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. 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” (.