BY JAMIE BURTON
The movie Sound of Freedom has given Hollywood a major wake-up call as the small-scale production beat blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and Indiana Jones at the summer box office.
Despite claims of “audience suppression” and years of uncertainty surrounding its release, Sound of Freedom has dramatically exceeded expectations, taking in almost $175 million at the box office. One industry expert believes Sound of Freedom’s success can be attributed to “the forgotten viewers” who came out in force to support the movie.
The action drama, which takes aim at a global child trafficking network, has caught industry insiders unaware, as the producers Angel Studios, along with a crowdfunding campaign, have helped Sound of Freedom achieve huge financial success.The summer season was supposed to be dominated by Barbie, Oppenheimer, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, but instead Sound of Freedom has emerged to comfortably take the third spot on that list.
From left, Tim Ballard pictured at “Sound of Freedom’s” Utah premiere, and AMC Theaters in New York City. The film has become a surprise hit at movie theaters in the U.S. despite claims theaters were “suppressing” audiences.FRED HAYES / ROY ROCHLIN/GETTY IMAGES FOR ANGEL STUDIOS
Released on the Fourth of July, Sound of Freedom immediately grabbed the top spot at the box office from Harrison Ford who was starring in his fifth Indiana Jones caper, while later on that month, Tom Cruise felt the force of Sound of Freedom as it overtook the seventh Mission: Impossible too. At the time of writing, Sound of Freedom has now overtaken both at the North American box office.
‘Disrupting’ Hollywood’s Plan
“Believe it or not, on July 21, the biggest summer box office weekend of which Oppenheimer, Barbie and Mission: Impossible were supposed to run away with the box office dollars, one film, Sound of Freedom managed to disrupt Hollywood’s plan to capture ticket sales,” director and producer Stefano Da Frè told Newsweek.
Perhaps Da Frè can further appreciate Angel Studios’ success as he himself is the president of his own production company, Rosso Films International.
Sound of Freedom tells the story of Tim Ballard, the real life former American government agent who created the anti-child sex trafficking organization, Operation Underground Railroad. The movie stars Jim Caviezel as Ballard, and celebrities like Mel Gibson offered their support ahead of its launch.