“Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon’ Underperforms, Sequel Plans Scrapped?”
Kevin Costner Invests Millions in ‘Horizon’—But Franchise Dreams Crumble
Kevin Costner poured millions into creating his epic Western, Horizon, along with plans for its direct sequel and further installments in an envisioned shared universe. Unfortunately for Costner, the film failed to draw audiences, leaving his franchise ambitions in jeopardy.
Horizon Struggles at the Box Office
Released on June 27, 2024, Horizon struggled significantly at the box office. Despite opening in third place with $11 million, it was overshadowed by other films, such as Inside Out 2, which topped the charts in its third week with $57.5 million, and A Quiet Place: Day One, which took second with $52.2 million. The film’s poor performance continued into its second weekend, dropping to sixth place and earning just $5.3 million, bringing its total to $22.07 million. Competing releases like Despicable Me 4 and MaXXXine further hampered its visibility, with Inside Out 2 making more in its fourth weekend than Horizon managed in its first two combined.
Franchise Plans on Hold
In the wake of the disappointing reception, New Line Cinema has indefinitely postponed the release of Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 2, originally scheduled for August 16. The studio has stated it wants audiences to have time to discover the first film before proceeding, which some see as an excuse to gauge its potential in a quieter movie season. There’s speculation that the release might be pushed until after the home video and streaming debut of the first film, hoping to attract new viewers.
Adding to the turmoil, plans for a third installment were also shelved as production was set to begin soon. The cancellation of the sequels has led to adjustments, including the film’s early release on premium video on demand and a future debut on Max.
New Line Cinema has also requested theaters to extend the film’s run longer than usual to build momentum for the eventual sequel release.
Audience Reaction
Have you seen Horizon? What do you think about the viability of Westerns in today’s cinema landscape? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
