The first film of ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ started off with $11 million in ticket sales, despite having a budget well over $100 million. Kevin Costner discussed the earnings from the opening weekend in a recent chat with Entertainment Weekly. He said:
“I’ve lived with movies and what happens to them on their opening weekend. If we put so much pressure on that, we’re bound to be disappointed. I’m really happy that ‘Horizon’ looks like what it’s supposed to look like, and that’s the way it’ll look the rest of its life. And that’s really important to me in this process.”
The Film Looks The Way Costner Wanted
Costner invested around $38 million from his own funds to cover some of the production and marketing costs. Still, he explained:
“Would I love that it would be highly, highly successful? Of course, I’d like that. My ego would like that; everyone would like that. But I am happiest that the movie that you and I are talking about looks the way I want it to look.”
The Franchise’s Fate After The First Chapter
There are plans for three more chapters in the ‘Horizon’ series, with the second one due on August 16 and the third currently being made. But the fourth chapter’s fate remains unclear with the current box office numbers.
The critical reception is also a bit shaky. The newly-released project introduces Costner’s lone cowboy trying to help Abbey Lee’s Marigold, Sienna Miller’s Frances Kittredge, and more. Some critics say it feels more like a TV series beginning than a feature film.