Kevin Costner Responds To Horizon Being A Streaming Hit After Initial $38M Box Office Disappointment

Kevin Costner responses to Horizon: An American Sage – Chapter 1 becoming a streaming hit six months after its initial release. Co-written, led, and directed by the Yellowstone actor, the first movie from Costner’s four-part western project came out in June 2024. Despite grossing only $38.7 million against a $100 budget, the Costner movie has found success after arriving on streaming platforms, securing a spot on Netflix’s Top 10 chart during its first week.

In an interview with Decider, Costner reacts to Horizon‘s streaming success. Though the legendary actor hasn’t seen the updated numbers yet, he shares that the delayed success tells him about the consistent demand for Western movies like Horizon. He explains that what sets his movie apart from other westerns is the untold stories of the women during the time period. Check out Costner’s comments below:

I think it’s interesting that the movie came out six months ago and people are still finding it with little push from anywhere. It’s out there. It’s standing amongst the biggest movies of the year and it was streamed more than them. It tells me that people want to go places in their heart and their mind.

This American Western specifically has women in it. When we started writing it, women kept dominating my storyline. You have no West without women. But they were often drug out there against their will, and they just had to live in the fear and the dirt and everything, trying to keep their families clean.

Fans Might Get To See Chapter 2 This Year

The Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 Western was originally scheduled for release in late 2024. However, due to the first installment’s disappointing box office numbers, the sequel’s release was canceled. As Costner pointed out, Horizon‘s streaming success proves that there is a market for his western films, which could potentially pave the way for the other three to come. The second installment currently doesn’t have a release date, but with Chapter 1 finding success on streaming platforms, it’s possible that the second installment might receive a streaming release some time in 2025.

Chapter 1 is currently among the top 10 most searched western movies on streaming. While the film has received mixed critical reviews with only a 51% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film’s 70% Popcornmeter score demonstrates that it is largely enjoyed by general audiences, especially by Western fans. While its slow-burn pace may not suit everyone, those who love the film enjoy its nostalgic Western feel and the intrigue it sets up for Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2.

Our Take On Horizon’s Streaming Success

It’s Not Surprising Due To The Enduring Interest In Westerns

It seems clear that Horizon is more tailored to die-hard Western fans. With Costner having starred in many Western movies and knowing the genre from the inside out, there’s no doubt about his ability to connect with the audience in that space. On the other hand, Yellowstone fans who have gone to watch the film might be disappointed because, even though the movie is in the same genre, it’s more Bonanza than Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western. It certainly doesn’t have the same dazzling appeal as Wicked (which is also three hours long).

Horizon‘s box office disappointment isn’t surprising, and the same can also be said about the film’s streaming success. Costner’s comment about Horizon representing a certain place that people want to go in their hearts and minds reveals what the four-part epic is truly about. Horizon is more about the feel and untold stories in Westerns than telling a story with a Western set.

Source: Decider