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IMDbPro

Message in a Bottle

  • 19991999
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 6m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
38K
YOUR RATING
Kevin Costner and Robin Wright in Message in a Bottle (1999)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
48 Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance
A woman discovers a tragic love letter in a bottle on a beach, and is determined to track down its author.A woman discovers a tragic love letter in a bottle on a beach, and is determined to track down its author.A woman discovers a tragic love letter in a bottle on a beach, and is determined to track down its author.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
38K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Luis Mandoki
  • Writers
    • Nicholas Sparks(novel)
    • Gerald Di Pego(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Kevin Costner
    • Robin Wright
    • Paul Newman
Top credits
  • Director
    • Luis Mandoki
  • Writers
    • Nicholas Sparks(novel)
    • Gerald Di Pego(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Kevin Costner
    • Robin Wright
    • Paul Newman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 249User reviews
    • 71Critic reviews
    • 39Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 nominations

    Videos1

    Message in a Bottle
    Trailer 0:31
    Message in a Bottle

    Photos48

    Garret & Theresa
    Kevin Costner and Robin Wright in Message in a Bottle (1999)
    Garret & Theresa
    Kevin Costner as Garret Blake
    Garret & Theresa
    Garret & Theresa
    Garret & Dodge
    Robin Wright Penn as Theresa Osborne
    Robin Wright Penn as Theresa Osborne
    "Message In A Bottle," Kevin Costner & Paul Newman.
    Jonathan Bailey at an event for Message in a Bottle (1999)
    Buzz Aldrin at an event for Message in a Bottle (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kevin Costner
    Kevin Costner
    • Garretas Garret
    Robin Wright
    Robin Wright
    • Theresaas Theresa
    • (as Robin Wright Penn)
    Paul Newman
    Paul Newman
    • Dodgeas Dodge
    John Savage
    John Savage
    • Johnny Landas Johnny Land
    Illeana Douglas
    Illeana Douglas
    • Linaas Lina
    Robbie Coltrane
    Robbie Coltrane
    • Charlieas Charlie
    Jesse James
    Jesse James
    • Jasonas Jason
    Bethel Leslie
    Bethel Leslie
    • Martaas Marta
    Tom Aldredge
    Tom Aldredge
    • Hankas Hank
    Viveka Davis
    Viveka Davis
    • Alvaas Alva
    Raphael Sbarge
    Raphael Sbarge
    • Andyas Andy
    Richard Hamilton
    Richard Hamilton
    • Chetas Chet
    Rosemary Murphy
    Rosemary Murphy
    • Helen At The B&Bas Helen At The B&B
    Steven Eckholdt
    Steven Eckholdt
    • Davidas David
    Susan Brightbill
    Susan Brightbill
    • Catherineas Catherine
    Patricia Belcher
    Patricia Belcher
    • Annieas Annie
    Steve Mellor
    • Man On Dockas Man On Dock
    Lance Gilbert
    • Man On Sinking Boatas Man On Sinking Boat
    • Director
      • Luis Mandoki
    • Writers
      • Nicholas Sparks(novel)
      • Gerald Di Pego(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The sites that were finally chosen for most of the shooting of the scenes of Garret's hometown were Northport and Popham Beach, Maine. Over $250,000. of renovations were done to the seasonal home in Popham that became Garret's house, including the addition of the room which held Catherine's artwork and the adjacent living room with fireplace (faux). At the end of filming the owner of the house demanded that it be returned to its original state costing the production company nearly as much to undo.
    • Goofs
      In his final letter to Catherine, Garret writes that he regrets watching Theresa get into a plane and fly away, but when she left him she drove away in a rental car (the airport scene was deleted).
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Theresa Osborne: If some lives form a perfect circle, others take shape in ways we cannot predict or always understand. Loss has been a part of my journey. But it has also shown me what is precious. So has a love for which I can only be grateful.

    • Crazy credits
      "Girl with lantern" painting by Helen Turner Greenville County Museum of Art
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Message in a Bottle/My Favorite Martian/Children of Heaven/Blast from the Past/God Said, 'Ha!' (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      I Will Know Your Love
      Written by Beth Nielsen Chapman and Ann Roboff (as Annie Roboff)

      Produced by Carmen Rizzo, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Ann Roboff (as Annie Roboff)

      Performed by Beth Nielsen Chapman

    User reviews249

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    "Choose between yesterday and tomorrow. Pick one. Stick with it."
    While on vacation, a single mother identified as Theresa discovers a 'message in a bottle' on the shore that has moving honest words of love addressed to a woman named Catherine…

    The trail leads her to a sailboat builder named Garrett and also to his father, Dodge in a small North Carolina coastal town… It turns out that Catherine is Garret's deceased wife, and the intriguing letters were written, two years earlier, after her decease…

    Some people find the one true love of their lives, if they're fortunate enough… Luis Mandoki's film, in part, turns out to be a choice about what occurs when a person finds that right kind of love, then when he is faced with the impossible, and then when he is given the right to continue with his life and is brave enough to love again no matter how unpleasant his grief is…

    As a reclusive widower, Garret was still in deep pain, and entirely devoted to Catherine's memory… He had hard time letting go of the past… Catherine was dead but not forgotten and was simply everywhere…

    As a sailor Costner didn't inherit the charm of Newman… He was drawn to Penn by her smile, her beauty, even her mistakes…

    Robin Wright Penn was beautiful, delicate and sweet as Theresa… She soon insinuates her way into Garret's life… Her expectations were always too high… Since the beginning, she just had to meet the person that wrote those letters… Her life was changed by them… Eventually when she met Garret that morning, she accepted, without hesitation, to step aboard…

    Paul Newman as Dodge liked Theresa instantly… He saw in her the key to his son's emotional recovery…

    With a very nice music, and a stunning coastal photography—also the ocean scenes are wonderfully taken—"Message in a Bottle" is definitely a weepy melodrama and a must see for those who believe, or don't, in love
    helpful•56
    13
    • Nazi_Fighter_David
    • Jun 8, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 12, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Warner Bros.
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tin Nhắn Trong Chai
    • Filming locations
      • Portland, Maine, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Bros.
      • Bel Air Entertainment
      • Tig Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $80,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $52,880,016
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $16,751,560
      • Feb 14, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $118,880,016
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 6 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

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