‘Sound of Freedom’ Eyes Stunning $20 Million Debut
Child-trafficking thriller offers ultimate counter-programming to summer fare
The summer’s biggest disappointment – and sleeper – are hitting theaters within days of each other.
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” earned a measly $60 million at the U.S. box office over the weekend, combined with a lackluster global bow. Those numbers, paired with the film’s reported $295 million budget, mean Dr. Indiana Jones rides off into retirement in the red.
Meanwhile, a fledgling film studio’s second major release looks to score an impressive debut with a story unlike anything in the summer film marketplace.
“Sound of Freedom,” starring Jim Caviezel in a fact-based tale of child trafficking, already locked in $10 million in pre-sales before today’s official release. Angel Studios’ aggressive, pay-it-forward policy means it’s a likely hit before it graces a single screen.
The news is even better for the studio, which expanded beyond its small-screen offerings (Dry Bar Comedy, “The Chosen”) earlier this year with “His Only Son.”
The far-Left Deadline predicts “Sound of Freedom” will earn $20 million in its first six days of release on 2,600+ screens. That’s far fewer than “Dial of Destiny” (4,600) as well as south of most major film releases.
“Sound of Freedom” represents the ultimate in summer movie counter-programming. It’s serious, sober and a far cry from roller-coaster-style movies like “The Flash” and “Fast X.”
“Time and again, Angel fans have proven that they’ll support films that are entertaining and inspiring, and ‘Sound of Freedom’ is no exception,” said Jared Geesey, SVP of Global Distribution for Angel Studios in a statement. “We are now closer to our goal of selling two million tickets this opening week to symbolize the two million children who are trapped in the horrors of trafficking each year. ”
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The film isn’t getting much help from Rotten Tomatoes.
The release isn’t featured in the “new and upcoming” section on its front page. The slideshow-like gallery showcases 20 films (both obscure and mainstream titles) but leaves “Sound of Freedom” out.
The site’s critical roundup, as of early July 4, stands at an impressive 85 percent/99 percent “fresh” rating from critics/audiences.
Variety gave the film a hearty recommendation, but not before attacking both Christians and conservatives in its review.
“Sound of Freedom” has been heavily marketed on right-wing media, like Ben Shapiro’s Daily Wire, and — one of the grand subtexts of all of this — in taking on the issue of the horrific criminals who kidnap and traffic children, the film could be seen as adjacent to the alt-right paranoia that was originally stoked by 4Chan and QAnon: the wing-nut conspiracy theory about a Washington, D.C., pizza parlor being a front for a pedophile ring, extending into the larger conspiracy theory that says that the culture of liberalism is a racket to protect and cover up the actions of pedophiles.
Child trafficking is a shocking and sad reality, which means the critic’s tangent makes no sense.
That hardly seems to matter for “Sound of Freedom,” a fact-based story on track to give Summer 2023 its biggest sleeper success story.
Does make you wonder if perhaps the pizza parlor story was true after all. Hollywood has and is covering for the pedophiles in its midst and always has, who is kidding who here. The problem with liberalism is that it knows no bounds and leads to very dark places. Nothing new here, just reminding folks of “the evil that men do”.
Equating Liberalism to Pedophilia and pushing a conspiracy theory in a view to a movie for a political cause is exactly why no one can trust or take you weirdo Conservatives seriously.
It is better for you to tie cement to your leg and jump in a lake then to support ANYTHING against God’s children…is not word for word, but it is in the Bible… if you are still alive and reading this then you still have time to repent…
LOL
Karen, when’ju STOP carin’?
Sad
You’re calling conservatives weirdos? Lmfao. It’s liberals who have whitewashed pedophiles by calling them minor attracted person and can’t even define a woman. Who’s the weirdo?
Go see the movie.
This has nothing to do with politics. This kind of evil is across all aisles.
The pizza parlor story IS real.
Amazing eye opener!! Never imagined our country being the #1 in this horrible crime of sex trafficking our children!!!!
This movie get to the heart of children being exploited and we must not continue to turn a blind eye to this horrible crime being brought against our children. Wake up people, let’s help in sny way we can.
Eyeopener that will bring you to tears. You will leave heartbroken and angry. The most memorable line in this movie..
“God’s children are not for sale”…..
The problem is God’s children ARE for sale. This is what we must understand and stop.
You mean Michael Knowles, not the Ben Shapiro. He’s a shill, controlled opposition and a person that mocks Jesus.
Jim Caviezel is the opposite of Ben Shapiro, warm, genuinely a kind person, while Ben Shapiro is a cold, shrewd, snobbish, money first.
You seem nice. And not judgemental at all.
Sound of Freedom is hands down one of the best films of 2023. Watch it
I went to see it with my husband and sister. It is a powerful movie to watch! There were moments that everybody in the theater wanted to cry. It was done in a tasteful way to show the horrific abuse that children suffer in the hands of pedophiles. Highly recommend it, overall the best movie of 2023! We all need to do our part and raise awareness to the disgusting issue of child trafficking! I even ordered the t-shirts saying “Gods children are not for sale”. Do not worry that it will be graphic because there are no scenes showing any abuse. God bless Tim Ballard for being a real life hero!
I saw this movie and it was touching. I dated someone who transitioned herself out of adult entertainment. I provided a lot of emotional and mental support to her for over a year and a half. After an intervention she’s in a much better place. She was a victim of a kidnapping and got into meeting her first trick online at age 16.
It’s the best movie of 2023 no doubt.
I need to check this movie out sometime.
Yes. It was extremely good. Saw it yesterday.
Absolutely. This movie was movie and heart wrenching and Jim Caviezel was brilliant. Tim ballard is a true hero .Everyone should see this movie
Dear God please help the children. Many go missing everyday and are sexually, mentally, physically tortured then are used for adrenacrome and organs. The evil is deep and right in our faces. Time to fight for the survival of the children. ❤️
❤️
Extraordinary movie in a sea of Hollywood mediocrity and worse. Terrific acting, terrific edge of your seat real storyline, heartbreaking reality. May this be used to help save the children , humanity and the World from such evil. Boycott Disney and the other studios, who refuse to do the right thing and show these films.
Yes. Everyone that turns a blind eye to this horror should be held responsible by the people. Us. The whole world must come together to stop this. How can our Government allow this to happen? Build that damn wall asap! These innocent children should be brought to America to live not to be some sick adults toy. Stand up and fight for the children of the world.
This movie reflects the very sad reality that we live in everyday. This has been going on way to long as a result of the Deep State, The Cabal, The US GOVERNMENT and all governments tied to, and participating in these evil, and sickening activities, driven by satanic principles. All involved WILL PAY THE PRICE ! Military tribunals will end this.
ALL citizens / brothers and sisters MUST be active in saving OUR future. SAVE THE CHILDREN ! THEY ARE OUR FUTURE.
Will they donate to help in this. They did made a movie about it. We know it’s out there. Can this movie help the reality of what going on with this defenseless children. Can this movie help the rest of them. It’s truly up to humanity now or is there more pedophiles out there? Children are our future.
The man gave up his job and works with many many people to fund the mission work of Operation Underground Railroad. They have to pay to produce the movie and get it into theaters, but I am sure they are going to use whatever they gain to help children. They have been fundraising for years, the movie was produced in 2018 and they had to buy it back from Disney who shelved it when they bought 20th Century Fox in order to release it five years later. They’ve sacrificed a lot for children and to tell Miguel and Rocio’s story.
Tim Ballard started an organization called OUR to do exactly that.
https://ourrescue.org
Thanks for this! I was wondering what organization he was with.
He is also the CEO of The Nazarene Fund. This organization does much the same as OUR but is focused on rescuing enslaved Christians.
https://thenazarenefund.org/
I am1 of 4 owners of ArtForOUR.org, a registered non profit. Artists Against Sex Trafficking and Exploitation. Buy items there. 100% goes directly to Tim Ballard / Operation Underground Railroad (OUR). Also I will send the link to donate directly to OUR. It costs about $3,500 to rescue 1 child. I’m also one of 9,500 volunteers on their behalf. OURrescue.org
Angel Studios owns the movie now, not Tim. Jim Caviezel and Tim have been hitting the Christian based podcasts World wide. If you’re doing nothing, you’re part of the problem! Rise Up! 7-30 is World Trafficking Awareness Day. Make an impact.
Susie Webster
ArtForOUR@gmail.com
Maybe instead of spending 14 million on a movie they should have spent the money actually saving kids
Disagree! This movie has brought awareness to thousands who are now seeing the evil underbelly of the beast who consumes children for profit. This movie has opened my eyes. I now see what’s behind the curtain. It’s motivated me to invest my time and money to save our precious children from this atrocity. And there will be many like me. This is how you build a grassroots army. Kuddos to all who pushed to get this movie into theaters!
The arts are a way of informing people about what is happening in the world; the arts have been informing us for centuries. Before there was twitter or facebook there was Vermeer, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Fra Angelica, Tanner and many more. There is a place for and value in this movie.
If you didn’t know about the real facts about the making of this impressive movie, this is a true story, based on true facts, this is what’s going on right before our eyes, but goverments, governors,and high ranked officials are turning a blind eye side.
The man the lead character is based on has started an organization called Operation Underground Railroad. They have saved thousands, the youngest was 19 months old, the oldest I believe is 81 yrs old. The human trafficking, especially with children, is absolutely horrific. I hope that this movie is able to bring these atrocities to a more public light so that people don’t continue to believe they are just conspiracy theories.
I watch a lot of movies when they first come out. Some are good many are lousy. This is the best movie of 2023. I actually enjoyed it more than Indiana Jones. That is now my second favorite movie of 2023. Yes, my wife cried throughout the movie and I even heard others around me crying. It is a riveting incredible movie. The reason it is so amazing is that it is a true story. The person Tim Ballard is a modern day hero like no other. Please see this movie and join a movement to help those victims portrayed in the movie. The movie is over and my household is still talking about it when we got home. Incredible. . . Go see it!
It is truly a great movie and well done. Hopefully it will wake some up to the fact of what is really going on in the Child Sex Trafficking world. When I went this evening it was nearly a Full house .If you are going for an action packed shoot em up movie. This not the one you want to see. But it is really inspiring. And God Bless them for getting this out there .They hit so many road blocks trying to get this out. It was finished in 2018 and they were just now able to show. But not without a battle.
“culture of liberalism is a racket to protect and cover up the actions of pedophiles”
This sounds more like an admission and confession than a refutation, thus they have tainted their recommendation as I stated in my previous comment in the other article. They can’t bring themselves to like this movie because of associations with the Right that they further associate with the Alt-Right. Next thing, they’ll call it a GamerGate conspiracy.
YES
Agree
Absolutely. This movie was movie and heart wrenching and Jim Caviezel was brilliant. Tim ballard is a true hero .Everyone should see this movie
Agree I loved it and would see it again. I think the even Christians refuse to see for fear of their own selfish reasons..
Why would they
Way to make it NOT about sex trafficking. This isn’t a Christian-nonChristian topic. This is about evil. Something everybody should want to stop.
right
Like what reasons?
So if I understand you correctly, this movie “was movie”?
Amen! For anyone to criticize anything that hAs to do with the vile atrocities surrounding children being trafficked for labor, sex, organ harvesting and child sacrifice, yes you didn’t misunderstand me! I said child sacrifice and organ harvesting!! The sick perverts and pedophiles people can’t understand or imagine if they don’t believe in God because this is of the devil.
My wife, as a 3 year old prayed for god to come and rescue her from a church member whose wife baby sat her and her siblings. He performed oral sex on a 3 year old that wrecked her jaw for the rest of her life. She’s had six jaw surgeries and a titanium jaw replacement that has lead to a life of constant pain. She’s 65 now and is going back to the surgeon again for severe TMJ pain. Sorry, ain’t got no time for an imaginary guy in the sky. We’re on our own and hopefully the next child that’s being raped is saved, but isn’t gonna be by any god..
So True, wake up People? Remember-Look back at all the Milk Cartons in your days, if your over 35
I bet 45% of those kids were them,
This is far bigger than politics. This is about protecting and saving children.
Well put PP! Honestly, I’m surprised they even allow comments on here. This article showed up on my Google recommend feed which connects to dots between big tech and Hollywood! This movie needs to be shared far and wide. God’s children are not for sale….. Powerful statement indeed.