Summary
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1is set to snag the No. 3 spot at the box office, but it may not be enough. The first of four movies in an epic Western series by director, star, writer, and producer Kevin Costner,Chapter 1serves as the introduction to Costner’s depiction of the American West.Horizon’s extensive ensemble castincludesAvatar’s Sam Worthington,The Hunger Games' Jena Malone, andKillers of the Flower Moon’s Tatanka Means. Much of the cast is expected to return inChapter 2, which will be released on August 16.
With a reported $100 million budget and three other movies on the way,Horizonmay be on the path to a worrisome performance. Its opening day saw a total of only $4.1 million, according to a report byVariety, and it is expected to gross $12-13 million in its opening weekend. It is enough to secure the No. 3 spot at a box office dominated byInside Out 2andA Quiet Place: Day One, but it will be difficult to achieve profitability, let alone to set up three sequels.
Horizon’s Box Office Performance Is Dismal
The Western Epic Is Unlikely To Achieve Profitability In Theaters
With a $100 million budget,Horizonwill need $250 million just to achieve profitability, thanks to the cut that theaters take, and the marketing required. That total looks to be impossible to reach in just the few weeks that it will have at the box office beforeChapter 2releases. Even earning back its budget is a daunting task after earning just $12-13 million in its opening weekend. WithDespicable Me 4andTwistersreleasing in the coming weeks, it will be difficult for Costner’s latest movie to even remain in the Top 3.
With three follow-ups on the way afterChapter 1,Horizoncould have trouble even returning to theaters for the coming chapters. Yet the box office failure is not necessarily the end of the story. This series is Kevin Costner’s passion project, which is whyCostner paid a good portion of the budget. Even if it loses money, Warner Bros. will not lose as much by distributing the movies. Costner may choose to fundChapter 4, which could allow the movie series to end as Costner initially planned. Even with a potentially smaller budget, it would allow him to bring closure to the story.
Where To Watch Horizon: An American Saga - Showtimes & Streaming Status
Kevin Costner’s western epic is here, and there are options for where to watch Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 in theaters or on streaming.
Streaming could provide an alternate route to success. Costner’sYellowstoneearned acclaim as a Western that can be viewed in the comfort of a viewer’s own home, which may be the perfect path for Costner’s latest project. As a three-hour Western with four parts, it is difficult to watch in theaters, where discomfort, hunger, and a need for bathroom breaks can present massive problems for audiences. Streaming provides a more comfortable option and can help recoup the budget. IfHorizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1continues as planned, it will likely need to move without the box office’s support.
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.
