Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024)
A multi-faceted chronicle details the epic expansion and settlement of the American West across the four tumultuous years of the Civil War (1861-1865). It tracks multiple interconnected families, soldiers, and Indigenous peoples whose lives intersect violently as they fight to claim territory and secure their futures in a rapidly changing nation.
Length: 3h1m
Genre: Western, Drama, Historical Epic
This Title is: Grand-Scale American Epic
Cast
Kevin Costner, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Will Patton, Jamie Campbell Bower
Parental Guidance
Maturity Rating: R – violence, some nudity and sexuality.
FAQ
- Is Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024) Based on a True Story?: No, but it is a multi-part historical epic that chronicles the factual period of the Civil War expansion and settlement of the American West.
- Where was Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024) filmed?: Utah, including the La Sal Mountains, Professor Valley, and the San Rafael Swell.
- Who Wrote the Soundtrack?: John Debney
Filmmaker Profile
Kevin Costner returns to the director’s chair for the first time since 2003’s Open Range, revisiting the Civil War era he explored in his Oscar-winning Dances with Wolves. His style is defined by sweeping visuals and an attention to historical detail.
Why It’s Worth Watching
This production successfully captures the vast, often brutal, majesty of the American frontier. The sheer scope, coupled with breathtaking cinematography of the Utah landscape, provides a deeply immersive spectacle. It is a welcome, traditionally styled Western with tremendous ambition, promising a massive scope yet to be fully realized.
Main Character Deep Dive
Hayes Ellison, played by Costner, is a lone horse trader whose journey is defined by self-reliance and unexpected kindness toward those displaced by conflict. The actor brings a world-weary gravity to the role, portraying the internal struggle of a man forced to choose between isolation and involvement in the fate of the settlers seeking land in the vast, unforgiving territory.
Unforgettable Quote
“There’s no one on Earth going to stop these wagons from coming.”
Trivia
- The project was an immense passion piece for director Kevin Costner, who originally conceived the idea for the story decades ago, before he even made Dances with Wolves.
- Kevin Costner invested approximately $38 million of his own personal fortune to help finance the sprawling production of the first two chapters.
- The production was shot back-to-back with Chapter 2 as part of a four-part saga, which is intended to cover a twelve-year span of American history.
Trailer
Streaming Link
Stream Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024) on:
Our Review
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I found this picture to be a magnificent experience, a true throwback to the grand, ambitious Westerns of the past. The immense scale is immediately apparent, delivering rich spectacle through stunning photography and massive production design. Kevin Costner’s commitment to this sprawling story shines through, crafting characters who instantly feel authentic to the historical era. I was particularly impressed by the sheer sense of geography; the vast Utah locations become characters in themselves, making the struggles of the settlers feel immediate and monumental. The direction is assured, balancing large-scale battles with intimate human moments of loss and hope. The performances across the huge cast are superb, anchoring the wide array of storylines and making me genuinely invested in where the saga goes next. It is a powerful historical drama that captures the complexity and cost of pioneering new ground.
Who Should Watch This?
Stream it if you crave an old-school, large-scale Western drama focused on the harsh realities of settlement and featuring top-tier scenic and historical detail.
