Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
Summary
Kevin Costner ’s Western epicHorizon : An American Sagahas had a mixed reception from critic , with many reviews echoing the chemical reaction to one of the music director - author - actor ’s previous projects . Although he is exceedingly distinguished as a film maker , Costner ’s record in the manufacture is actually fairly mixed . Despite finding huge winner with task likeDances With wildcat , he has also have in ill-famed flops , such asWaterworld . As a result , his participation in a project is no guarantee of succeeder – a trend that seems to be repeating withHorizon .
In many shipway , Horizonis the definition of a Passion of Christ project . In an audience withDeadline , Costner support that he ’d commissioned the project back in 1988 , though studios were unwilling to back his sight . After decennium of workplace , the story has morphed into a multi - chapter saga , withfourHorizonfilms in sum . This ambition is laudable . However , the exfoliation of the projection has n’t stopped critics from react coldly to the first installment , with just 35 % giving it a positive review ( viaRotten Tomatoes ) . In isolation , this reaction is dissatisfactory . What ’s more worrying , however , is how it seems to repeat a pattern established by a previousKevin Costner film .
Kevin Costner ’s passion project Horizon : An American Saga is conjecture to be released in four parts , but the first ledger entry has n’t been well - received .
Horizon Is Reminiscent of Kevin Costner’s The Postman
The Projects Have Some Worrying Similarities
Just asHorizonoffers an expansive and heroic take on the tradition of the Western genre , Costner ’s 1997 project , The Postman , can be said to engross a alike narration niche . Unlike the 2024 feature , The Postmanis set in a post - apocalyptic America , apply its Western sensibility an interesting , futuristic sharpness . However , while their configurations are very dissimilar , the two films have several intriguing similarity – makingHorizon ’s medical prognosis in advance of a wider theatrical releaseon June 28th , 2024 even more worrying .
Budget
Box Office
Custom image by Debanjana Chowdhury
Rotten Tomatoes Score
Runtime
The Postman ( 1997 )
$ 80 million
$ 30 million
14 %
177 minutes
Horizon : An American Saga , Chapter 1 ( 2024
$ 100 million
–
35 %
181 instant
For starter , both movies asterisk and are directed by Costner himself . Unfortunately , the extent of Costner ’s liaison makes the two film ’s flaws every bit comparable . WhileHorizonholds a 35 % Rotten Tomatoes score , The Postmanperformed even less favorably , rating at just 14 % . In both instance , critics highlighted the two films ' bloated runtime ( each lean to around three hours ) , plodding story , and self - serious tone . Given thatThe Postmanwas a critical and commercial failure , the fact thatHorizonseems to have so much in common with it does not bode well for its box office view .
Why The Postman Flopped So Badly
It Failed On Several Fronts
There are multiple reasons whyThe Postmanfailed to resonate with viewers . From a decisive standpoint , the biggest progeny were its length ( 177 minutes ) and tone . As theRotten Tomatoescritical consensus explain , " A massive misestimation in ego - mythologizing by film director and star Kevin Costner , The Postman would make for a goofy good time if it were n’t so fatally self - serious . " Some notable voices were particularly abrasive , withlegendary critic Gene Siskel taking specific issue with the sensed self - aggrandizement on display(memorably call the film " Dances With Myself " in reference to Costner ’s early Oscar - gain feature of speech ) .
As with many box office letdown , it ’s not always reset the extent to which vital pink slip contributed to pitiful financial performance . Nevertheless , it ’s undeniable that after a comprehensive vital mauling , the movie bomb with audiences . On an $ 80 million budget ( again , not unlike toHorizon ’s account $ 100 million),the plastic film made just $ 30 million globally – a massive loss by any step . While not as notorious as Costner ’s other post - apocalyptical adventure movie , Waterworld , The Postmanactually represents a more comprehensive failure .
Kevin Costner ’s warmth project is on the means but attention is already turn towards how the Western epic with Horizon : An American Saga 2 .
Horizon’s The Postman Similarities Are Bad News For The Movie’s Future
It’s Mirroring The Earlier Film’s Failure
Given how closelyHorizonandThe Postmanseem to align – with their shared director , actor , tonal issue , excessive runtimes , thematic similarity , and poor critical reactions – the precedent put up by the 1997 movie would seem to presage poorly forHorizon ’s opportunity when it finally arrives in dramatics . Arguably , the picture already faced an uphill battle . As an original labor , with no affiliation to a wider dealership , it was always fighting against substantive odds . Combined with the motion picture ’s $ 100 million budget , Horizonhas the daunting task of postulate to make around $ 250 million globallyto weaken even .
Although more than two decades separate the two films , the lessons provided byThe Postman ’s failings remain true for any film . While not a hard and fast normal , it ’s generally accepted that any original epic project needs positive reviews to coax would - be viewer to sit down for a three - time of day theatrical marathon . Even then , Western movies can struggle to attract a strong hearing – as show by well - reviewed box office bombs like the slow - burn 2007 epicThe Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford($15 million on a $ 30 million budget ) .
WhileThe Postmanis the most obvious comparing thanks to Costner ’s extensive involvement in both , the film also seems to echo the the like of Michael Cimino ’s notoriousHeaven ’s Gate …
unluckily , Horizon ’s inflated budgetseemingly puts it on a exchangeable route to historical genre flops . WhileThe Postmanis the most obvious compare thanks to Costner ’s extensive involvement in both , the film also seems to echo the likes of Michael Cimino ’s notoriousHeaven ’s Gate , which was critically panned ( before a later critical reassessment ) and made just $ 3.5 million against a $ 44 million budget . Even hail Westerns can shinny if their budget becomes too high-sounding – a fact demonstrated by the 2023 Oscar - nominatedKillers of the Flower Moon($157 million on a $ 200 million budget ) . None of this bodes well forHorizon ’s chances .
Horizon Can Still Escape The Postman’s Legacy
It Isn’t Automatically Doomed
WhileHorizon ’s well-defined similarities to a historical failure likeThe Postmanare alarming , there are still understanding for filmmakers to be positivist . For one matter , whereasThe Postman ’s 14 % Rotten Tomatoes musical score occur from a wide range of review post - release , Horizon ’s critical reactioncomesonly from those who see the film at its Cannes Film Festival premiere . It may be that , once more critic have a probability to measure it , its account move up .
A further factor is that , unlikeThe Postman , Horizonhas been promoted and consider as part of a wider story . In some style , this is a fundamental power point of difference between the projects , as while many critic have lecture the film for feeling incomplete , there is a recognition that it is unmanageable to appraise its worth until future chapter arrive . Even ifHorizon : An American Sagacontinues to receive negative review , it may be that the film is more positively received in hindsight whenHorizon : Chapter 2arrives later in 2024 . make the amount of money necessitate , this is clearly a risk . Nevertheless , it may be that the gamble retrospectively make up off .
Source : Deadline , Rotten Tomatoes
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