Summary
It may seem like a setback, but Kevin Costner delaying the release ofHorizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2might save his franchise plans. Costner may not have as many Westerns to his name as Clint Eastwood or John Wayne, but he’s still very closely tied to the genre.Kevin Costner WesternslikeDances with WolvesorOpen Rangeare some of the best to come out of the genre following its Golden Age, and evenYellowstoneis a Western of sorts.
With theHorizonsaga, Costner is setting out on his most ambitious and risky project to date. The star/director plans to make four movies, withHorizon’scast of characterstrying to make a new life in the titular frontier town during the 1860s. Sadly,Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1has performed poorly, having failed to earn back its reported $50 million production budgetat the box office (viaThe Numbers).Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2was supposed to be released on August 16th, 2024, but the first movie’s performance has seen it pulled from schedules.
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
Cast
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 is set in 1859, following families as they settle in territories from Wyoming to Kansas. The narrative centers around a cowboy on the run with a prostitute and a young boy after a deadly confrontation, exploring the challenges of life in the Old West.
Costner is an old-fashioned movie star who believes in the power of the theatrical experience. He spent over 30 years developingHorizonand has decided he needs four chapters to tell the full story. His ambition is admirable, and he very much wanted the series to be experienced on cinema screens. Unfortunately,Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1felt like a long pilot episode setting up an epic miniseries, with many viewers and critics feeling underwhelmed by the film as a standalone Western adventure.
Kevin Costner likely didn’t want to back off his original plan, but ifHorizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2is going to rescue the franchise, he needs more time to grow build anticipation for it.
In theory,delayingHorizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2is about giving the original a chance to grow a bigger audience. The first entry is thus heading to VOD, where it’s likely to find a more willing, patient viewership. Regardless of a movie’s quality, the fact is that asking modern audiences to turn up for a three-hour Western epic is a big ask. That’s why the box office predictions forHorizonwere so muted once Costner announced his plans.
The movies were always more likely to find an audience at home regardless, which is why some are baffled Costner didn’t mount it as a limited series. In an ideal world,Chapter 1would have been a comfortable success and eager fans would have rushed toChapter 2soon after, but as the box office shows, the audience just isn’t there for it yet. Costner likely didn’t want to back off his original plan, but ifHorizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2is going to rescue the franchise, he needs more time to build anticipation for it.
Other Box Office Flops Have Found Bigger Audiences On VOD & Streaming
Horizon’s VOD performance could prove the audience is there
Furiosa: A Mad Max Sagawas the long-awaited prequel toFury Road, but despite great reviews, the R-rated blockbuster is one of 2024’s biggest bombs theatrically. However,Furiosaquickly found a second life on VOD, where those viewers who skipped it in theaters were still curious to catch up on itat home. In anEWconversation with Ben Affleck in 2022, the actor/director revealed his disappointment about Ridley Scott’s acclaimedThe Last Duelbombing at the box office, only to feel vindicated when it became a success on streaming instead.
The same thing happened to Affleck’s sports dramaAirin 2023.Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1is not a guaranteed VOD hit, but those for interested enough to check it out might find the film more pleasurable from the comfort of their sofas, where they can pause for a bathroom break whenever they like. VOD has given a second life to many movies that were written off following their opening weekends, andHorizon- more than most - could benefit hugely from this secondary market.
A Bigger Gap Between Horizon Movies Makes Costner’s Two-Part Story Accessible
Audiences need some time to absorb Horizon’s first chapter
Costner obviously envisionedHorizon: An American Sagato be a major event in the summer of 2024, but this approach again suggests the story was a better fit for television.ReleasingChapter 1in June and expecting audiences to return forChapter 2in August was the very definition of optimism, and was simply too tight oa window. Even in the case of the two-partAvengerssequels,Infinity WarandEndgame,the filmmakers were wise enough to give viewers a year-long gap so they could absorb the events of the former and get jazzed for the finale.
Every Death In Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 Explained
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 kills several significant characters as part of the main storylines. Here’s who dies, who kills them, and why.
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1tells a big story with a large ensemble, and thus needed to give the viewing public time to digest it. AssumingHorizon: Chapter 2remains a theatrical release as Costner planned, it will stand a better chance at the box office once more eyeballs get to experience the first part. This will also help generate some positive word of mouth.
Plus, those who really enjoyed the firstHorizon: An American Sagacan get excited for the next chapter. More than anything,the delay will give the VOD release time to help the saga’s financial returns look healthier, which will be key for attracting investors to parts three and four.
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 continues the exploration of the Old West, spanning from 1859 to 1874. Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, the film delves into the lives of families, friends, and enemies grappling with the nation’s evolving identity.
