She is no ordinary child - on her back is a tattoo which supposedly identifies the location of Dryland. The Mariner (Kevin Costner) becomes one of the Smokers' targets when he rescues the girl Enola (Tina Majorino) from a raid on a fortress-city. There are three kinds of survivors: those who try to live in orderly societies, nomads who roam the seas in their own vessels, and members of an outlaw band called the "Smokers." Headed by the larger-than-life Deacon (Dennis Hopper), these criminals amuse themselves by raping and pillaging while on a quest for the mythical Dryland - a paradise that no one has seen, yet everyone believes exists. Possessions, not people, are what matter. The world is a cruel place, where brotherhood is a thing of the past, and anything - or anyone - can be sold or traded for as little as a sheet of paper. There is no land, and pure water and dirt have become exceptionally valuable commodities. Humanity has been relegated to a tenuous existence on shakily-constructed floating fortress-cities.
As we're told in a quick voiceover intro, the polar ice caps have melted and Earth's continents are buried under water. It's no easy feat for human actors to emulate fish. All of the action takes place on a wide expanse of ocean, with no land in sight. This production, with its massive explosions, amazing stunts, and breathtaking visuals, is one of Hollywood's most lavish features to date. The makers of Waterworld, the current holder of the "most expensive film" title, have put a good portion of the money where the viewing public can see it - on the screen.