Kevin Costner’s $100M ‘Horizon’ Set for Disappointing Opening Despite $40M Personal Investment
Hopes are not high for the box office potential of part one of Kevin Costner‘s pricey Western epic, Horizon: An American Saga.
The first part of the series, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter One, is currently projected to make around $12 million after it debuts at the domestic box office on June 28, according to tracking numbers calculated by one major service, The Hollywood Reporter reports.
The four-part series had a budget of $100 million and Costner contributed $38 million of his own money into the project, according to the outlet.
However, sources claim Costner, 69, doesn’t think the tracking numbers include his own fanbase, with much of his viewership located in the middle of the U.S., and the outlet also noted tracking figures had not been accurate as of late.
THR also reports that the prequel, A Quiet Place: Day One, is predicted to make $40 million at the box office when it debuts on June 28.
It comes after Costner revealed he ignored calls to make the Horizon films a TV series, as he treasures the big screen ‘experience.
Horizon Chapter 1 is set to be released in the United States on June 28, 2024, while Chapter 2 will be released on August 16, 2024 – but the first instalment has been slammed by critics.
Yellowstone star Costner, who has contributed around $38 million of his own money to fund the film, told Empire he has taken a gamble by releasing the saga in cinemas.
He said: ‘I had somebody who said, ‘Look, please don’t do this, Kevin, let’s do this.’
‘But I’m glad about what I’m doing. I believe in the big screen. I believe in that experience. I also believe in what will come to your television. You know, I’m not one of those guys that has a director’s cut. The f****** movie I make is the director’s cut.’
The Dances with Wolves star – who is worth an estimated $250million – said: ‘I’m not a fool, but I’m not afraid.
‘I will own this movie the rest of my life. So will my family. And movies are a lot more than their opening weekend. They have value throughout their life, and I will own this movie throughout my life.
‘And people will find it. And when they do, whether it’s opening weekend or not, they’re going to find a quality. They’re going to find a story that they’re going to want to revisit or share with someone. And that’s the power of a movie to me.’
‘My hope is that I get this money back, but you know what, I’m not going to fall apart if it (doesn’t happen).
‘I’ll lose some things that I had valued, but they’re just things I’ve kept. I should add, I don’t want to have to ever do this again. But I don’t live my life in fear.’
Chapter 3 of the film saga started shooting in May 2024. Chapter 4 is in development.
Horizon earned a 10-minute standing ovation from the audience following its premiere screening at the 77th Cannes Film Festival last month.
It has a star-studded ensemble cast in addition to Costner with Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Giovanni Ribisi, Ella Hunt, Danny Huston and Luke Wilson also sharing the screen.
However, the film has received some scathing reviews and a very low score on Rotten Tomatoes, with just a 38 per cent score on the Tomatometer – the rating system used on the film critique website.
Costner financed the film himself, admitting to putting $38 million of his own funds into the project after spending decades trying to find a studio to make the film.
He even took out a loan against his Santa Barbara home after trying unsuccessfully to make it for more than 30 years.
Costner previously revealed in June 2022 that he planned on making four Horizon films in all, shot back-to-back.
It’s the fourth time Costner has directed a film in his long career, which also includes following Dances With Wolves (1990), The Postman (1990) and Open Range (2003).
Costner has achieved massive success with his work, including his directorial debut, Dances with Wolves (1990), which won an astounding seven Academy Awards from 12 nominations including Best Picture and Best Director.