The news of Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 being delayed from its release date of Aug. 16 comes as a surprise following the disappointing performance of Chapter 1 at the box office over the July 4th frame. The decision to delay the release of Chapter 2 was made to give the movie’s 50+ leaning audience more time to discover the first installment in theaters or at home. Chapter 1 will be available digitally on July 16 and will continue its theatrical run.
There are currently no plans to release the sequel, Chapter 2, directly on Max. The possibility of a theatrical day-and-date release is being considered, but no final decision has been made. Reports of the movie being pulled from theatrical release indicate uncertainty about its future prospects. The goal is for Costner’s core Yellowstone audience to watch Chapter 1 and generate interest in seeing the second part of the Horizon franchise.
The Horizon franchise, which reportedly includes a Chapter 3, is rumored to have a production budget exceeding $100 million. While the first movie opened to $11 million and has earned a domestic total of $23.4 million, the financial performance is not as impressive as expected. With a critical score of 48% Rotten Tomatoes and a B- CinemaScore, the audience reactions have been lukewarm. Costner’s previous directorial venture, Open Range, performed slightly better at the box office with a final domestic gross of $58.3 million.
A representative from New Line Cinema stated that Horizon: Chapter 2 is being delayed to allow audiences more time to discover the first installment. The studio thanked exhibition partners for their support and emphasized the positive response to the Horizon franchise. Territory Pictures also expressed gratitude for the audience’s enthusiasm for the saga and promised an enhanced experience for viewers when Chapter 2 is eventually released.
The decision to delay the release of Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 raises questions about the future of the franchise. With financial concerns, lukewarm audience reactions, and uncertainty about the release strategy, the success of the sequel remains uncertain. Despite the positive statements from the studio, the delay of Chapter 2 indicates a need for reevaluation and strategic planning to ensure the franchise’s success in the future.