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We still don't know if we'll ever see Kevin Costner return to Yellowstone, but we're still getting the next best thing with Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1. This ambitious new project marks the first time Kevin Costner has directed a feature film since 2003's Open Range, Horizon: An American Saga was independently financed by Costner, and that's no mild feat given that the budget for the first film is reportedly at least $100 million. So far, it looks like that money was well-spent, as the film went on to earn a respectable standing ovation following its premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Taking place in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 explores the lives of several characters dealing with the country that was left behind in the conflict. This epic new saga was intended to be only the first chapter of a multi-movie endeavor, with a second installment originally set to arrive later this very same year. When can you expect to watch the first part, you may ask? Read below to find out when, where, and how you can watch Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1.
Editor's Note: This piece was updated on August 22, 2024.
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
- Release Date
- June 28, 2024
- Runtime
- 181 Minutes
- Director
- Kevin Costner
WHERE TO WATCH
Chronicles a multi-faceted, 15-year span of pre-and post-Civil War expansion and settlement of the American west.
- Writers
- Jon Baird, Kevin Costner
- Main Genre
- Western
Is 'Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1' Streaming?
Since initially premiering in theaters to a less-than-stellar box office performance (especially by Kevin Costner standards), Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 will be available to stream on the Max streaming service on Friday, August 23. As expected, given that the film is under the Warner Bros. Discovery banner, Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 will be making its streaming home on Max. Two of Warner Bros' most recent movies, Dune: Part Two and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, arrived on the service around 80-100 days after their initial release, and it looks like we'll be seeing Horizon - Chapter 1 even sooner than that.
Max currently offers three distinct subscription plans for its service: With Ads, Ad-Free, and Ultimate Ad-Free. You can find a complete breakdown of all three plans for Max on the chart below:
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Plans |
Features |
Subscription Costs |
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With Ads |
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$9.99 per month or $99.99 per year |
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Ad-Free |
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$15.99 per month or $149.99 per year |
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Ultimate Ad-Free |
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$19.99 per month or $199.99 per year |
Can You Watch 'Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1' Without Max?
Yes, even if you don't have a Max subscription, you still have ways to watch Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 at home. The movie became available to purchase and rent via PVOD on July 16, 2024. You can check out the links below to find the movie on the streaming platform of your choice.
When Was the Release Date for 'Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1'?
The first chapter of Kevin Costner's epic Western series went galloping into theaters not too long ago, as Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 officially released into theaters on Friday, June 28, 2024, in the United States and Canada. The film's sequel, Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2, was initially set to be released later in the summer on Friday, August 16, 2024, but those plans have now been canceled following Chapter 1's poor box office performance. While the United States might have been the movie's biggest market based on the title alone, the film also received a wide international theatrical release as well. You can find when and where Horizon: An American Saga debuted across the globe on the chart below:
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Release Date |
Countries |
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June 26, 2024 |
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June 27, 2024 |
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June 28, 2024 |
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July 4, 2024 |
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August 22, 2024 |
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Is 'Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1' Still in Theaters?
No, Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 is no longer playing in theaters. The movie was released exclusively in theaters this past June, and sadly for fans of Westerns and Kevin Costner, the film did not perform to expectations. Instead, Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 became one of the biggest box office bombs of the year, grossing just over $30 million off of a budget (that was self-financed by Costner) of $100 million. It probably didn't help that the latest big-screen, big-budget Western was in direct competition with the anticipated prequel to John Krasinski's smash-hit horror franchise, A Quiet Place: Day One. While the film was independently financed by Costner, the film was still distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery.
Watch the Trailer for 'Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1'
The second trailer for Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1, which was released on May 17, showcases a version of the United States that was still recovering from the nation's deadliest conflict. In the wake of the Civil War, many Americans set out to create a new life for themselves by traveling to and colonizing the West, all during the phenomenon known as Manifest Destiny. At the center of this bold new expansion is a gunslinger named Hayes Ellison (Kevin Costner), who will meet an equal array of allies and enemies in this new frontier. Costner is also only scratching the surface of the film's ensemble cast, which also includes Sam Worthington, Sienna Miller, Luke Wilson, and more.
What Is 'Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1' About?
The official plot synopsis of Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 reads as follows:
In the great tradition of Warner Bros. Pictures’ iconic Westerns, 'Horizon: An American Saga' explores the lure of the Old West and how it was won—and lost—through the blood, sweat and tears of many. Spanning the four years of the Civil War, from 1861 to 1865, Costner’s ambitious cinematic adventure will take audiences on an emotional journey across a country at war with itself, experienced through the lens of families, friends and foes all attempting to discover what it truly means to be the United States of America.
Will We Get to See 'Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2'?
The future of the Horizon saga is now in doubt following the poor financial reception of Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1. Even though Kevin Costner is the highest-grossing Western star of all time thanks to smash-hits like Dances with Wolves, Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 made only a third of its reported $100 million budget back. As a result, Warner Bros. has pulled Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 from release, thus raising questions about whether or not we'll see Costner's Western epic continue.
New Line Cinema and Territory Pictures, the two production companies behind Horizon: An American Saga, justified the decision and further promised Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 is still on its way with the following statements:
"Territory Pictures and New Line Cinema have decided not to release Horizon: Chapter 2 on August 16 in order to give audiences a greater opportunity to discover the first installment of Horizon over the coming weeks, including on PVOD and Max. We thank our exhibition partners for their continued support as moviegoers across the U.S. discover the film in its theatrical run." - New Line Cinema
"The audience response to Horizon, and enthusiasm for seeing our story continue in Horizon 2, has been incredibly gratifying. Kevin made this film for people who love movies and who wanted to go on a journey. The support that we have received from film fans, and the theater owners, as they experience the first chapter of this saga only serves to reinforce our belief in them and the films that we have made, and we thank them for coming on board for the ride. We welcome the opportunity for that window to be expanded as we know it will only serve to enhance the experience of seeing Horizon 2." - Territory Pictures
That still paints a somewhat vague picture of the already-filmed sequel, and there's even more doubt for the planned third and fourth installments of the series. Still, there is some additional good news for those eager to see the next chapter in Hayes Ellison's journey. Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 2 is confirmed to premiere at the upcoming Venice Film Festival, which is a wise move considering the first film was well-received at the prior Cannes Film Festival. That means that at least some audiences will get to see the next chapter of Horizon: An American Saga, but the potential for a wider release is still a mystery.
Other Kevin Costner Westerns You Can Watch Right Now
'Dances with Wolves' (1990)
One of the most successful Westerns ever made and Kevin Costner's directorial debut, Dances with Wolves, is a true testament to more modern Western stories. In a way, the film is narratively similar to Horizon: An American Saga given that it's ultimately a commentary on the colonization of the West. Costner stars as Lieutenant John Dunbar - a Union soldier who was instructed to control a key area in the ongoing Civil War conflict. While doing so, Dunbar encounters and befriends a try of local Sioux Native Americans, and quickly starts to question the state of his country.
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Dances With Wolves
- Release Date
- March 30, 1990
- Runtime
- 181 minutes
- Director
- Kevin Costner
Cast
-
-
Mary McDonnell -
-
Rodney A. Grant
WHERE TO WATCH
Lieutenant John Dunbar, assigned to a remote western Civil War outpost, finds himself engaging with a neighboring Sioux settlement, causing him to question his own purpose.
- Writers
- Michael Blake
'Wyatt Earp' (1994)
While Tombstone might be the most popular rendition of this story, Kevin Costner's portrayal of Wyatt Earp is certainly nothing to scoff at. Costner stars as legendary U.S. marshal Wyatt Earp, who became incredibly well-known for his efforts to bring order to the Wild West. While there are many stories about the historical figure, Wyatt Earp is among one of the best.
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Wyatt Earp
- Release Date
- June 24, 1994
- Director
- Lawrence Kasdan
- Writers
- Dan Gordon, Lawrence Kasdan
Cast
-
-
-
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David Andrews
From Wichita to Dodge City, to the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, a man becomes a myth in this thrilling journey of romance, adventure, and desperate heroic action.
- Main Genre
- Western
'Open Range' (2003)
Finally, Kevin Costner's next latest directorial feature prior to Horizon: An American Saga is Open Range. In this simple yet effective Western thriller, Costner is a retired gunslinger who just wants to make a simpler, more peaceful life for himself. That goal suddenly becomes harder to obtain as soon as a corrupt sheriff and his band of cronies decide to take the place he calls home, and that's something that just will not sit right with the hero of one of Costner's most criminally overlooked epics.
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Open Range
- Release Date
- August 15, 2003
- Runtime
- 139 Minutes
- Director
- Kevin Costner
Cast
-
Charley Waite
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Boss Spearman -
Diego LunaButton -
Abraham BenrubiMose
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Lauran Paine, Craig Storper
- Main Genre
- Action
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