Article Overview
After becoming a surprise box office hit, Sound of Freedom has found its streaming home on Prime Video with a December 26 release date.
The faith-based thriller, starring Jim Caviezel, is centered around the alleged true story of Tim Ballard, a former U.S. government agent battling against child trafficking. A highly competitive bidding war ensued for the streaming rights of Sound of Freedom, however, the specific amount paid by Prime Video has not been disclosed.
Sound of Freedom, the faith-based thriller starring Jim Caviezel, has finally secured a streaming platform after its surprising success at the box office over the summer. Inspired by the real-life events of Tim Ballard, a former U.S. government agent who fought against international child trafficking, the film received mixed reviews from critics but was a massive hit with audiences, becoming one of the highest-grossing independent movies in history with nearly $243 million in revenue, surpassing its $14.5 million budget.
After almost four months since its theatrical release, Prime Video has announced its acquisition of the rights to Sound of Freedom. The platform is set to release the movie on December 26, although the exact amount paid for the streaming rights remains undisclosed. The bidding war for the movie's streaming rights signifies the high demand it generated among streaming platforms, with Amazon emerging victorious in securing the rights.
Why Sound of Freedom's Streaming Release Is A Big Deal
Just a month after its release, rumors circulated that three streaming platforms were engaged in a fierce bidding war for the rights to Sound of Freedom, with estimates suggesting an eight-figure sum. Given the movie's success at the box office and its exceptional approval rating of 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, it's no surprise that there was such a rush to acquire the thrilling film in hopes of attracting the same enthusiastic audience and boosting subscription numbers.
What makes this intense competition even more intriguing is the movie's initial struggles to see the light of day. After Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, the project was put on hold, as the Latin American subsidiary of the latter had secured a distribution deal for the film. However, the creative team managed to regain the rights and eventually partnered with Angel Studios for its release. Despite resorting to equity crowdfunding for distribution and marketing, these efforts proved fruitful as the movie achieved massive success at the box office and set numerous records.
The streaming release of Sound of Freedom holds significant importance due to several controversies intertwined with the film. Apart from concerns regarding its factual accuracy and potential promotion of the QAnon conspiracy theory, there is the matter of Timothy Ballard, the main subject, who faced a sexual misconduct investigation in early 2023. Consequently, Ballard resigned from O.U.R., but the public remains unaware of the investigation's conclusion. Acquiring the movie rights has undoubtedly attracted a considerable audience to Prime Video's streaming library. However, it remains intriguing to witness the response from critics of Sound of Freedom towards this deal.
Furthermore, one of the investors involved with the film faced arrest as an accessory to child kidnapping. However, the charges were later dropped due to insufficient evidence, with the explanation being a purported "misunderstanding" among the child's family members.
Source: Variety
Editor's P/S
As an enthusiastic fan of "Sound of Freedom," I am thrilled to hear that the film has secured a streaming platform and will be released on Prime Video on December 26th. This faith-based thriller, starring Jim Caviezel, has been highly anticipated by audiences and has already proven to be a box office hit. The fact that it has sparked a competitive bidding war among streaming platforms is a testament to its popularity and potential for success.
The true story of Tim Ballard, a former U.S. government agent battling against child trafficking, is a powerful and inspiring one. The film's success at the box office and its high approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes indicate that audiences are drawn to this important and timely subject matter. I believe that the streaming release of "Sound of Freedom" will allow even more people to see this important film and raise awareness of the issue of child trafficking.