Waterworld is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi film set in a future where the polar ice caps have melted, submerging the Earth under water. The story follows the Mariner, a lone drifter with gills and webbed feet, who survives by scavenging the remnants of human civilization. He encounters a woman named Helen and a young girl named Enola, who possess a mysterious map tattooed on Enolaβs back that may lead to the mythical Dryland.
As they flee from the ruthless Smokers, a gang of pirates led by the Deacon, the Mariner reluctantly becomes their protector. Initially indifferent to their plight, he gradually forms a bond with Helen and Enola. The Smokers relentlessly pursue them, believing Enolaβs map is the key to finding Dryland, a place thought to be the last remaining landmass on Earth.
After intense battles and a daring escape, the Mariner and his companions finally decipher the map, leading them to Dryland. They discover it to be a lush, mountainous islandβthe remnants of Mount Everest. However, the Mariner, feeling out of place on land, chooses to leave and return to the open sea, continuing his solitary journey.