Despite Kevin Costner’s latest film being a box office disappointment, Horizon has found success on the streaming platform Max, where it is currently topping the charts.
Despite being a longtime passion project for both star and director Kevin Costner, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 was a major disappointment at the box office when it was released in June 2024. Costner had been working on bringing this Western epic to life since the ’80s.
Despite this, the reception from audiences was not as enthusiastic. The total gross for Horizon Chapter 1 was only $34 million worldwide, despite a budget of $100 million which covered the filming of both Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. It has also been reported that Costner personally invested $38 million into the film.
As a result of the dismal box office numbers, Warner Bros has chosen to postpone the release of the highly anticipated sequel, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2. The film, which was originally supposed to debut on August 16, no longer has a set release date.
The approach was to provide an opportunity for fans who were unable to see the movie during its initial theatrical release to watch it on streaming platforms. This decision seems to have paid off, as the movie is currently occupying the top spot on Max’s charts.
Looks like a lot of you went West with us this weekend 🤠 @Horizonsaga is the #1 movie on @StreamOnMax! pic.twitter.com/RVU7WFBWV6
— Kevin Costner & MW (@modernwest) August 26, 2024
Kevin Costner, the star of the film, shared on social media that Horizon Chapter 1 had become the top-watched movie on Max, narrowly surpassing the viewership of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and the 1988 classic Beetlejuice. The release of its sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, caused a surge in viewership for the original film.
Despite the significant amount of watch time, it seems that the overall perception has not improved much as fans continue to have conflicting opinions. Recent reviews on Rotten Tomatoes are a combination of both praise and criticism, with some commending Costner as “one of the few remaining directors who knows how to create a quality western film.”
Some also highlight the identical concerns that critics raised during its initial release in theaters, citing the film’s wandering production and extensive story development.
Despite the reviews and box office numbers, Costner remains unaffected, expressing to EW his satisfaction that the film stays true to its intended visuals.
At the time of writing, the release date for Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 2 has not been announced yet. However, it is confirmed to debut at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival.
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