“Kevin Costner’s Horizon Finds Its Audience on Max”
Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 has recently made a notable comeback, topping Max’s movie chart despite its earlier disappointing box office performance. The Western, which stirred considerable controversy due to Costner’s exit from Paramount’s Yellowstone franchise, struggled significantly at the box office, earning just $34.4 million—an outcome that overshadowed even Waterworld.
However, the film’s streaming debut on Max has been a different story, landing it at the top of the charts and offering a glimmer of hope for the future of Costner’s planned four-part saga. Horizon—Chapter 1’s unexpected streaming success outpaced another box office underperformer, George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. This resurgence might be exactly what Costner needs to boost interest in the upcoming Chapter 2.
Originally, Chapter 2 was slated for an August 16 release, but due to Chapter 1’s lackluster box office results, Warner Bros. has postponed it and advanced the streaming release of Chapter 1. The studio’s strategy is to leverage the film’s strong performance on Max to generate more interest in the theatrical release of Chapter 2. The new release date for Chapter 2 remains unconfirmed, but its premiere at the 81st Venice Film Festival on September 7 is set. Here, Costner and the film’s team will be hoping for a more favorable critical reception.
While Chapter 1 received a warm standing ovation at its Cannes Film Festival debut, it faced tepid reviews online. Critics noted that the film’s slow and deliberate pace felt more like an introduction, with hopes that Chapter 2 will offer a more dynamic experience. The mixed reviews suggested that while the first installment may have been setting up the larger narrative, there is potential for a more engaging sequel.
