Kevin Costner’s Horizon Western Went Belly Up In Theaters, But It Seems To Be Doing Just What The Filmmaker Wanted On Streaming

by

Kevin Costner's Horizon Western Went Belly Up In Theaters, But It Seems To Be Doing Just What The Filmmaker Wanted On Streaming

As a seasoned gamer who’s spent countless hours immersed in virtual worlds, I can’t help but draw parallels between my digital adventures and Kevin Costner’s journey with “Horizon: Chapter One”. Just like how I’ve seen games launch to mixed reception only to find their true audience on digital platforms, Costner’s epic Western seems to be finding its footing on streaming services.

Kevin Costner has been deeply invested in bringing the Western saga titled “Horizon” to life since 1988. The grandeur displayed in the trailer indicates that as an actor in Yellowstone, he put his heart and soul into this epic Western production. Despite the unfortunate financial and critical downfall of “Horizon: Chapter One”, it seems that Costner’s movie is achieving the success the filmmaker desired on streaming platforms.

The “Horizon” series didn’t make a strong debut in cinemas on June 28th. It earned only $11 million during its opening weekend, which dropped by 51% to $5.4 million the following weekend, and eventually placed seventh during its third weekend with just $2.4 million. The fact that critics gave the film mixed reviews didn’t help, as they appreciated the grand portrayal of the Old West but felt it was lacking in a clear storyline.

Initially, Horizon didn’t perform well during its theatrical debut, but it found success in streaming platforms. As per ReelGood, this epic Western has made it to the tenth spot among all films available on top streaming services. It appears to be trailing behind movies like Amazon Prime’s Jackpot! and Netflix’s The Union and Deliverance: Chapter One. Interestingly, Horizon seems to be performing better on Max subscriptions, ranking at number three in movies, with The Martian and Beetlejuice ahead of it.

As a devoted fan, I find it intriguing that Kevin Costner’s extraordinary film, “Chapter One,” was initially met with resistance from its creator who didn’t wish for a direct-to-streaming release. Given his desire to provide a cinematic experience, especially for his Western masterpiece unfolding on the big screen, this decision made perfect sense. Yet, it appears that a larger audience has been drawn to give “Chapter One” a chance once it became available on their streaming platform.

Due to poor box office performance of Horizon: Chapter One, the release date for Chapter Two was shifted from August. But don’t despair for Kevin Costner’s film series! The second chapter had its debut at the 81st Venice Film Festival and is slated to hit cinemas later in the year. Moreover, Costner has an intriguing announcement about the third and fourth installments: filming for Chapter Three has commenced, with plans to shoot it concurrently with Chapter Four next spring. This demonstrates that the actor from Dances with Wolves doesn’t let financial figures or critics sway him. Instead, he remains confident in his Western project and is determined to ensure audiences can watch all four parts of it.

Perhaps Horizon: Chapter One didn’t attract the massive audience that Kevin Costner anticipated, but fortunately, streaming platforms were swift in offering the 2024 film a chance. It’s possible that with Max subscribers catching the initial installment of the Western film series, it could inspire more viewers to follow the story and boost its potential for improved box office results upon its second release.

Read More

2024-09-12 01:37