According to the American website Variety, the first box office figures for the film “Horizon: An American Saga” – which is to have four parts – seem to indicate a more than mixed success for this western, in which Kevin Costner has invested part of his personal fortune.
A merciless world. Kevin Costner must not have been particularly comfortable when he discovered the first figures for his film “Horizon: An American Saga” at the American box office, where it accumulated 4.1 million dollars (around 3.8 million euros). A worrying figure in view of its 100 million dollars budget – including almost 50 million dollars coming from the actor’s personal fortune for the first two parts of a saga which must include four in total.
According to the American site Variety, these first days of the film’s theatrical release suggest that “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” risks having the greatest difficulty in covering its costs. And even more to make a profit. Note that Chapter 2 is supposed to be released in August, and that Chapter 3 is currently being filmed. And that Chapter 4 remains in draft form for the moment. And could remain so permanently if the figures do not recover.
More of a mini-series than an epic saga
During its screening at the last Cannes Film Festival, numerous criticisms were expressed from the specialized press against this project which looks more like a mini-series intended for television, than an epic cinematographic saga. and essential.
The first film, currently in theaters, introduces the vast world in which the main characters evolve, and sets the scene for events to come. An effective recipe on the small screen which can prove fatal in cinema, explains Variety.
Kevin Costner can only hope that “Horizon: An American Saga” will follow the same path as “Dances with Wolves,” which, when it was released in 1991, was presented as a disaster waiting to happen after a timid start at the box office.
The feature film, which marked his directorial debut, eventually turned things around to become the sixth highest-grossing film of the year, before being crowned with the Oscar for best picture and best director.
