Kevin Costner’s upcoming film and his passion project, Horizon: An American Saga enjoyed a promising debut at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. The audience’s enthusiastic response, including a seven-minute standing ovation, moved the director to tears, as he thanked the audience and promised a similar epic journey with the upcoming three sequels of the film series.
However, the same response is not reflected in the film’s critical reception, as the epic western saga opened to a disappointing 30% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes with critics sharing their mixed reaction to Costner’s passion project, for which the actor has risked it all.
Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga Opens to Disappointing Ratings
The four-part Horizon: An American Saga is another addition to Kevin Costner’s venture into the Western genre, following hits like Open Range, Dances With Wolves, and the hit TV series Yellowstone, which he left to finish his passion project.
However, despite the positive reception at the Cannes Film Festival, the film debuted with a disappointing 30% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 20 reviews. The epic Western saga has stirred a mixed bag of reactions from critics.
Some critics praised the film for its visual grandeur and ambitious scope, as Robbie Collin of the Daily Telegraph stated, “Part of the pleasure of Horizon is the sheer, magisterial sweep of the thing – with mountains and buttes and mesas like these, who needs CG? But its texture lives in small, telling details.”
However, others criticized its complex narrative, pacing issues, lack of deep character engagement, and essential storytelling elements. Esther Zuckerman from The Daily Beast shared her criticism, saying, “There is no arc to what happens, just the seemingly unending introduction of characters.”
The film has also received mixed to average ratings on Metacritic having a score of 50 out of 100, marking a divisive start to Costner’s four-part epic Western saga. The initial critical reception especially comes as a surprise as it contrasts significantly with the reaction the film received at its world premiere.
However, reports following its world premiere stated that the three-hour-long film also witnessed some walkouts. While some returned later, a significant number of people chose to skip the rest of the movie.
Fans React to Horizon: An American Saga’s Underwhelming Ratings
Fans have also shared their surprised reaction to the underwhelming critical response to Horizon: An American Saga. While some raised concern about the significant investment Costner has made in the film series, others pointed out the contrast between the critic score and the Cannes Film Festival reception of the movie.
If the critics rated it low, then it has a chance.
— CantSilenceTruth✝️🇺🇸💪 (@NiceTryWeirdos) May 27, 2024
And he spent millions of his own money on this? pic.twitter.com/ucNqRzmtJe
— Alexander Nevermind (@AlexNever347) May 27, 2024
If the critics rated it low, then it has a chance.
— CantSilenceTruth✝️🇺🇸💪 (@NiceTryWeirdos) May 27, 2024
I’m still going to see it
— Mitch Flatt (@FlattMitchell) May 28, 2024
It’s only 20 people… pic.twitter.com/837iBlNU37
— Eric Pellinen (@EricPellinen) May 27, 2024
Predictable.
And I can’t wait to watch it on opening day!
— Keith Garlington (@KeithandMovies) May 27, 2024
“What happened to that standing ovation?,” one X (Twitter) user said. However, many fans remained eager to see the movie, stating that they would go to see the film despite critics’ reception, with some even claiming, “If the critics rated it low, then it has a chance.”
Horizon: An American Saga is the first installment in Costner’s four-part film series, and follows the expansion of the American West during the American Civil War era. A sequel to the film, Chapter 2 will follow up on Chapter 1 and is scheduled to release August 16, 2024.
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is set to release on June 28, 2024.
