Kevin Costner's "Horizon" faces box office setback but eyes Oscar nods

Kevin Costner showcased his two-part project at major European film festivals. "Horizon: Chapter 1 premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and a few months later, the Hollywood star traveled to Venice to present "Horizon: Chapter 2."

The ceremonial screening of the film in Cannes, where Costner served as producer, director, screenwriter, and lead actor, concluded with ten minutes of standing ovations. However, journalists remarked that the applause seemed more for the creative effort than the film itself. Reviews were unkind to Costner's magnum opus. Weeks later, the movie, which cost about 100 million dollars, underperformed in theaters, earning only 38 million dollars worldwide.

The failure was particularly significant in European markets, where Costner had traditionally found support when his films faltered in the U.S. (as with Waterworld). Internationally, Horizon: Chapter 1 grossed just 9 million dollars.

Further disappointment awaited Costner at the Venice festival, where the second installment of the saga received a lukewarm reception (three minutes of applause). To add to the woes, reports surfaced that the planned American premiere of Horizon: Chapter 2 at the end of September had been canceled, and the film had been pulled from theatrical distribution.

Nevertheless, Kevin Costner remains undeterred. "I've made many films that have stood the test of time. Some didn’t succeed upon release but were appreciated later," he said in an interview, announcing plans to produce two more films in the saga. "I don't know how I'll do it, but I'll manage," the actor concluded.

Meanwhile, "Horizon: Chapter 1" has found its way onto the Oscar shortlist for best music, composed by John Debney. It's possible the film could also secure 2-3 nominations in other technical categories.