Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon’ Finds Redemption at Home

Vindication for critics who thought Kevin Costner’s epic “Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1″ (Warner Bros.) felt more like a TV drama: It was an immediate #1 on VOD top 10 lists.

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The first of a planned four-film series, with the second already completed (and now delayed after the postponement of its August release ), it showed poorly in theaters with $28.5 million in U.S./Canada after its fourth weekend. Its rapid transition to home viewing after 18 days (standard for Universal beyond its biggest hits) looks like a smart move: It suggests there is an audience, although perhaps not one eager to watch the 181-minute epic in a theater.

This could help the troubled project gain traction, get it out of the red (the combined production cost of the two films is a reported $100 million, before marketing), and increase interest for “Chapter 2,” wherever/whenever it plays.

Military rescue thriller “Land of Bad” — starring Luke and Liam Hemsworth with Russell Crowe — leads at Netflix. For the second straight week, the streamer’s top film is an independent distributor’s recent wide release with an under-$10-million theatrical total. Last week, golf drama “The Long Game” starring Jay Hernandez was #1. They illustrate a common Netflix phenomenon: films with minor theatrical impact and awareness, but just enough to elevate them while feeling like originals to many.

VOD charts otherwise were little changed from last week. New this week is “Thelma” (Magnolia) , #8 at iTunes at $9.99 and “Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three” (WB), another DC Comics animated made-for-home offering, #8 at Vudu for $5.99.

“The Long Game” fell to #5 on a list that includes three originals. Those are led by “Find Me Falling,” with Harry Connick Jr. as a rock star trying to make a comeback (while hiding out in Cyprus) at #2. And then there’s the 2020 “Hillbilly Elegy,” still riding high.

Ron Howard’s adaptation of J.D. Vance’s best-selling memoir has been on the top 10 since the day after Vance’s Vice Presidential selection, getting as high as #2. The film, which deals with the Ohio senator’s pre-political days, likely will be a force in shaping voter views on the Senator.

In its third week, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” is still #6 at Netflix. Animation, as always, is strong, with last Christmas’ “Trolls Band Together” at #3 and joining the streamer as part of its ongoing Universal deal.

Top 10s

iTunes ranks films daily by number of transactions, while Fandango at Home lists by revenue. The listings below are for Monday, July 15 (iTunes) and the week of July 15-21 (Fandango).

The distributors listed are current rights owners. Prices for all titles are for lowest for either rental or download.

iTunes

1. Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1 (WB) – $19.99

2. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Disney) – $19.99

3. Civil War (A24) – $4.99

4. The Bikeriders (Focus) – $19.99

5. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (Lionsgate) – $9.99

6. Twister (WB) – $3.99

7. Challengers (Amazon MGM) – $5.99

8. Thelma (Magnolia) – $9.99

9. The Garfield Movie (Sony) – $19.99

10. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (WB) – $24.99

Fandango at Home

1. Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter 1 (WB) – $19.99

Zac Efron -- and Zac Efron -- Reteam with A24 for Jody Hill Thriller

2. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Disney) – $19.99

3. The Garfield Movie (Sony) – $19.99

4. The Bikeriders (Focus) – $19.99

5. IF (Paramount) – $12.99

6. Civil War (A24) – $5.99

7. Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths – Part Three (WB) – $5.99

8. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (WB) – $24.99

9. Twister (WB) – $3.99

10. The Fall Guy (Universal) – $19.99

Netflix Movies

These are the most-viewed, current rankings on Netflix’s domestic daily chart on Monday, July 22. Originals include both Netflix-produced and acquired titles it initially presents in the U.S. Netflix publishes its own worldwide weekly top 10 on Tuesdays based on time viewed , and usually includes films for which it doesn’t have domestic rights.

1. Land of Bad (2024 theatrical release)

2. Find Me Falling (Netflix original)

3. Trolls Band Together (2023 theatrical release)

4. Hillbilly Elegy (2020 Netflix original)

5. The Long Game (2024 theatrical release)

6. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (Netflix original)

7. Minions (2015 theatrical release)

8. Shrek (2001 theatrical release)

9. Fifty Shades Freed (2018 theatrical release)

10. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023 theatrical release)