The 1995 Kevin Costner film upon which it is based is widely regarded as an expensive flop (although it did eventually turn a profit), but Waterworld: A Live Sea War Spectacular has proven to be an enduring favorite at Universal Studios Japan,.

The show takes place inside an enormous arena, which features a pool at its center and is designed to recreate the largely-flooded world of the movie. Its plot picks up where the film left off, with heroine Helen returning to the Atoll to collect her friends and take them to the hallowed Dryland. With the evil Deacon out to disrupt her plans, the Mariner must once again ride to the rescue via combination of stunts, explosions and even a crash-landing sea plane.