Released on June 28, 2024, Kevin Costner’s big western drama, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One, didn’t have the best start at the box office. Even though Costner put a lot of effort and his own money into the movie, it didn’t make as much as people hoped during its first weekend.
Horizon: An American Saga is a big story told in four parts about how the American West grew during the Civil War. Now, the Hollywood star tries one last trick to make some money from Horizon – Chapter One after its terrible box office performance.
Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One Struggles at the Box Office
Kevin Costner reportedly spent a significant amount of his own money on the film, estimated at $38 million (per Variety), to make it happen. He even paused working on his hit TV show Yellowstone to focus on this project.
The film features a large and talented cast, including Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, and Michael Rooker. However, reactions to the film have been mixed on Rotten Tomatoes, with only 47% rating. Some praised its beautiful visuals and ambitious scope, but others thought it was slow and unfocused, especially since it’s just the beginning of a bigger story. New Yorker’s Top Critic Richard Brody wrote:
The three-hour Western, the first installment of a planned tetralogy, rushes through its many stories and straight past American history.
This mixed feedback led to a disappointing box office opening of $11 million (according to The Numbers), much lower than expected. The film’s earnings continued to drop, with a 50% decline in its second weekend. In its second Friday-Sunday run, it only made $5.4 million at 3,334 theaters.
Kevin Costner Seeks This Strategy to Save the Struggling Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One
Variety reported Horizon – Chapter One had a big budget of $50 million (or maybe even $100 million for the first two parts), so it needs to find its way to cover its costs. The box office isn’t looking good for profits, but there’s still hope that the movie could make money when it comes out on home video platforms. It will also be available to watch at home, premiering on digital-on-demand on July 16 (via Blu-ray).
Horizon – Chapter One might do well on premium VOD services, where viewers pay a higher price to rent new releases. The film could attract older viewers who prefer watching movies at home. Plus, the long and detailed story might work better for home viewing, where people can watch it in parts at their own pace.
The sequel, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter Two, is set to be released on August 16, 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How did Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One perform at the box office?
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One, released June 28, 2024, opened to a disappointing $11 million domestically and fell 50% in its second weekend. The film ultimately grossed roughly $34.3 million worldwide against a reported $50 million budget, according to later box office tracking, making it a significant financial loss despite Kevin Costner reportedly investing $38 million of his own money.
What strategy is Kevin Costner using to recoup money after Horizon’s box office struggles?
After Chapter One’s weak theatrical run, the film moved to premium video-on-demand, becoming available digitally on July 16, 2024, in hopes of attracting older audiences who prefer watching lengthy, detailed stories at home. Variety reported the project’s true budget may run as high as $100 million across its first two chapters, meaning home viewing revenue is a key part of recouping costs.
What happened to Horizon: An American Saga Chapter Two and beyond?
Chapter Two ultimately had a limited release rather than the wide theatrical debut originally planned, premiering at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2024 before a U.S. festival premiere in early 2025. Kevin Costner has said Chapter Three’s future is uncertain, calling it stalled, while stating he remains determined to complete the four-part saga despite the financial challenges facing the franchise.
