Controversial 2023 Crime Thriller Becomes AVOD Hit After $250M Box Office Success (2024)

Sound of Freedom has become a major hit on AVOD after its release in 2023. Directed by Alejandro Monteverde, Sound of Freedom is loosely based on real events, chronicling former government agent Tim Ballard's mission in South America to rescue children from human traffickers. Despite controversy surrounding the movie's star, Jim Caviezel, the Angel Studios crime thriller became a surprise box office success upon its release, adopting a unique marketing and release strategy.

Reelgood now reveals that Sound of Freedom ranks as the seventh most popular movie on AVOD (advertising-based video on demand) in the U.S. for the month of June. The film, which is available to watch on Angel Studios' own in-house streaming service, beats the likes of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Klute (1971), and Tenet (2020). Check out the full top 10 list below:

Sound Of Freedom's Controversy & Success Explained

How The Jim Caviezel Movie Became A Sleeper Hit

In addition to questions about just how true the movie's "true story" is, much of the controversy surrounding Sound of Freedom is due to Caviezel, the film's star. Caviezel has reportedly long supported or been linked to various harmful QAnon beliefs, most notably the idea that an international cabal of Satan-worshipping, liberal elites is abusing and killing children. Caviezel has, however, denied his ties to QAnon on multiple occasions. Monteverde, too, has previously expressed disappointment that the film was being associated with such claims.

Despite the controversy, Sound of Freedom was one of 2023's biggest surprises at the box office. The film was made on an estimated budget of just under $15 million, but it went on to earn $250.6 million worldwide. Reviews from critics were mixed, but the film played remarkably well with more conservative audiences, including Former President Donald Trump. In addition to positive word of mouth from audiences, Sound of Freedom also employed a unique promotional strategy that worked wonders.

Crucial to Sound of Freedom's success was Angel Studios' "pay-it-forward" campaign, in which viewers were encouraged to donate money to buy tickets for strangers, thus increasing the film's reach. Unique codes were sent and marketed to people around the country, with these codes redeemable for tickets on most major movie ticket websites. Sound of Freedom is sure to remain a controversial film, but it's ranking on the AVOD chart above suggests it continues to strike a chord with viewers.

Why Sound Of Freedom's "Pay-It-Forward" Campaign Was So Effective

How The Movie Became More Than Just Entertainment

Upon making it to the end of Ballard's story in Sound of Freedom, viewers were treated to a plea from Caviezel himself. The actor delivered a powerful call-to-action for those in the theater, encouraging them to donate and "pay it forward," purchasing tickets to help spread the film's positive message. The actor makes an impassioned plea for viewers to donate to show the world that "God's children are not for sale."

Earlier this year, Forbes reported that Sound of Freedom's pay-it-forward campaign generated a shocking $26 million in tickets. Of this, roughly $21.7 million worth of pay-it-forward tickets were redeemed by consumers. In total, these tickets account for about 9% of the film's total box office. Sound of Freedom, then, would have been a major success even without the pay-it-forward tickets, but the campaign speaks to a larger reason why the film had such impressive reach.

Instead of being pushed as a piece of entertainment, Sound of Freedom was marketed and received as a message and a moral endeavor. Supporting the movie financially became akin to helping children; donating or watching the movie became a heroic act that everyday Americans could participate in. While this certainly wasn't the first time a movie was presented in this way, this approach was remarkably successful for Sound of Freedom, especially because high-profile figures like Caviezel and Trump personally championed the project.

What Angel Studios Has Made Since Sound Of Freedom

The Jim Caviezel Movie Remains An Outlier

Angel Studios continues to make movies, but none have managed to repeat Sound of Freedom's success so far. Cabrini, which cost an estimated $50 million, grossed only $20.4 million earlier this year. Sound of Hope: The Story of Possom Trot was dubbed by Angel CEO Neal Harmon as the second in an "anthology of saving kids," per Newsweek. Despite partnering with conservative media outlet Daily Wire, Sound of Hope has not been able to repeat Sound of Freedom's success either, and it's generated only $9.9 million since its release earlier this month.

Clearly, then, Sound of Freedom generating $250 million remains an outlier for the Christian-based Angel Studios, despite their attempts to capture lightning in a bottle a second time. The Caviezel film, however, likely introduced the studio to many more people, and it's entirely possible that another project will come along that manages to strike a similar chord. For now, though, audiences are evidently enjoying revisiting Sound of Freedom on AVOD.

Source: Reelgood

Sound of Freedom

PG-13

Action

Biography

Drama

Where to Watch

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Based on the story of government agent Tim Ballard, Sound of Freedom is a dramatized-action film that follows Ballard as he heads to Colombia to break up a sex trafficking ring and save the children within it. After feeling like his work in the United States isn't having the intended effect, Ballard decides to investigate further, learning that a former victim is still being held captive in Colombia.

Director

Alejandro Monteverde

Release Date

July 4, 2023

Studio(s)

Santa Fe Films

Distributor(s)

Angel Studios

Writers

Rod Barr , Alejandro Monteverde

Cast

Jim Caviezel , Mira Sorvino , Bill Camp , Eduardo Verastegui , Javier Godino , José Zúñiga

Runtime

131 Minutes