Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1, intended as his follow-up to the hit series Yellowstone, has received mixed reviews following its premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
The film, which marks Costner’s return to directing Westerns, currently holds a 46% approval rating from 114 critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
Audience reactions have been more favorable, with a 71% user score on the same site and a B- CinemaScore.
Costner, a two-time Oscar winner known for his work in the Western genre, left Yellowstone after its fifth season.
He cited his commitment to Horizon as the reason for his departure from the popular TV series.
“After this long year and a half of working on Horizon… I just realized that I’m not going to be able to continue season 5B or into the future:” Costner told The Hollywood Reporter.
Yellowstone had been a ratings success for Costner, with its fifth season premiere drawing 12.1 million viewers in November 2022.
The show’s final episodes are set to air later this year.
While Horizon was positioned as Costner’s next major Western project, the initial critical response suggests it may face challenges in matching the widespread appeal of Yellowstone.
The film’s reception at Cannes and its upcoming box office performance will likely influence plans for future installments in Costner’s proposed Horizon saga.
