Posted on 07/04/2023 9:14:50 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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. ”
RELATED: WHY ARE STUDIOS STILL AFRAID OF CHRISTIANITY?
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.
I LOVE your GOOD ol' COMMON SENSE.
God Bless You!
Sounds like a DS hit piece.
Spot on, Navymom!!
There is a concerted effort to try to keep people from seeing this movie. It would not surprise me that those people would show up on this forum.
I saw the movie on Monday. It was very well done. I would recommend people go see it.
FYI, the theater was very crowded when my wife and I went. Mostly an older crowd. I had to drive to an AMC theater I had never been to before about 40 minutes away from my house. I suspect most of the people in the theater did the same.
RE : Because ultimately it’s not about Ballard; it’s about the absolute evil of child trafficking and pray God putting a stop to it.
Lead actor Jim Caviezel said the same thing at the end of the movie.
He said it’s not about him ( the actor ) or Tim Ballard ( the man he portrayed), but the REALITY of the evil of child trafficking and modern slavery, which we must all stop.
Really??!! I didn’t know.
Coming into the U.S. through the Biden Regime’s open border policy are people making money by any means possible. Much of it illegal: under-the-table employment, illegal activities including illegal drug sales, prostitution and human slavery are among the criminal activities. For instance, a couple could make a ton of money selling off their young daughters to the Cartel sex-slave market. Homicides done to harvest organs for transplants will increase. Bank robberies will be a way of life. The list will grow with unimaginable atrocities.
All the while, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland spends all of his time trying to figure out how to protect the Biden Crime Family and his next move against President Trump.
Watch the movie. At the end of the credits, lead actor Jim Caviezel actually gave a 3 minute speech about why the movie was made.
Sounds like a plan!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.