Today, Explained: Sound of Freedom is the surprise movie hit of the summer
Aug 17, 2023
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Discover how the movie 'Sound of Freedom' became a surprise hit, surpassing blockbuster films, and delve into its themes of child sex trafficking and the involvement of faith-based groups. Explore the challenges the filmmakers faced in finding a distributor and learn about the controversy surrounding the real-life inspiration behind the movie. Join the podcast to listen to personal experiences of confronting human trafficking and the discussion on the essay by Meg Conley, Tim Ballard's departure from Operation Underground Railroad, and Brad Smith's podcast.
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Quick takeaways
Sound of Freedom, a low-budget film distributed by Angel Studios, achieved surprising box office success, surpassing blockbuster movies.
The controversies surrounding Tim Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad raise questions about the effectiveness of anti-trafficking interventions and the movie's portrayal of the organization.
Deep dives
The Origins of Sound of Freedom
Sound of Freedom, a crime thriller film, originated from Angel Studios, a Utah-based content company that aims to provide clean and faith-adjacent films. Initially, the film was connected to Fox in Latin America for distribution, but after the Disney-Fox merger, it was left without a distributor. The filmmakers then connected with Angel Studios, and the movie became part of their production lineup. Angel Studios quickly raised five million dollars through a public offering to release and promote the film. The movie drew attention for its surprising success, outperforming blockbuster films at the box office, and raising questions about its unexpected popularity.
The Controversy Surrounding Operation Underground Railroad
The movie Sound of Freedom revolves around the real-life organization Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), which aims to combat child sex trafficking. However, there are criticisms and controversies surrounding Tim Ballard, the founder of OUR. A firsthand account from writer Meg Conley reveals concerns about the organization's methods and the questionable effectiveness of their anti-trafficking raids. Conley's experience raises questions about the impact of such interventions and whether they truly address the root causes of human trafficking. The controversies surrounding Ballard and OUR have contributed to a divided perception of Sound of Freedom.
The Role of Faith and Alternative Content
Angel Studios, the production company behind Sound of Freedom, has a mission to create family-friendly and faith-adjacent content. The company frames itself as an alternative to mainstream Hollywood, aiming to provide movies that have a soul and resonate with audiences. They have faced legal challenges in the past for cleaning up Hollywood films for family viewing. The success of Sound of Freedom and its strong message against sex trafficking has been attributed, in part, to its appeal to faith-based and conservative communities looking for meaningful entertainment aligned with their values.
A movie made for peanuts and distributed by a studio far outside the Hollywood system has done better box office numbers than both the new Mission Impossible and Indiana Jones movies. Sound of Freedom is about a rogue federal agent who goes to Colombia to break up a child sex trafficking ring. The conservative media love it. Faith-based groups love it. QAnon loves it. But how did this movie get made? And is the guy the movie based on the hero the movie makes him out to be? Recode Media sister podcast Today, Explained recently took on these questions. Listen in.
Host: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at Recode
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