‘Sound of Freedom’ Tops Box Office on Fourth of July Opening Day

Image from "Sound of Freedom" which stars Jim Caviezel. The movie was released nationwide on July 4, 2023. Courtesy Angel Studios

“Sound of Freedom,” a new human trafficking action film, achieved the top spot at the box office in America on its opening day, the Fourth of July.

According to Box Office Mojo, a website that tracks box-office revenue, “Sound of Freedom” took the spot for the highest grossing film on July 4, at $14.24 million. In second spot was “Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny,” which opened on June 30, at $11.70 million, and in third was “Elemental” at $2.80 million.

Of the $14.24 million for the film, some $2.68 million came in via a “pay it forward” campaign sold through the July 4 holiday, which means the remainder $11.56 million came through direct box office sales.

“Sound of Freedom” sheds light on the rapidly expanding business of child trafficking in the United States. It focuses on the true story of a special agent who quits his job to save children from trafficking.

Jim Caviezel, actor in the new human trafficking film "Sound of Freedom,” speaks during an interview in Washington on June 21, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The film stars Jim Caviezel, best known for his performance as Jesus Christ in “The Passion of the Christ” in 2004. Caviezel had insisted on the specific release date of July 4.

“For some reason, that Fourth of July thing was really important,” Caviezel said in a recent interview with EpochTV’s “American Thought Leaders.”

“And really it is: Can we give these children back their freedom on our Independence Day?”

In the film, Caviezel plays Tim Ballard, who left his job at the Department of Homeland Security in 2013.

Ballard had since founded Operation Underground Railroad, a non-profit organization that works with law enforcement around the world to rescue children from exploitation and help survivors recover.

Jim Caviezel (L), actor in the new human trafficking action film "Sound of Freedom,” and Tim Ballard (R), a former Department of Homeland Security special agent and founder of Operation Underground Railroad, speak during an interview in Washington on June 21, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Both Caviezel and Ballard told “American Thought Leaders” that what the film depicts is based on real events and people.

“I will say, it is a true story, absolutely,” Caviezel said. “Every character is real. Every bad guy is real.”

“At the end of the film … it showed all the good guys, the bad guys, the kids, and it said where they are today,” said Ballard. “We know where they are. Those are real kids, every one of them. Some of them work for us. Some of them have actually rescued people from human trafficking as young adults.”

In a recent interview with The Epoch Times, Caviezel said “Sound of Freedom” is his most important film since “The Passion of the Christ.”

“It’s the best thing I’ve done since that film. Quality-wise, acting-wise, there’s not a flaw,” he said.

Image from "Sound of Freedom" movie, which was released on July 4, 2023. Courtesy Angel Studios

“Sound of Freedom” was shot in 2018 in Cartagena, Colombia. It was produced by 20th Century Fox. When Disney acquired the studio in 2019, Disney decided to shelve the film. Angel Studios, headquartered in Provo, Utah, picked up the movie after negotiations and garnering enough funds.

Caviezel, in a special on-screen message upon the film’s conclusion, said he believes that Sound of Freedom can be the “‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ of 21st-century slavery.”

He noted that the film, although shot five years ago, “wasn’t released til now, with every roadblock that you can imagine being tossed in the way.”

Neal Harmon, CEO of Angel Studios, said in a statement: “Thanks to fans around the country, Sound of Freedom earned the top spot as America’s number one movie on Independence Day. We’ve received numerous messages telling us theaters are either packed or sold out. This movie has now taken on a life of its own to become something more than that, a grassroots movement.

“With an A+ CinemaScore rating, we’re the top-rated movie in America, and we’re going to see word-of-mouth spread even further going into the weekend,” he added.

“The world needs to see SOUND OF FREEDOM, and we know that our biggest competitive advantage—our incredible fans and investors—are going to make sure that happens.”