Academy Award-winning legend Kevin Costner's long-awaited western film, "Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1," had a disappointing opening weekend at the box office. The movie, which Costner stars in and directs, grossed only $4.1 million on its opening Friday, falling behind two major sequels, including John Krasinski's "A Quiet Place: Day One."

Costner's "Horizon," a passion project that has been in development for 30 years, followed in the footsteps of his previous directorial success, "Dances with Wolves," which earned him critical acclaim and multiple Academy Awards. However, "Horizon" failed to strike a chord with audiences, despite Costner's reputation and long-standing presence in the industry.

The tepid response from moviegoers translated into a lackluster performance at the box office. Despite its star power and anticipation, "Horizon" struggled to capture audience attention and fell short of expectations. The disappointing opening weekend figures cast doubt over the movie's potential success as a franchise.

Film critics have also been unfavorable towards "Horizon." On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the movie received a mediocre 68% audience score but garnered a dismal 39% from critics. The reception was not much better on Metacritic, where the film scored a slightly higher rating of 46/100.

Critics from The New York Times described the film as "busy" and "decentered," pointing out its crowded cast and multiple storylines that lacked context in its nearly three-hour runtime. The Guardian echoed similar sentiments, describing the movie as "oddly listless" and criticizing its lack of satisfying storytelling.

This setback comes as a surprise, considering Costner's recent success in the popular western drama series, "Yellowstone," which earned him a Golden Globe for best performance in a TV drama and a nomination for ensemble cast by the Screen Actors Guild in 2022. Costner reportedly earned a hefty $1.3 million per episode for his role in "Yellowstone," a job he left to pursue "Horizon."

It remains to be seen how the underwhelming performance of "Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1" will impact the future of the franchise. With a lukewarm reception from both audiences and critics, the film might face an uphill battle in gaining traction and recouping its investment.