Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

‘Sound of Freedom’ becomes No.1 movie in America on July 4, beating Disney's 'Indiana Jones'
Christian Post ^ | 07/05/2023 | Jeannie Ortiga Law

Posted on 07/05/2023 8:50:46 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

"Sound of Freedom" hit theaters on Tuesday, and due to the "Pay It Forward" technology used by Angel Studios, the true-life thriller, which was reported as tied with Disney/Lucasfilm's "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," actually beat out the studio giant for the No.1 spot at the box office on Independence Day.

As recorded by Box Office Mojo, "Sound of Freedom" grossed over $14 million in total: $11.5 million in direct box office sales and $2.6 million from the Pay It Forward tickets sold through the July 4 holiday. According to Deadline, "Indiana Jones" brought in $11.698M in total despite showing in double the amount of theaters.

"Sound of Freedom," shown in only 2,600 theaters, tells the true story of one man's journey to combat child sex trafficking. The Angel Studios film is based on the life of Tim Ballard, a former U.S. Department of Homeland Security agent who left his job because he wanted to do more to rescue children from modern-day slavery.

The film delivers a bold message calling for the freedom of millions of children enslaved in human trafficking, declaring that "God's children are not for sale."

Directed by Alejandro Monteverde, "Sound of Freedom" stars Jim Caviezel ("Passion of The Christ"), Oscar winner Mira Sorvino ("The Final Cut"), Bill Camp ("12 Years a Slave") and José Zúñiga ("Twilight"). Along with acting in the film, Eduardo Verástegui ("Unplanned") is the film's producer.

The film received an A+ CinemaScore, an 85% critics score and a 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

"Thanks to fans around the country, 'Sound Of Freedom' earned the top spot as America's number one movie on Independence Day. We've received numerous messages telling us theaters are either packed or sold out. This movie has now taken on a life of its own to become something more than that, a grassroots movement," Neal Harmon, CEO of Angel Studios, shared in a statement with The Christian Post.

"With an A+ CinemaScore rating, we're the top-rated movie in America, and we're going to see word-of-mouth spread even further going into the weekend. The world needs to see 'Sound of Freedom,' and we know that our biggest competitive advantage — our incredible fans and investors — are going to make sure that happens."

Shot five years ago, "Sound of Freedom" was once signed with Disney but then dropped. Multiple Hollywood studios also rejected the film, but Angel Studios acquired worldwide distribution rights earlier this year and it is now a certified success.

The movie will have viewers at the edge of their seats, waiting to see what Ballard does next on his mission to reunite a vulnerable family whose worst nightmare comes to life when both children are taken captive for sex work. Featuring mild foul language and some violence, the film's scenes that are not shown but suggested have a haunting effect on audiences.

The studio wants families with teenagers to view the film together since teenagers should also be educated on the evils of the world.

At the Miami premiere of the film, Monteverde told CP that he takes what Jesus said to His disciples seriously in Luke 17:1-2: "It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble."

According to a report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development released in January, Mexico "ranks first in child sexual abuse; first in exploitation, homicides, and trafficking of minors; and first in creation and distribution of child pornography."

The United States was identified as the "number one consumer of sex worldwide," which includes child pornography, according to Geoff Rogers, co-founder of the United States Institute Against Human Trafficking, as quoted in a 2019 Fox News report.

Verástegui previously shared with CP that he wants to "put pressure on the government so these things become a prime priority, not just for the government, for everyone."

"What really hurts me the most is that the people who are doing this to these kids are human beings like you and me, made of the same. This is not people who are coming from other planets that are our enemies. This is people like us. So at what moment, what happened to these guys?" Verástegui continued. "They were kids at some point full of dreams. So what happened in what moment they decided to, 'You know what? I'm going to use my life to hurt kids.'"

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime defines human trafficking as any situation in which someone experiences "force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability, or giving payments or benefits to a person in control."

Multiple Hollywood studios rejected the film, but Angel Studios acquired worldwide distribution rights earlier this year.



TOPICS: Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: boxoffice; childtrafficking; soundoffreedom

1 posted on 07/05/2023 8:50:46 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I read it was held in limbo for five years.

Seems providential they were only able to release it now.


2 posted on 07/05/2023 9:05:24 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

The Walt Disney Company Reportedly Shelved Anti-Child Trafficking Film ‘Sound Of Freedom’ After Obtaining Rights In Merger With Fox


3 posted on 07/05/2023 9:11:57 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Haven’t seen the film and most likely won’t, I don’t need to.

https://bibleportal.com/verse-topic?v=Luke+17%3A1-2&version=NIV

Sexual predators, deviates and other perverts that prey
on kids, deserve no mercy what so ever.
Kill them all.
Their lives have no meaning.
Even God has given up on them.


4 posted on 07/05/2023 9:19:41 PM PDT by rellic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Indiana Jones and the Dead On Arrival.


5 posted on 07/05/2023 9:22:00 PM PDT by twister881
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

And the issue is way to the fore now thanks to crazy pushing sex stuff and perversity on kids and open border deluge.


6 posted on 07/05/2023 10:04:28 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
Were people really watching this movie on Independence Day?

I thought they would be watching fireworks.

7 posted on 07/05/2023 11:42:22 PM PDT by Jess Kitting
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jess Kitting

Some people think saving children is more important than fireworks.


8 posted on 07/06/2023 1:07:42 AM PDT by Craftmore
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I bet big lib Indy (Ford) got his money up front.


9 posted on 07/06/2023 1:34:18 AM PDT by citizen (Put all LBQTwhatever programming on a new subscription service: PERV-TV)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: citizen

$20 million up front PLUS a piece of the gross.

So he may make 30 million off of a BOMB of a movie.

Mission Impossible will push all the dud films out of a way. Embracing manliness and just entertainment over politics, the Cruise film will likely do 1.5B globally.


10 posted on 07/06/2023 4:03:10 AM PDT by TigerClaws
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Jess Kitting

I could hear fireworks over the movie in the theater.
Yes, folks were watching this movie instead of fireworks.


11 posted on 07/06/2023 5:20:32 AM PDT by RebelTXRose (Our Lady of Fatima, Pray for us! PRAY THE ROSARY!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: RebelTXRose
Yes, folks were watching this movie instead of fireworks.

Wow. That's amazing!

The show inside the theater was beating the show outside (at least for some people).

Here's some interesting information I found about the movie on Youtube:

JP & Tim Ballard Live: Bring Freedom to the Innocent

12 posted on 07/06/2023 6:23:24 AM PDT by Jess Kitting
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: RebelTXRose

That’s fantastic! We plan to see Sound of Freedom on Saturday.


13 posted on 07/06/2023 10:09:04 PM PDT by nutmeg (My 'pride flag' is the AMERICAN FLAG)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson