News

Tim Ballard, the anti-trafficking activist who made his name with wildly exaggerated “rescues” of victims abroad, has faced a mountain of legal woes since he was forced out of Operation Underground Railroad, the organization he founded, over allegations of misconduct. But a recent ruling gives him one less sexual assault lawsuit to contend with.

Judge Todd Shaughnessy of Utah’s Third District Court dismissed the action from Celeste Borys, Ballard’s former assistant at Our — since rebranded as Our Rescue — on the grounds that Borys had improperly accessed Ballard’s...

Angel Studios, the faith-based media company that distributed the breakout hit Sound of Freedom in 2023, is facing a lawsuit for breach of contract. It’s yet another example of creative partners claiming that the streaming and entertainment giant, which went public last fall at a valuation of $1.6 billion and has built a following among American conservatives, is in the habit of screwing over the smaller producers it works with, aggressively co-opting their original content to magnify the Angel brand.

Slingshot, the production company behind the Angel-backed animated series Young David and forthcoming companion film David,...

Exclusive: Angel Studios’ upcoming animated family faith-based feature The King of Kings, opening Friday at the domestic box office, is already counting north of $7.8 million in pre-sales, we hear.

That figure eclipses the presale number at the same point in time for Angel’s surprise 2023 hit Sound of Freedom, which posted a three-day total of $19.6M and a six-day of $41.6M. The action drama about Tim Ballard, a government agent-turned-vigilante, went on to make $184M domestic and $250M worldwide.

As part of the promo for The King of Kings, Angel has announced a special “Kids Go Free” campaign that allows families to receive up to one free children’s ticket with the purchase of a qualifying adult ticket when they visit Angel.com/kidsgofree and using the code Kidsgofree.

The “Kids Go Free” campaign is powered by Angel Studios’ pay-it-forward community. Fans of the studio’s previous releases — including Sound of Freedom,...

Sound of Freedom was one of the most polarizing movies from 2023, partially because of its marketing campaign and its connection to conspiracy theories that somewhat diluted the film's message. A Christian thriller, Sound of Freedom stars Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard, a former U.S. government agent who sets out on a mission to rescue children from sex traffickers in Colombia. The main plot centers around Ballard’s Operation Underground Railroad (Our), an anti-sex trafficking organization he founded in 2013.

Sound of Freedom was a huge success, making $250 million against a $14.5 million budget, making it one of history's most successful independent films. The marketing, however, faced criticism since many sold-out theaters were empty thanks to Angel Studios asking people to do a “pay-it-forward” deal, where they would buy a ticket for someone who couldn’t attend otherwise and support the movie (via Deadline). However, the biggest criticism was aimed at the...

Tim Ballard, the anti-trafficking activist whose wildly exaggerated missions abroad were the basis of the hit 2023 film Sound of Freedom, is facing a new legal action from six women who last year sued him for sexual exploitation — leading Ballard to sue them for defamation earlier this month.

The latest complaint is the first federal suit targeting Ballard; it comes from accusers Celeste Borys, Mary Hall, Sasha Hightower, Krista Kacey, Kira Lynch, and Bree Righter. The filing names Ballard associates Matthew Cooper and Michael Porenta, as well as Ballard’s former organization,...

Actor Jim Caviezel has been in the business since the early ‘90s. While he gained notoriety as an able supporting actor, he hit it big with The Thin Red Line and went on to perform in his most famous role to date The Passion of the Christ. The actor’s struggles while filming Mel Gibson’s Biblical epic is nothing short of a pop culture legend.

Caviezel has worked with a host of acclaimed filmmakers over the years. While he had early roles in Lawrence Kasdan’s Wyatt Earp and Gus Van Sant’s My Own Private Idaho, he gained prominence when he worked with the likes of Terrence Mallick, Ang Lee, and Tony Scott. Here are ten of his best roles in film and TV.

1. Person of Interest

Jonathan Nolan’s post-9/11 surveillance drama is one of the best-rated shows in TV history. It follows the story of ex-...

Quick Links The Role of Katherine in Sound of Freedom Mira Sorvino on Katherine and Child Trafficking

Actress Mira Sorvino has steadily made her mark in the film industry since the early '90s, appearing in over 20 films, including Mighty Aphrodite (1995), Summer of Sam (1999), The Final Cut (2004), and Netflix's After We Fell (2021). Known for her artistic range and authenticity in her performances, Sorvino has continued to take on significant roles in recent years. This includes Sound of Freedom (2023), a film that follows a former CIA agent named Tim Ballard who decides to go on a mission to rescue children from human traffickers in Latin America.

Katherine Ballard, Tim's wife, is played by Sorvino. Based on the true story of Tim's mission, Katherine provides unwavering support to Tim as he embarks on a dangerous journey. The film is controversial and dramatized, with push back against its alleged ties to QAnon and right-wing ideologies.

This article contains discussions of sex trafficking.

Tim Ballard, the real-life inspiration behind Sound of Freedom, faced legal problems and resigned as CEO of Operation Underground Railroad due to sexual assault allegations. The real-life counterparts of the Ballards in Sound of Freedom have faced legal difficulties, including accusations of promoting a "couples ruse." The character of Vampiro in the movie is based on a former criminal who goes by the nickname Batman.

The characters in Sound of Freedom are reportedly inspired by real people, leaving many to wonder what they're up to now. The movie chronicles the work of Tim Ballard, a former Department of Homeland Security official, who tries to rescue human trafficking victims. Ballad works alongside colleagues and police task forces from Colombia, and some other people featured in the film have real-life counterparts, too. The people Sound of Freedom's characters are based on have led interesting...

Quick Links Sound of Freedom Is a Victim of Its Own Success Who Owns the Sound of Freedom Sequel Rights? A Sound of Freedom Sequel Needs Jim Caviezel

When the Christian thriller film Sound of Freedom was released last summer, no one could imagine that it would become the surprise box-office hit of 2023 and the past decade, especially since the film was distributed and marketed through a crowdfunding campaign launched by Angel Studios, a fledgling film distribution and production company with no track record of major box-office success.

Of course, Sound of Freedom defied all expectations by outperforming the summers supposed blockbusters, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One, both of which had production costs in the vicinity of $300 million. In comparison, Sound of Freedom was produced for less than $15 million. Given the unexpected blockbuster success of the movie, which stars Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard,...

Sound of Freedom thrives on AVOD platforms, sparking conversations and reaching wider audiences a year after its release. Distributor Angel Studios' "pay-it-forward" strategy may have inflated box office numbers, but the film remains popular on AVOD. Controversies surrounding the accuracy of Tim Ballard's story and sexual misconduct allegations have not deterred audiences from watching.

The 2023 Christian thriller Sound of Freedom made waves last year as a controversial and highly talked about film, and continues to be a success even now. A year later, the Alejandro Monteverde hit is still drawing audiences, turning it into one of the most-watched films on advertising-based video on demand (AVOD). Sound of Freedom has divided audiences across political lines, garnering mixed reviews from critics but garnering an almost perfect audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Sound of Freedom was inspired by the true story of Tim Ballard and his quest to end child sex trafficking.

Sound of Freedom ranks seventh on a new chart of the top 10 AVOD movies in the U.S. in June. The crime thriller has been mired in various controversies since its release, many of which relate to star Jim Caviezel and his reported association with select QAnon beliefs. Employing a unique "pay it forward" system, Sound of Freedom was a major hit with more conservative viewers, becoming a surprise box office success.

Sound of Freedom has become a major hit on AVOD after its release in 2022. 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...

Updated With Daily Wire Statement: Black Panther star Letitia Wright, who is an executive producer on the faith-based movie Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot, recently issued a statement on social media, distancing herself from the film’s conservative partners The Daily Wire.

Wright was reportedly getting dinged on social about being affiliated with the org, which claims was “not my decision” after Angel Studios took on distribution of the movie which tells the true story of a Texas church which adopted 70 foster kids.

Wright posted on Instagram, “To be clear, after we completed the production of this film, Angel Studios were brought on board to handle its distribution and they later partnered with The Daily Wire. That was not my decision, and I was not given an update or made aware of this decision. I am in no way aligned or affiliated with The Daily Wire.”

“It...

Independent media company and film distribution studio Angel Studios will provide early access for its upcoming film “Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot” to audiences with a special free screening June 19 as part of AMC’S Juneteenth programming initiative.

Starring “Euphoria” actor Nika King and executive produced by Letitia Wright, the film is inspired by the true story of a small community in East Texas that embraced kids in the foster system no one else would adopt. With the help of Donna Martin and her husband Bishop Martin, 22 families adopted 77 children in the town.

AMC Theatres has hosted its Celebration of Juneteenth program, a special presentation of movies from Black filmmakers, for the past few years. In 2023, Stephen Williams’ “Chevalier” and A.V. Rockwell’s “A Thousand and One” were screened throughout the week of Juneteenth.

The free screenings are in conjunction with Angel Studios’ Pay it Forward program,...

Alejandro Monteverde delivered Angel Studios its top hit ever with Sound of Freedom, one of 2023’s biggest theatrical success stories with more than $250 million at the global box office. Now, the faith-based outfit has signed the director to a rich overall deal with some curious terms, including the purchase of a multimillion-dollar home for him.

According to Angel Studios SEC filings that lay out the terms of the deal, Monteverde, 46, has inked a 10-year agreement with the faith-based studio that will see him direct five to 10 theatrical films. It comes during a time of industry contraction that is seeing traditional Hollywood companies jettison expensive overall deals.

But this deal comes with some interesting stipulations. The potential films from Monteverde will have to be deemed “theatrical worthy” in a rating system from the Angel Guild, the studio’s paid membership service that gives members (now numbering more than 300,000, per the company...

Alejandro Monteverde’s last movie, the wildly profitable Christian thriller “Sound of Freedom,” was dogged by accusations that its anti-trafficking hero was himself guilty of fraud and grooming — a tough break for a piece of conspiracy-driven Maga theology that purported to shine a light on the secret cabal of sex criminals who are hiding in plain sight. Monteverde presumably had no way of knowing that Tim Ballard would become the target of a criminal investigation and get ousted from the very organization that “Sound of Freedom” exists to valorize, but his follow-up feature — shot in 2021 — seems designed to avoid any hint of a similar controversy.

Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini may not have been as pure and perfect a soul as Monteverde’s biopic imagines she was, but the director can rest easy in the knowledge that his newest subject is a literal saint. At this point, more than a century after Cabrini’s death,...

No one expected Sound of Freedom to make such a big splash at the North American box office last summer. Nevertheless, this long-shelved drama starring Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard, the controversial head of Operation Underground Railroad, out-grossed Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, as well as Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning. But, the film wasn’t without controversy, with many online assuming it was somehow linked to QAnon, something the director Alejandro Monteverde denied, saying the goal of the movie was to expose child sex trafficking and that it was never intended to be a political film.

Now, Monteverde is back with perhaps an even more ambitious film, Cabrini, which is based on the life of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American citizen ever to be canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church. To mark the film’s release, we sat down with Monteverde to discuss...

There had been some grumblings around town that “Sound of Freedom” was only a box-office hit because of Angel Studios’ Pay-It-Forward system, in which moviegoers could effectively buy another ticket for a complete stranger. Angel Studios just cleared that talk right up.

In a Monday blog post, Angel broke down “Sound of Freedom’s” near-$250 million global box-office haul. The donation system brought in $26.1 million in contributions from individuals, which was enough for 1.82 million free tickets. Not all of them were redeemed.

In all, $21.7 million of that $26.1 million was actually claimed and used for tickets, which means roughly 9 percent of the film’s quarter-billion-dollar box-office revenue box came from strangers prepaying for strangers. The usage rate was twice that on opening day gross.

The system proved quite lucrative for Angel Studios — but it was not pure profit. The company spent $6.4 million marketing the program and sacrificed another $1.1 million to third-party ticketing fees.

Exclusive: Sound of Freedom distributor Angel Studios says it distributed more than its planned outlay of “pay-it-forward” tickets to the summer 2023 blockbuster.

In a set of financials provided to Deadline, the company said customers paid $26,075,511 toward the “pay-it-forward” pool of tickets, which allotted $15 per person. Customers expected the company to give out at least 1,738,367 tickets, but in the end officials say they distributed 1,827,634 tickets, or 105% of the initial commitment.

With Jim Caviezel starring as real-life anti-child-trafficking activist Tim Ballard, the film became a left-field box office smash last summer, outdoing mega-budget Hollywood titles like Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Its global cume was $249.5 million, including $184.2 million in North America.

Angel CEO Neal Harmon spoke to Deadline about the company’s origins and financial model. He shared statistics about Sound of Freedom during the course of that conversation. (See full financials below.)

In addition to off-screen controversy about Ballard...

A new, fifth lawsuit against disgraced anti-trafficking activist Tim Ballard, whose exaggerated rescue missions abroad were the inspiration for the hit film Sound of Freedom, has also taken aim at Angel Studios, the distributor of the controversial 2023 movie. It’s the first civil action targeting Ballard that simultaneously goes after the media company that made millions by mythologizing his exploits.

Brought by the same law firms representing multiple women accusing Ballard of sexual assault in previous complaints (allegations Ballard disputes), this latest suit claims that Ballard and various companies connected...

The Sound of Freedom ending is intense and wraps up the action thriller while raising awareness about child sex trafficking. Tim Ballard's determination to save children leads to a victorious ending, where he rescues 54 kids but continues his mission to save Rocío. Tim Ballard quits his job to save Rocío, defying orders to bring attention to the horrific reality of child sex trafficking.

Warning: The following article contains spoilers from Sound of Freedom.The Sound of Freedom ending wraps up the action thriller in an intense way while raising awareness about the horrific truths of child sex trafficking. The 2023 action film stars Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard, an ex-Department of Homeland Security agent who sets out to rescue children from sex trafficking in Colombia. Sound of Freedom is based on a true story, and Tim Ballard is a real person tired of arresting the pedophiles who consumed child...

Sound of Freedom, the surprise box office hit of the summer, is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video and reigniting prior controversies. 

Starring Passion of the Christ's Jim Caviezel, Sound of Freedom follows Tim Ballard, a real-life former special agent and founder of Operation Underground Railroad (Our), who embarks on a rogue mission to rescue children from sex traffickers in Columbia.   

The faith-based thriller from Angel Studios stunned the industry with its box office performance in July. But in addition to producing ticket sales, Sound of Freedom also generated considerable backlash. 

Read full article on The Direct.

Sound of Freedom premiered in 2023 and was successful, but its validity and accuracy have been questioned since its release. Tim Ballard, the founder of Operation Underground Railroad, parted ways with the organization amidst sexual misconduct allegations against him. The film's producer and an employee of Operation Underground Railroad have also faced sexual misconduct accusations.

Sound of Freedom premiered in July 2023 and was a surprise hit at the box office. But in the months following its release, the movie, the people behind the making of it, and its inspiration have been at the center of numerous controversies. The 2023 Angel Studios crime thriller film is based on Tim Ballard's work to combat sex trafficking and revolves around one of his missions to save a girl from a trafficking ring in Columbia. However, the truth behind the movie (and Ballard's accounts of his missions) has been questioned by many after its premiere.

In a multi-screen digital world, Google’s search world has become increasingly key to marketing movies to a worldwide audience — especially in the run-up to opening weekends.

With Barbie and Oppenheimer making waves at the multiplex last summer, Barbenheimer had an unsurprisingly ripple effect for both tentpoles — as they topped the Google Trends table for the most movie queries made worldwide in 2023.

Google Trends tracks user searches, including on YouTube where trailers impact movie picks for cinema-goers. Much depends on demographics and regional appeal, of course, as this year’s table for Google Trends was topped by movies as disparate as titles about an iconic Mattel doll movie, the father of the nuclear bomb and a child trafficking drama.

So, let’s dig deeper into Google’s global search results for the past year, which are revealed to have tracked pretty well in box office trends.

1) Barbie

Director Greta Gerwig...

2023 is going to be a year that we look back on for some time as an important one in cinema history. We've had monster hit movies, yes, but more than that, it was a year of transition for Hollywood. The great box office recovery in the pandemic era continued, but it did so by bucking trends. The charge wasn't led by superheroes, nor by Disney remakes or anything we've come to expect over the last decade or so. From adult-skewing biopics to video game icons, and even faith-based cinema, moviegoers turned out this year in unexpected ways.

This will go down as the first year in decades that sequels didn't reign supreme atop the global box office. It marks the first time in recent memory that superhero movies, by and large, weren't a guaranteed pathway to success. It was a year in which one of the biggest movies came out...

When the child-trafficking drama Sound of Freedom conquered the box office this summer, ultimately taking in more than $242 million worldwide, it was touted as a triumph. Leading man Jim Caviezel, hardly seen since his CBS sci-fi series Person of Interest ended in 2016, proved that he could still command an audience. Tim Ballard, the anti-trafficking activist whose purported rescues of abducted children inspired the film, basked in its hagiographic glow. Director and co-writer Alejando Monteverde, who had once believed this project “would never see the light of day,” witnessed it become a global phenomenon.

Since conservative audiences flocked to Sound of Freedom this summer, turning a biopic about Tim Ballard’s supposed exploits as an anti-trafficking operator into an unlikely hit, Ballard has had his heroic mythology rapidly stripped away in a series of lawsuits, formal rebukes, and dissolved relationships. But in recent days, his legal problems have gotten even worse — and now Operation Underground Railroad (Our), the advocacy group he founded in 2013, is in the crosshairs as well.

Ballard was apparently forced out of Utah-based Our before the premiere of the Sound of Freedom,...

Sound of Freedom, directed by Alejandro Monteverde, was initially shelved after Disney's purchase of Fox but found success in theaters, grossing $242 million globally. Prime Video has won the bidding war for the streaming rights to Sound of Freedom, which will premiere on the platform on December 26. The film focuses on Tim Ballard and his team's efforts to rescue children from child trafficking, with Jim Caviezel starring as Ballard.

After its controversial but successful run in theaters, Sound of Freedom is getting ready to be released on streaming, after a heated war between several companies to gain the rights to distribute one of the most debated films of the year.

Directed by Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Monteverde, Sound of Freedom hit theaters in July, after being shelved for several years following Disney's purchase of Fox. Angel Studios, a production company focused on Christian-themed stories, managed to buy it, prompting a strong advertising campaign for its release.

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, led by Jim Caviezel, is based on the reportedly true story of Tim Ballard, a former U.S. government agent fighting child trafficking. The streaming rights for Sound of Freedom sparked a fierce bidding war, but the exact amount Prime Video paid for them remains undisclosed.

After becoming a surprise box office hit over the summer, Sound of Freedom has finally found a streaming home. Led by Jim Caviezel, the faith-based thriller is inspired by the story of Tim Ballard, a former U.S. government agent who sought to shut down a number of international child trafficking operations, leading to the creation of the anti-sex trafficking organization, Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.). Despite mixed reviews from critics, the movie was a massive success with audiences,...

Amazon Prime Video has acquired streaming rights for “Sound of Freedom,” this summer’s unlikely (and controversial) box office hit.

The film will be available to Prime Video subscribers in the U.S. for no additional charge on Dec. 26. It’s already available for purchase or rent on digital platforms, including Prime Video.

“Sound of Freedom” was released theatrically in July and generated $184 million in North America and $242 million globally. It became the first independent release in post-pandemic times to surpass $100 million in the U.S. and Canada and currently ranks as the 10th biggest domestic film of the year.

Religious and conservative media groups rallied behind the film, which was partially crowdfunded and backed by the Utah-based Angel Studios. The independent streaming and distribution company used unconventional efforts to promote “Sound of Freedom,” including a “Pay It Forward” app to allow people to buy and donate tickets to others.

As Sound of Freedom has presently grossed more than $235 million at the worldwide box office against a production cost of less than $15 million, the obvious expectation is that Sound of Freedom will inevitably and quickly be followed by a sequel, which would, of course, be virtually guaranteed if the independently released Sound of Freedom had been a standard Hollywood studio production.

Of course, nothing about Sound of Freedom, from the film’s grassroots distribution and marketing model to the film’s unexpected commercial success, has been traditional, as indeed the success of Sound of Freedom has upended the traditional cinematic models of distribution and marketing while forcing Hollywood to finally recognize the depth and impact of the sizable faith-based audience that made Sound of Freedom the most unexpected box office hit of both 2023 and recent history.

However, while the film’s success has undoubtedly been a blessing, so to speak,...

Survivors criticize Sound of Freedom for perpetuating common myths about trafficking, such as only minors being victims and trafficking being a foreign problem. Supporters of the film shut down criticism from trafficking survivors and journalists, resorting to hurtful online harassment. Despite controversy and allegations against Tim Ballard, the film has gained a significant following, grossing $234 million at the box office.

Just days after five women sued Sound of Freedom subject Tim Ballard for sexual assault, the film is being hit with another blow. Trafficking survivors have spoken with IndieWire about their concerns with Sound of Freedom, which include the film's perpetuation of common myths surrounding trafficking and the online harassment of anyone speaking against the film or Ballard. Sound of Freedom is directed by Alejandro Monteverde and stars Jim Caviezel as Ballard, who, in 2013, founded the anti-trafficking organization Operation Underground Railroad. The film follows Caviezel's Ballard as he embarks on...

The movie Sound of Freedom has faced criticism for its disputed and misleading depictions of human trafficking and possible connections to QAnon conspiracy theories. Human trafficking survivors have spoken out against the movie, denouncing its obfuscation of their real-life experiences and how it perpetuates harmful conspiracy theories. According to one survivor, the movie's distorted portrayal of survivors' stories shapes public opinion, influences political leaders, and affects public policy and funding decisions.

Sound of Freedom has been criticized in the wake of its streaming release. The movie stars Jim Caviezel as ex-u.S. agent Tim Ballard, who is sent on a mission to rescue children who are being trafficked in Colombia. The movie became a substantial independent hit, earning $235.2 million off its $14.5 million budget while at the same time becoming a lightning rod for controversy due to its disputed and misleading depictions of human trafficking, its possible connections to QAnon conspiracy theories,...

After the release of “Sound of Freedom” in July, journalist and trafficking survivior-turned-advocate Sabra Boyd said she heard the refrain over and over: “How dare you criticize this. Don’t you want to save the children?”

Boyd criticized the film on Twitter, calling it “trauma porn” and writing that, like “Taken,” it ignored bigger realities of abuse that don’t lend themselves to sensationalized action movies. However, “Sound of Freedom” opened her to an unexpected level of online harassment.

“The thing that made me spend two days crying was I got called a pedophile, simply because I criticized ‘Sound of Freedom.’ I just can’t comprehend calling someone that,” Boyd told IndieWire. “That’s not a word that you just fling around, especially to someone who is a survivor of pedophile predators. You can’t say that to someone if you don’t understand what that word means. I can...

Tim Ballard may be the hero in director Alejandro Monteverde's Sound of Freedom, but sexual misconduct allegations are showing the anti-sex trafficking organization founder in a different light. A report from Vice claimed that Ballard exited Operation Underground Railroad back in June, an organization which he founded in 2013, following an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations made by seven woman employed by the non-profit. Now, according to USA Today, five women have sued Ballard, "alleging he sexually manipulated, abused and harassed them on overseas trips designed to catch child sex traffickers."

Vice's report claims that the number may be higher as it is believed that other women, including contractors and volunteers, faced similar treatment. According to the outlet, Ballard would invite "women to act as his 'wife' on undercover overseas missions ostensibly aimed at rescuing victims of sex trafficking. He would then allegedly coerce those women into sharing a bed or showering together,...

Child kidnapping accessory charges have been dropped against Fabian Marta, one of the thousands of individuals who crowdfunded the controversial anti-child trafficking movie Sound of Freedom.

As reported in Newsweek, Marta was arrested by St. Louis Metropolitan Police in late July and charged by the Missouri Circuit Court as an accessory to child kidnapping. Per USA Today, the court released a memo on September 25th saying that a grand jury determined there was insufficient evidence to obtain a conviction.

Missouri Circuit Court public information officer Christine Bertelson further clarified to the newspaper that “there was no kidnapping.” Instead, the case was actually the result of “a misunderstanding” between relatives of the children.

Following Marta’s arrest, his attorney, Scott Rosenblum, told St. Louis’ KMOV4 that the charges were “unfounded” because his client was merely offering living space to another suspect in the case in exchange for rehabbing some of Marta’s other properties.

When an independent film becomes as commercially successful as Sound of Freedom, which has presently grossed nearly $215 million at the worldwide box office against a production cost of less than $15 million, the film’s director and star typically become hot properties in Hollywood.

Indeed, in the case of Sound of Freedom, it would be reasonable to assume that the film’s director, Alejandro Monteverde, and star, Jim Caviezel, would be courted by various Hollywood studios to direct and star in big-budget studio films.

However, none of the typical rules of Hollywood seem to apply to Sound of Freedom, which has seemingly had a negligible effect on the careers of the film’s principals, especially Caviezel, for whom the success of Sound of Freedom has, if anything, only exacerbated Caviezel’s prolonged estrangement from Hollywood.

Risky Sacrifices

Of course, Jim Caviezel’s estrangement from Hollywood began with Caviezel’s titular starring...

If you missed the religious thriller Sound of Freedom this summer, you can soon watch the film at home. Here’s everything you need to know for how to watch Sound of Freedom online.

The movie, which debuted July 4 and has amassed over $210 million at the domestic box office, tells the true story of a federal agent, Tim Ballard (Person of Interest’s Jim Caviezel), who rescues a girl from child traffickers.

More from TVLineUpload Sneak Peek: Drunk Ingrid Confronts Nathan About Nora (Exclusive)How to Stream the Final Indiana Jones Film, Dial of Destiny2023 World Series: How to Watch Diamondbacks vs.

A group of women who allegedly experienced abuse while working for Operation Underground Railroad (Our) — a nonprofit that claims to fight sex trafficking, and was behind the summer blockbuster Sound of Freedom — are speaking out via a lawyer, Suzette Rasmussen. On Thursday, the attorney released a statement from the women, who are all remaining anonymous.

“Our involvement with Operation Underground Railroad was rooted in our commitment to fighting against human trafficking,” the women said in a statement. “But while engaging in that noble cause, we were subjected to sexual harassment,...

Sound of Freedom's multi-tier release strategy includes limited-time screenings via the Angel Studios app, followed by digital purchases, Blu-ray and DVD releases, and finally digital rentals. Despite receiving poor reviews, Sound of Freedom performed well at the box office, grossing $183 million domestically and $216 million worldwide. Controversies surrounding the movie, including the arrest of one of its main investors for child kidnapping, may affect its success in the digital release, but its previous success and the endorsement of star Jim Caviezel suggest it could still become a streaming hit.

Sound of Freedom reveals its multi-tier release strategy. The 2023 crime drama is based on the true story of a former government agent who goes into vigilante mode when he sets on a perilous mission to save hundreds of children from sex trafficking. Despite receiving abysmal critical reviews, Sound of Freedom fared relatively well at the box office, amplified by its controversial nature.

Sound of Freedom's multi-tier release strategy includes limited-time screenings via the Angel Studios app, followed by digital purchases, Blu-ray and DVD releases, and finally digital rentals. Despite receiving poor reviews, Sound of Freedom performed well at the box office, grossing $183 million domestically and $216 million worldwide. Controversies surrounding the movie, including the arrest of one of its main investors for child kidnapping, may affect its success in the digital release, but its previous success and the endorsement of star Jim Caviezel suggest it could still become a streaming hit.

Sound of Freedom reveals its multi-tier release strategy. The 2023 crime drama is based on the true story of a former government agent who goes into vigilante mode when he sets on a perilous mission to save hundreds of children from sex trafficking. Despite receiving abysmal critical reviews, Sound of Freedom fared relatively well at the box office, amplified by its controversial nature.

The industry watched in shock as Angel Studios’ summer hit “Sound of Freedom” grossed $183 million in North American theaters — but certainly a major streamer would nab the lucrative indie drama. Now, after much consideration, Angel chose… Angel Studios.

As of October 13, “Sound of Freedom” will be available exclusively on Angel Studios’ own subscription viewing service, Angel Guild. The press announcement did not name a price nor did Angel respond to a request for comment, but the charge for an auto-renewed Angel Guild membership is $20 per month (about the same as a typical $19.99 PVOD rental) or $175 per year.

That’s about 100 days after its theatrical debut. After three weeks exclusively on Angel Guild, “Sound of Freedom” will be available for digital purchase November 3, with DVD and Blu-ray to follow November 14 on Angel Studios’ retail site as well as major retailers. Digital rental will be available December 15.

Angel provided no pricing information...

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.

You can soon hear the “Sound of Freedom” from home. The film, which made its theatrical debut in July, will get digital and physical releases throughout October and November.

Angel Studios, the Angel investor-backed studio behind the film, will begin an exclusive viewing window for the film on Oct. 13 via the Angel Studios app, followed by digital purchase on Nov. 3.

DVDs and Blu-rays will become available on Nov. 14 at shop.angel.com, plus Walmart, Amazon, and other major retailers, while digital rental (Tvod) will be available on Dec. 15.

Buy: Sound of Freedom $23.45

“The Angel Guild selected and made ‘Sound of Freedom’ so successful theatrically. They decide what projects are green-lit and are presented to audiences,” Jared Geesey, chief distribution officer at Angel Studios, said in a statement. “We are...

Over the summer, Ivanka Trump joined her father, Donald Trump, and other conservatives in support of the surprise summer movie hit, Sound of Freedom.

The story depicts the supposed real-life heroics of former federal agent Tim Ballard, who rescued South American children from sex traffickers.

Ivanka posted on X, “Sound of Freedom sheds light on the harrowing reality of #HumanTrafficking, awakening our collective conscience and inspiring us to take action for those trapped in its dark web.”

However, a new report has presented the much more disturbing reality of the film.

Earlier this year, Ballard exited Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), a nonprofit United States-based anti-sex trafficking organization, after he was under investigation for seven women’s claims of sexual misconduct.

Ballard allegedly had pressured women to pretend to be his wife, take showers or share a bed with him while he was on rescue missions in South America.

Anti–child trafficking crusader Tim Ballard has denied the recent Vice report that accused Ballard of sexual misconduct with seven women, and is claiming it is a conspiracy “designed to destory me.”

“As with all of the assaults on my character and integrity over many years, the latest tabloid-driven sexual allegations are false,” Ballard said in a statement to TheWrap. “They are baseless inventions designed to destroy me and the movement we have built to end the trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable children.”

Ballard added: “During my time at O.U.R., I designed strict guidelines for myself and our operators in the field. Sexual contact was prohibited, and I led by example. Given our meticulous attention to this issue, any suggestion of inappropriate sexual contact is categorically false.”

According to the report, Ballard enlisted women to accompany him as a “spouse” during secretive overseas operations ostensibly aimed at rescuing victims of sex trafficking.

Paul Hutchinson — an executive producer on Sound of Freedom, the film loosely based on anti-trafficking expert Tim Ballard — has admitted to touching the breasts of a possibly underage trafficking victim during a 2016 sting operation in Mexico.

At the time, Hutchinson was working with Operation Underground Railroad (or Our), the anti-trafficking group founded by Ballard in 2013. According to a Vice report, footage catching Hutchinson in the act was captured by videographers working with Our on a documentary and subsequent TV series called The Abolitionists. This footage was then reviewed by investigator Bryan Purdy of the Davis County Attorney’s Office, who wrote detailed descriptions of it as part of an FBI investigation into Ballard and Our that was closed earlier this year without any charges being brought forward.

Documents obtained through a public records request from Vice News include descriptions showing that Hutchinson and Our believed the trafficking victim was 16 years old at the time.

Tim Ballard, the former Homeland Security agent turned anti-sex-trafficking crusader whose life provided inspiration to summer box office hit Sound of Freedom, is slamming a recent Vice expose that accuses him of sexual misconduct with seven women during his time with his organization Operation Underground Railroad.

“As with all of the assaults on my character and integrity over many years, the latest tabloid-driven sexual allegations are false,” said Ballard in a statement, “They are baseless inventions designed to destroy me and the movement we have built to end the trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable children.”

The Vice piece reported that Ballard invited women to act as his wife on undercover overseas missions when he was rescuing victims of sex trafficking. Among myriad claims in the report, Ballard would reportedly coerce these women into sharing a bed or showering together, explaining that such tactics were necessary to fool traffickers. Ballard is...

Sound of Freedom, which is inspired by Tim Ballard's life, faces new controversy as Ballard is now revealed to have been the subject of sexual misconduct allegations and a related investigation. The film, directed by Alejandro Monteverde, follows Ballard's journey from government agent to vigilante fighting child trafficking. Despite controversies surrounding Ballard and the movie's star, Jim Caviezel, Sound of Freedom has become a surprise box office hit, earning over $210 million worldwide.

Sound of Freedom's real-life inspiration Tim Ballard, was reportedly the subject of sexual misconduct allegations and a related investigation. Directed by Alejandro Monteverde, the Angel Studios film serves as a loose adaptation of real events, chronicling Ballard's journey from government agent to vigilante as he embarks on a mission to end a child trafficking ring. Ballard founded Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), an anti-child trafficking organization, in 2013, with controversial actor Jim Caviezel playing him in the film.

The team behind Sound of Freedom has remained silent so far on new allegations involving Tim Ballard, who is portrayed in the movie as a hero by Passion of the Christ’s Jim Caviezel.

Ballard, founder of the anti-child-trafficking group Operation Underground Railroad, rose to new levels of prominence this summer when the film turned into a sleeper hit that has grossed more than $182 million domestically and $210 million worldwide.

On Monday, a Vice News report detailed anonymous allegations against Ballard relating to his quiet exit in late June from Our, which he launched in 2013. His departure came as Sound of Freedom filmmaker Alejandro Monteverde and Angel Studios were readying the film for release over the July Fourth holiday.

Ballard, a former Department of Homeland Security official, embarked on undercover overseas missions to fight child trafficking upon starting Our According to Vice, he brought women to pose as his wife on...

Tim Ballard, whose purported rescues of sex-trafficking victims were fictionalized in the hit summer movie Sound of Freedom, earlier this year left the advocacy group he founded after an internal investigation of sexual misconduct claims, sources familiar with the organization have confirmed.

According to Vice News, which corroborated reporting from Utah journalist Lynn Packer, Ballard stepped down as CEO of the anti-trafficking nonprofit Operation Underground Railroad amid complaints from seven women who said he made inappropriate advances in the course of missions abroad. His accusers — who have remained anonymous for...

Update: Tim Ballard has responded to Vice’s report on his alleged sexual misconduct. In a statement released Monday evening to IndieWire by his new organization The Spear Fund, Ballard did not name Vice, but affirmed his commitment to anti-sex trafficking efforts and criticized what he called “a tabloid that is often hostile to people of faith.”

“Evil pedophiles will stop at nothing, and they have allies in government, in the media, in big corporations, and even in public institutions. They continue to lie and attempt to destroy my good name and defame my character…and they will never stop,” Ballard said in his statement.

Ballard also questioned the authenticity of a statement published by Vice from a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spokesperson, alleging that the church has not verified the statement as real and calling the timing of the news after Mitt Romney’s retirement announcement “highly suspicious.