Summary

  • Kevin Costner leads an absolutely star-studded cast in Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1.
  • There is some division among viewers, as critics give the movie a Rotten 46% Tomatometer score, while audiences rate it Fresh at 71%.
  • The movie is the first in a four-part series about the American West's growth and settlement.

the overall Horizon cast expected to change with every movie.

While Costner has nothing but love for the movie, critics and audiences have been mixed. Critics have branded it with a Rotten designation through the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer. It sits at a dismal 46% Tomatometer score at the time of writing, which is in sharp contrast with the relatively positive audience score. Audiences have offered a 71% score, which is enough to earn it a Fresh designation.

Horizon's Rotten Tomatoes Scores Are Heavily Split

Horizon Needs Its Audience Score To Save Its Box Office Numbers

Horizon is meant to be a four-part movie series, and Costner is determined to see the series reach an adequate conclusion. Chapter 2 is expected to be released on August 16, but the other two movies have not been completed. Costner funded Horizon with his own money, having spent at least $20 million just in the first two movies. He also reportedly raised an additional $50 million through fundraising, which is further proof of his dedication. Yet, given that Chapter 3 is only just starting filming and Chapter 4 is still in development, Horizon needs some help at the box office to ensure the franchise survives.

Chapter 1 earned just $11 million domestically in its opening weekend at the box office, with under $1 million coming in from overseas. The first movie has a budget of $100 million meant to comprise the first two installments, and if it is going to earn that back, it will need to rely on word-of-mouth encouragement, because the marketing efforts have not been enough. The 71% audience score could encourage some viewers to watch after the movie hits streaming platforms, which could be enough to save it, though the negative critical score will likely be a problem.

Kevin Costner and Sienna Miller in Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 in theaters
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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.

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A 71% score is a positive result, but it is far from high praise. A fresh score could offset the difference, but it has instead descended into a downright Rotten mark. With just a month left before Chapter 2 hits theaters, there will not be much time for the franchise to recover before it needs to pivot to the sequel. A streaming debut could help to save it, but a streaming date has not yet been announced. The divided Rotten Tomatoes score is a problem for Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1, which needs all the help it can get.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes

Horizon- An American Saga Poster

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Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
R
Drama
Western
7/10
93
8.6/10
Release Date
June 28, 2024
Runtime
181 Minutes
Director
Kevin Costner

Cast

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Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 is a Western film directed by Kevin Costner, and sees him in the starring role. The film explores multiple generations surrounding the expansion of the American West before and after the Civil War. Horizon is the first in a series of four films, all of which were greenlit by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Writers
Jon Baird, Kevin Costner
Studio(s)
New Line Cinema, Territory Pictures
Distributor(s)
Warner Bros. Pictures
Main Genre
Western