“Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon 2’ Delayed After First Film’s Box Office Struggles”
Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2” has officially been removed from its August 16 release date.
Currently, the film is still set for a theatrical release, but a new date has yet to be announced. A New Line Cinema spokesperson stated, “Territory Pictures and New Line Cinema have decided to postpone ‘Horizon: Chapter 2’ to allow audiences more time to discover the first installment, which will be available on PVOD and Max in the coming weeks. We appreciate the continued support from our exhibition partners as audiences across the U.S. enjoy the film in theaters.”
The response to “Horizon” has been encouraging, particularly among older viewers in middle America. The decision to change the release date was mutual, aiming to build anticipation for the sequel by giving the first film more visibility. Industry insiders emphasize that for the Western franchise to succeed through its planned four films, attracting more viewers on streaming platforms is essential. Costner himself invested a significant amount of his own money into the project, clarifying, “I know they say I’ve got $20 million of my own money in this movie, but the real number is about $38 million.”
Despite a production budget of $100 million, the film earned only $11 million during its opening weekend, landing in third place at the domestic box office. Reflecting on the film’s performance, Costner remarked, “I’ve lived with movies and what happens on their opening weekend. If we put too much pressure on that, we’re bound to be disappointed. I’m happy that ‘Horizon’ reflects its true vision, and that’s what matters to me.”
Costner and his team completed the final edit of “Chapter 2” on June 23, just before the premiere of “Chapter 1” in Los Angeles.
