“Kevin Costner’s Western Epic Finds Success on Streaming After $36M Box Office Shortfall”
“Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” Finds Streaming Success After Box Office Letdown
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is gaining traction on streaming platforms following a disappointing box office performance. Written, directed, produced, and starring Kevin Costner, this Western epic was released earlier this summer but only managed to gross $36.1 million worldwide, alongside mixed critical reviews. The film’s underperformance led Warner Bros. to cancel plans for the second chapter of the saga, originally scheduled for mid-August.
Despite the initial setback, Horizon: An American Saga has been performing well on streaming services. According to data from Reelgood, the film was the tenth most popular movie in the U.S. for the week of August 29 – September 4. This marks its second consecutive week on Reelgood’s chart, with the film previously holding the fifth position. Currently, it trails behind other popular titles such as Jackpot! (2024), The Union (2024), The Deliverance (2024), and The Watchers (2024).
What Streaming Success Means for the Franchise
The ending of Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 suggests the story is far from finished, as Costner has expressed plans for a four-part film series. Although Chapter 2 has been completed, work on the third installment, which is partially filmed, has reportedly stalled due to the first film’s poor performance. The second chapter recently screened at the Venice Film Festival, receiving similar mixed reviews to its predecessor, which complicates the future of the franchise. Warner Bros. and Costner have suggested that the cancellation of Chapter 2 might be a delay to allow more time for audiences to discover the first film. Given that Horizon dominated VOD charts in July and is now performing well on streaming, this strategy appears to be in effect. However, with only a 70% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s uncertain whether this success will translate into greater theatrical success for future installments.
Our Perspective on the Streaming Success
While Horizon currently holds the tenth spot on streaming charts, it is unlikely to maintain this position in the upcoming weeks. The film’s struggle to remain on the streaming chart for consecutive weeks casts doubt on the potential success of future sequels in theaters. If the second film eventually sees a theatrical release, the prospects for the third and fourth installments remain uncertain. Reviews of Horizon: An American Saga noted that the film’s structure felt more suited to a TV series than a movie. Had Costner’s project been developed as an eight-part limited series for a streaming platform like Paramount+ or another service, it might have resonated better and avoided the stigma of a box office failure. While Costner’s ambition is commendable and there are merits to Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1, its streaming success may not be enough to alter the overall narrative of its performance.
