“Before Horizon, Kevin Costner Made a 2000s Classic That Set the Stage — With One Key Difference”
Before Horizon: Kevin Costner’s 2000s Western Masterpiece Set the Standard – With One Key Difference
Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga is the culmination of a decades-long passion for storytelling in the Western genre. Ambitious, sprawling, and deeply personal, Horizon reflects Costner’s vision for a grand cinematic exploration of the American frontier. But more than two decades earlier, he directed a film that arguably accomplished this goal on a smaller scale — and more effectively. That film was Open Range.
Open Range: A Career-Defining Comeback for Costner
Released in 2003, Open Range arrived during a transitional phase in Costner’s career. After several box office misfires — most notably The Postman — many questioned whether he still had the directorial magic that won him Oscars for Dances with Wolves. Open Range silenced those doubts.
The film, which Costner directed and co-starred in alongside Robert Duvall, tells the story of two cattlemen — Boss Spearman (Duvall) and Charley Waite (Costner) — who are forced into a deadly conflict with a ruthless land baron (Michael Gambon). With a modest budget of around $22 million, the film went on to earn nearly $70 million globally and received strong critical praise, including a 79% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
More importantly, it marked a return to form for Costner — both as a director and as a leading man. While Duvall’s character may have been more prominent, Costner’s Charley Waite added emotional depth, especially in his portrayal of a man haunted by his violent past yet forced to confront it once more.
A Spiritual Predecessor to Horizon
Looking back, Open Range now feels like a spiritual predecessor to Horizon: An American Saga. Both films are set in the waning days of the American frontier, both explore the harsh moral landscape of the West, and both reflect Costner’s fascination with the intersection of natural beauty and human brutality.
Like Horizon, Open Range dedicates time to sweeping, cinematic shots of untamed landscapes — portraying the vastness of the West not just as a setting, but as a character. These visual cues underscore Costner’s long-standing reverence for the American West, where peace and violence coexisted in a fragile, often bloody balance.
Thematically, both films are driven by reluctant heroes. Charley Waite in Open Range and Hayes Ellison in Horizon are men shaped by violence, carrying burdens they never sought but can’t avoid. Neither seeks conflict, but both are prepared for it — reflecting Costner’s consistent portrayal of complex masculinity in the West.
Where Horizon Faltered — And Open Range Soared
Despite the shared DNA, Horizon has struggled to find the same success as Open Range. Self-financed by Costner and marketed as the beginning of a cinematic saga, Horizon: Chapter 1 underperformed, earning less than $40 million worldwide and receiving a lukewarm 51% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Critics and audiences alike cited the film’s bloated structure and lack of narrative focus. With multiple storylines and an open-ended conclusion, Horizon felt more like the pilot episode of a television series than a complete film. While its ambitions were clear, many viewers found it difficult to connect with the scattered ensemble and the fragmented storytelling.
In contrast, Open Range kept things simple. It focused on a small group of characters, giving the audience time to understand and care about them. The story was self-contained, emotionally satisfying, and punctuated by one of the most memorable shootouts in modern Western cinema. It was accessible, yet powerful — a film that didn’t need sequels to make an impact.
The Narrative Behind the Films
Part of Open Range’s success came from the narrative surrounding it. After The Postman, expectations were low. When Open Range delivered — both commercially and critically — it was seen as a triumphant return for Costner.
By contrast, Horizon came with baggage. Costner’s decision to leave Yellowstone to focus on the film drew criticism. His heavy personal investment in the project made it feel high-risk. As such, the film’s underwhelming debut felt, to many, like a confirmation of skepticism rather than a creative gamble that paid off.
Conclusion: A Western Legacy with Two Outcomes
Both Open Range and Horizon show Kevin Costner’s deep love for the Western genre. But while Horizon aims to build an epic franchise, Open Range thrives in its restraint — telling a focused, emotionally resonant story that still stands as Costner’s best work of the 2000s, and perhaps his greatest Western since Dances with Wolves.
Horizon may one day be reappraised as part of a larger cinematic tapestry, but for now, it is Open Range that continues to define what a Kevin Costner Western can — and should — be.
