Costner’s Horizon Flop Lands on 2024 Biggest Losers List

As 2024 comes to a close, Hollywood is reflecting on the year’s biggest wins and losses. The Hollywood Reporter (THR) has compiled its annual list, which highlights the stars, films, and projects that either soared to success or crashed and burned. Among the names featured in the “Biggest Losers” category, filmmaker Kevin Costner stands out as a major disappointment this year, particularly due to the underperformance of his ambitious Western epic Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1.

Horizon, which opened in theaters on June 28, had high hopes for success. The film, part of a planned four-movie saga, was heralded as one of the most anticipated Western films of the year. However, its box office performance fell flat, grossing just $31 million globally by the end of its theatrical run in August. While any movie’s underwhelming box office performance is cause for concern, the situation for Costner is complicated by the fact that Horizon was only the first chapter of a larger narrative. With Horizon 2 already completed and Horizon 3 in production, the financial strain from the film’s failure will likely continue to mount.

The financial challenges surrounding Horizon extend beyond its disappointing box office return. According to THR, the production budget for the first chapter was a hefty $100 million, excluding prints and advertising costs. Costner, ever the committed filmmaker, put up $38 million of his own money to finance the project, with two private investors covering the remaining portion of the budget. However, there is some inconsistency in the reported figures for the movie’s budget. The Numbers reports that Horizon 1 had a production budget of $50 million, a figure which was also attributed to Horizon 2. If this is true, the financial loss might be more manageable than initially thought, but it still represents a significant setback for Costner and his backers.

The release of Horizon 2 further complicates matters. The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival on September 7, but Warner Bros.’ subsidiary New Line, which distributed Horizon 1, has yet to announce a release date for the second installment. Worse still, the critical reception of Horizon 2 has been far from favorable, with the film receiving harsh reviews following its Venice debut. This negative buzz casts doubt on the future of the Horizon franchise, as both Costner and the investors involved are left grappling with the mounting financial burden of the saga.

Costner’s struggles in 2024 are not unique, as THR also lists director Francis Ford Coppola as one of the year’s biggest losers. Coppola’s highly anticipated sci-fi epic Megalopolis underperformed dramatically, grossing just $12 million worldwide. Much like Costner, Coppola poured his personal finances into the project, sinking $100 million of his own money into the film after selling his winery to fund its production. The failure of Megalopolis has been a significant blow to Coppola, who had hoped the film would be a groundbreaking work, but its poor reception has left it in a difficult position.

THR’s list of Hollywood’s biggest losers also highlights Clint Eastwood, though his situation is somewhat different. At 94 years old, Eastwood directed what may be his final film, the critically acclaimed Juror #2. However, the film’s distribution was mishandled by Warner Bros., which failed to give it a proper release. Despite Juror #2 receiving positive reviews and marking a high point for Eastwood’s career, Warner Bros. refused to give the film the proper theater count or marketing support it deserved. THR’s James Hibberd criticized the studio for this treatment, questioning whether Warner Bros. would have security escort Eastwood off the lot with a cardboard box, given the film’s lack of promotional push. Eastwood’s experience reflects a frustrating trend in Hollywood, where even a legendary director like him can be sidelined by a studio’s mismanagement.

Another major disappointment in 2024, according to THR, was Joker: Folie à Deux, a film that saw a massive $200 million budget despite having a story that largely took place on just two sets. Despite the star power of Lady Gaga, the film grossed only $200 million worldwide, a far cry from recouping its costs. THR described the production as baffling, with its sky-high budget not matching its minimalistic setting. This miscalculation, combined with the film’s underperformance, left everyone involved with Folie à Deux in the “loser” category for 2024.

Despite the many disappointments, THR’s list of Hollywood’s biggest winners also highlights some notable successes. Zendaya, for example, continues to shine, with standout performances in Dune: Part Two and Challengers. Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez are also emerging as potential Oscar contenders for their roles in Wicked and Emilia Pérez, respectively. Another winner is Lindsay Lohan, whose career revival is marked by the success of her Netflix holiday movie Our Little Secret and her upcoming return to Freaky Friday in 2025.

Musical films also enjoyed success in 2024, with productions like Wicked, Moana 2, One Love, and Mean Girls all performing well at the box office. This wave of success in the genre underscores the continuing appeal of musical adaptations in Hollywood.

As 2024 winds down, the entertainment industry continues to reflect on the highs and lows of the year. For Costner, Coppola, and Eastwood, it has been a year of major setbacks, but for stars like Zendaya and Lohan, the future looks bright. Whether Horizon can recover with its future chapters remains to be seen, but for now, Costner’s place on THR’s Biggest Losers list is a stark reminder of how unpredictable the business of Hollywood can be.