“Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” is experiencing a resurgence on streaming platforms following its lackluster performance in theaters. The Western epic, penned, directed, produced, and headlined by Kevin Costner, debuted in cinemas earlier this summer but only managed to draw $36.1 million globally, receiving mixed critical reception. Such was the film’s poor box office showing that Warner Bros. decided to shelve plans for the release of “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2,” initially scheduled for a mid-August debut.
Nevertheless, recent data from Reelgood indicates that “Horizon: An American Saga” has climbed to the tenth spot among the most-watched movies on streaming services in the U.S. for the week spanning August 29 to September 4. This marks the second week in a row that Costner’s film has featured on Reelgood’s rankings, previously holding the fifth position. The film now trails behind other popular titles such as “Jackpot! (2024),” “The Union (2024),” “The Deliverance (2024),” and “The Watchers (2024).” The complete top 10 list is available below:
Implications of Horizon’s Streaming Triumph for the Franchise
Concerns Persist for Costner’s Western Saga
The conclusion of “Horizon: An American Saga” hints that the narrative is far from concluded, with Costner explicitly expressing his vision for a total of four films in the series. While “Chapter 2” is complete, the third installment, which has been partially filmed, has reportedly encountered delays due to the first film’s disappointing performance. The second chapter was recently showcased at the Venice Film Festival, garnering similarly mixed reviews as its predecessor, casting doubt on the franchise’s viability.
Variety indicates that the budget for “Chapter 1” is $100 million, whereas The Numbers suggests it is $50 million, with the $100 million possibly distributed across the first two films. Regardless of the actual figure, earning $36 million constitutes a commercial failure.
In announcing the postponement of “Chapter 2,” Warner Bros. and Costner suggested the delay was intended to provide audiences with more time to discover the initial installment. Given that “Horizon” dominated VOD charts in July and is now performing well on streaming, this appears to be unfolding as anticipated. However, with only a 70% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it seems improbable that the film is garnering enough new fans to ensure future theatrical releases for subsequent chapters are more successful.
Our Perspective on Horizon’s Streaming Achievement
Costner’s Film Might Have Benefited as a Limited Series
With “Horizon” occupying the fifth spot last week and dropping to tenth this week, it seems unlikely that the film will appear on the next Reelgood chart. Should Costner’s film fail to maintain a presence on the streaming chart for three consecutive weeks, expectations for the sequels’ theatrical success remain low. The second “Horizon” movie may eventually see a theatrical release, but doubts linger about the third and fourth films, should they even come to fruition.
Horizon: An American Saga's Timeline Is A Fatal Flaw For This Major Storyline
Critics of “Horizon: An American Saga” noted that the film felt more akin to a television series than a cinematic experience, and perhaps it should have been formatted as such. Had Costner’s project been an eight-part limited series available on Paramount+ or another streaming service, its reception might have been more favorable, thereby avoiding being predominantly defined by its box office shortcomings. While Costner’s ambition is commendable and there is much to appreciate in “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1,” the film’s recent streaming success may not be sufficient to alter the prevailing narrative.
Source: Reelgood
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
- Drama
- Western
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 is a Western film directed by Kevin Costner, and sees him in the starring role. The film explores multiple generations surrounding the expansion of the American West before and after the Civil War. Horizon is the first in a series of four films, all of which were greenlit by Warner Bros. Pictures.
