Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon’ Struggles with Box Office Earnings Despite Star Attraction
Despite Kevin Costner’s big role in the TV series Yellowstone, his Western film, Horizon, An American Saga Chapter One, found it hard to draw crowds in its North American premier during the weekend of June 2830.
Film Earnings
The movie only made $11 million on its opening, which was less than expected for such a high budget production. It failed to compete with other recent films like A Quiet Place, Day One and Inside Out 2. According to Intelligence research, the movie was seen by around 1 million people over the weekend compared with 3.6 million for A Quiet Place and 5 million for Inside Out.
The film suffered criticism but fared slightly better with viewers as reflected in its Rotten Tomatoes scores, receiving a low 40% from critics yet a more acceptable 69% from audiences. Insiders within the industry feel that having multiple story lines and being too long may have had a negative impact on its performance.
Viewer Age Group
The film was more popular among an elderly crowd. More ticket sales were recorded from viewers over 45 years,
- Around half (47%) were over 55
- Only a small percentage(11%) were between ages 1824
- 14% were between ages 2534
- About one in ten (11%) aged between 3544 year old
This higher age group is typically slow in watching movies at their premieres hence there is still hope for Horizon achieving better results over time.
Financing and Creation of Film
No film studio was willing to finance ‘Horizon’ hence Costner had to invest $38 million of his own money. He also managed to get some funds from two unnamed investors and sold rights to international distributors. Warner Bros came on board as a distributor although they did not finance the project or its advertisement, leaving Costner responsible for these expenses.
For the film which is an account of the mass movement West during the Civil War period, Costner acted, directed and co wrote. Warner Bros was on board with releasing the first and second films in quick succession but there’s no guarantee about the release of subsequent films as this wasn’t included in their agreement.
Promotion Attempts
To draw crowds particularly from his Yellowstone fanbase, Costner made several appearances at baseball matches and gave interviews on local radio and morning shows near military bases. He also interacted with regional media outlets to reach even more viewers.
The film has however not gained widespread attention yet. Its success may hinge greatly on how popular it becomes on premium VODs and other platforms for home entertainment.
Responses by Critics
Critics have said that Horizon has a sprawling narrative and long duration.Some felt that integrating or postponing multiple plotlines could make it better while others questioned its pacing and editing.Other critics still praised how well it portrayed America’s West .
Costner’s son Hayes plays Nathaniel Kittredge enabling father son bonding over filmmaking making working an unforgettable experience.It was inclusive seeing how well audiences reacted at cannes Film festival.
Possible Direction moving forward
Despite doubts about Hozion’s future , Costner optimistically looks towards longer term goals.He hopes his audience will grow fond of its themes especially through digital platforms used by older demographics at home. Warner Bros and Costner are going ahead with their August release of a sequel. The favour of the audience either from his fanbase or through word of mouth may be essential in determining the overall success. Horizon is a bold venture coming from Costner highlighting his creativity and commitment to the genre.
Although its initial release did not meet expectations,the film’s success will depend on how it is received within home entertainment markets.He worked hard to have his audience connect showing his influence in Hollywood.
