Kevin Costner's flop lands him on Hollywood's biggest losers list

In 2024, the Hollywood entertainment industry faced significant scrutiny as several high-profile films failed to achieve box office success. Among those highlighted was Kevin Costner's film Horizon, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival on September 7. Despite initial anticipation for the film, it was categorized as a flop, leading to substantial financial losses for Costner, who had personally invested $38 million in the project. The Hollywood Reporter identified Costner as one of the biggest losers in Hollywood, citing the film's estimated production budget of $100 million—and the added costs from prints and advertising—as contributing factors to the dire financial outcome. Horizon was intended to be the first installment of a four-movie saga, with Horizon 2 already completed and Horizon 3 in production. However, due to the disappointing performance of the first film, the future of the entire series is uncertain. Reports suggest a wide range of financial interpretations regarding the production budget, with some sources estimating it at as low as $50 million. In addition to Costner's struggles, Francis Ford Coppola was similarly criticized for his ambitious project Megalopolis, which grossed only $12 million at the worldwide box office. This film, too, had high production costs and was self-financed by Coppola, amplifying the stakes for the veteran filmmaker. The Hollywood Reporter quantified the scale of the losses in recommendation by including both Coppola and Costner in their assessment of Hollywood's biggest losers for the year. The entertainment landscape highlighted complexities around financing and what constitutes a successful box office return. This year's observations brought forward critical discussions regarding the sustainability of high-budget productions and their reception in theaters. As Hollywood navigates an ever-evolving landscape, both critics and audiences remain engaged in conversations about performance metrics and what determines the viability of significant film projects.