“Kevin Costner’s $100 Million Western Epic Now Streaming on Max: A Game-Changer for Future Sequels?”
Kevin Costner faced challenges in launching his new Western movie franchise in 2024, but the situation may improve now that Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is available for streaming. Costner, who directed and starred in the film, invested years into developing this passion project, envisioning it as the beginning of a four-part series. His commitment was so strong that he even chose to step away from finishing Yellowstone to focus on this new venture.
The franchise’s inaugural film, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1, premiered in theaters on June 28, 2024. The follow-up, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2, was originally set to release less than two months later. However, due to the film’s underwhelming box office performance, these plans were adjusted. It seems that many viewers who enjoyed Yellowstone preferred to wait for the streaming release rather than seeing the film in theaters. Now, with Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 streaming on Max, audiences can finally experience it, whether for the first time or to revisit the film’s conclusion.
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is now streaming on Max, marking its debut on a streaming platform. Warner Bros. had previously made the film available for purchase or rental on other platforms, giving audiences options beyond waiting for the Max release. The movie’s streaming debut comes 56 days after its theatrical release, which is earlier than Warner Bros.’s usual window between theatrical and streaming releases.
Set in the mid-1800s, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 features multiple interwoven storylines. These include Frances Kittridge (Sienna Miller) and her daughter forming a bond with Trent Gephardt (Sam Worthington), Costner’s Hayes Ellison crossing paths with Marigold (Abbey Lee), Ellen Harvey (Jena Malone) being pursued by the Sykes family, and the Apache tribe striving to protect their land from colonization. The film’s narrative spans several years, weaving these diverse characters and storylines together.
Despite high initial expectations, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 struggled at the box office. The film earned just $11 million during its opening weekend, finishing third overall, and ultimately grossed $29 million domestically and $5 million internationally, totaling $34 million. The film’s reception was lukewarm, with critics giving it a 48% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and audiences providing a 70% rating on the Popcornmeter. Westerns have become a less dominant genre in theaters, and without strong word-of-mouth, the film struggled to gain traction.
The ambitious plans for the franchise might have also deterred potential viewers. The sequel’s planned release shortly after the first film may have felt overwhelming to audiences. Warner Bros. decided to delay the sequel following the disappointing performance of Chapter 1. The film’s title suggests a larger narrative, and Costner approached it as an introduction to a more extensive saga.
