Surprise Hit ‘Sound Of Freedom’ Moves Up In Box Office Rankings—Grossing $85 Million Despite Controversy

Forbes Business Breaking Surprise Hit ‘Sound Of Freedom’ Moves Up In Box Office Rankings—Grossing $85 Million Despite Controversy Ana Faguy Forbes Staff I cover breaking news. Following Jul 16, 2023, 05:06pm EDT | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline Sound of Freedom —the crowd-funded film based on a former government agent’s pursuit to rescue child sex trafficking victims—moved up the box office ranking in its second weekend in theaters, a rarity for movies and a sign of the strong support for the film, particularly from right-wing audiences, despite the scrutiny it has faced for its lead actor’s ties to conspiracy theories. ‘Sound of Freedom’ has earned $85 million since it opened in theaters on July 4.

Fred Hayes/Getty for Angel Studios Key Facts Sound of Freedom took home the No. 2 spot at the box office this weekend, earning $27 million from Friday to Sunday and over $85 million overall since it opened in theaters on July 4, according to Box Office Mojo. The seventh Mission: Impossible movie earned the No.

1 spot, at $56. 2 million. Last weekend, Sound of Freedom grossed $19.

7 million in U. S. theaters and came in third place behind horror film Insidious: The Red Door and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny— but Sound of Freedom outpaced both movies this weekend while boosting its Friday-to-Sunday earnings by some $7.

3 million week-to-week. Sound of Freedom is now the 18th highest-grossing film this year in terms of U. S.

sales, trailing big-budget films by major studios like The Flash , Elemental and Fast X , but outpacing Cocaine Bear and 80 for Brady , according to Box Office Mojo . Big Number 72%. That’s the critics’ score the film received on Rotten Tomatoes .

Key Background The film is based on the true story of Tim Ballard, a former Department of Homeland Security agent, who tries to save children who have been sex trafficked. Ballard reportedly has not claimed to conduct a mission exactly like the one in the film, but the movie ends with a montage from Ballard’s organizations’ real missions in Colombia. Chief Critic The film has been criticized for its the way it portrays child exploitation and because both Ballard and Jim Caviezel, who plays him in the film, have expressed openness to QAnon or similar conspiracy theories in the past.

Ballard previously appeared open to a debunked theory that the furniture retailer Wayfair was selling children. Meanwhile, Caviezel has spoken at multiple QAnon events where he promoted the adrenochrome conspiracy theory , which claims child trafficking rings drain their victims’ blood to harvest adrenochrome—a chemical some conspiracy theorists believe people in Hollywood inject to stay young. Additionally, the organization Ballard founded, Operation Underground Railroad, has allegedly exaggerated its role in sex-trafficking rescues, according to a Vice investigation.

Multiple law enforcement agencies told Vice Operation Underground Railroad’s role was “insubstantial. ” Contra Angel Studios, the film’s distributor, has denied the film is connected to conspiracy theories. But nevertheless the film has been the talk of the town among many right-wing pundits, including conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, who interviewed both Ballard and Caviezel on his YouTube channel.

Right-wing pundit Ben Shapiro also hosted the pair on his show. Even former President Donald Trump shared a link to the film’s trailer on Truth Social earlier this month. Further Reading Box Office Hit ‘Sound Of Freedom’ Controversy—Including QAnon Ties And False Claims Theaters Are Sabotaging Screenings—Explained ( Forbes ) The Adrenochrome Conspiracy Theory—Pushed By ‘Sound Of Freedom’ Star—Explained ( Forbes ) Send me a secure tip .

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