented and instantly likable.

Speed went on to gross $350 million worldwide on a reported $30 million budget, making it a huge hit and resulting in Bullock becoming the new “It girl” in Hollywood. She followed Speed up with 1995’s While You Were Sleeping, a romantic comedy that earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress while also becoming a financial hit, grossing $182 million on a $17 million budget. While You Were Sleeping also opened a little over 3 months before The Net, something that helped Bullock become a name above the title movie actress who could pull in an audience.

The Net also capitalized on the commercialization of the internet during the 1990s and the growing curiosity, and perhaps fear, of one’s information becoming readily available on the World Wide Web. While the film wasn’t a detailed look into the dangers of the internet, it was serviceable enough to gain audience interest because the film’s plot felt plausible enough, and, thanks to Bullock’s performance and accessible charm, the audience could feel like they were in her shoes.

Bullock’s likable nature was able to outshine some of the movie’s more ridiculous moments, and that is something they banked on as her popularity grew. Also working in its favor was a slim $22 million budget, making it a less risky endeavor for Sony Pictures than the increased $175 million investment Universal Pictures found itself in with Waterworld.

‘The Net’ Thrived in the Long Run

A Smaller Budget and Sandra Bullock Led to a Hit

Sandra Bullock sitting in front of a computer in a blue jean jacket in The Net

When both films opened on July 28, 1995, they found themselves facing similar critical reviews. Waterworld holds a 47% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a consensus that reads, “Though it suffered from toxic buzz at the time of its release, Waterworld is ultimately an ambitious misfire: an extravagant sci-fi flick with some decent moments and some silly ones.” The Net registered a 43% on the aggregator site with a consensus that reads, “The premise isn’t without potential and Sandra Bullock is as likable as ever, but The Net lacks sufficient thrills, or plausible plot points, to recommend catching.”

Both films pulled in “B” CinemaScores from opening day audiences, but Bullock’s charm seemed to win over major critics more so than the bloated nature of Waterworld. Roger Ebert gave The Net three stars out of four, and said it was “carried by Bullock’s naturalistic performance,” while he gave Waterworld 2.5 stars, saying, “It could have been more, it could have been better, and it could have made me care about the characters. It’s one of those marginal pictures you’re not unhappy to have seen, but can’t quite recommend.” Waterworld also earned four Golden Raspberry Award nominations, including Worst Picture and Director, while the Razzies didn’t even glance at The Net.

During their box office opening weekend, Waterworld placed first with a gross of $21.1 million while The Net landed in second with $10 million. This was a battle clearly won by Costner’s costly film, but the long-term war would see Bullock victorious. Waterworld dropped 36.5% in its second weekend and, even though it fell to fifth place, The Net only declined by 24%. Overall, The Net had much better legs and, due to a much smaller budget, it was a bigger winner by the end of its run.

The Net ultimately grossed $50.7 million domestically and $110.6 million globally on a $22 million budget, while Waterworld grossed $88 million and $264 million worldwide. Because of its ballooned budget, not including marketing costs, Waterworld became a costly misfire, maligned in the media first for its runaway production costs and later for failing to meet box office expectations. The Net, while more of a minor hit, was viewed as another box office win for Bullock, her third in a row, and it only helped amplify her profile in Hollywood.

It’s a tale of two movies, very different, both celebrating their 30th anniversaries on the same day, but proof that sometimes bigger isn’t always better when it comes to box office supremacy. Waterworld is streaming on Tubi. The Net is streaming on Pluto TV.