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Back in 2023, director Alejandro Monteverde and the faith-based distributor Angel Studios teamed up for the hit film Sound of Freedom, which was about a large scale operation to take down human traffickers and stirred up a lot of controversy (you can read about that Here), but JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray found it to be a “solid thriller.” (You can read his review at This Link.) Monteverde and Angel Studios followed that up with the 2024 biopic Cabrini, based on the life of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American citizen ever to be canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church… a film that didn’t do nearly as well at the box office as Sound of Freedom did. But Monteverde and Angel Studios are staying in business together, and the distributor has just announced a December 19th release for the director’s next film, Zero A.D. They also unveiled a trailer,...

Throughout 2024, filmmakers have released multiple movies with runtimes between two and four hours, but some of the longest films don’t warrant the audience’s extra time and attention. After the strikes of 2023, viewers went into last year with extra excitement. Some of the highest-grossing films of 2024 included Wicked, Marvel’s Wolverine & Deadpool, and Inside Out 2. In addition to offering many great original films, the year brought about many movies with runtimes above 2 hours.

Long movies are nothing new in Hollywood, but they’re historically difficult to market. This makes it impressive that nine of the ten longest films of the year released in theaters, rather than going directly to streaming. Despite this, some of the longest movies of 2024 received great fanfare and performed well at the box office. Still, a few filmmakers pushed their luck too far in 2024 by making movies that couldn’t justify their runtimes.

The End...

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...

Exclusive: Sound of Freedom and Cabrini filmmaker Alejandro Monteverde will reteam for a third time with Angel Studios on the epic Bethlehem, which re-imagines one of the most infamous stories in history, Herod’s slaughter of the innocents in Bethlehem as a profound spiritual thriller.

In the movie, which is currently shooting in Morocco and eyeing a 2025 theatrical release, an extraordinary woman will do anything to protect her newborn son from the murderous King Herod, who is obsessed with finding and killing the child.

Avatar franchise star Sam Worthington is playing Herod’s son Antipater, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story‘s Ben Mendelsohn is portraying the devil Nahash, Mozart in the Jungle‘s Gael García Bernal is Joachim, and Deva Cassel will play Mary.

Cassel starred in Laura Luchetti’s movie Beautiful Summer and can be seen in the upcoming Netflix miniseries The Leopard.

For creative reasons, the producers...

Matthew 25: 35-40 in the Bible says that giving to the unhoused is akin to giving to the lord directly: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” For Angel Studios, the distributor hopes its unique style of generosity toward its top filmmaker will be a benefit unto themselves as well.

Angel Studios has a 10-year overall film deal in place with Alejandro Monteverde, the director of last year’s “Sound of Freedom” and this year’s “Cabrini,” to direct and produce at least five more theatrical films. In the interim, Monteverde certainly won’t be homeless: As part of the deal, Angel has agreed to purchase Monteverde a house valued between $4-5 million in a location of his choosing. And that’s just part of the arrangement.

Monteverde is also...

When Oscar-winning producer Jonathan Sanger was first pitched “Cabrini,” the story of the first American saint, he wasn’t quite sure he was right for the project.

“I said, ‘I think it’s a great idea. I think you should make the movie. I don’t really think I’m the right guy to produce this,’” Sanger recalls of his early conversation with executive producer J. Eustace Wolfington. “I tend to like to make stories about real people, that most people who watch these stories can relate to. And I don’t know how to relate to a saint.”

Wolfington wouldn’t take no for an answer, telling Sanger he was missing the point: Francesca Cabrini may have become a saint, but her powerful story of overcoming adversity as both a woman and an Italian immigrant takes place far before her posthumous canonization in 1946.

“The more I learned about her,...

They say that conflict is the essence of drama, and in this handsome but impossibly somber biopic there is almost nothing but conflict. Following up last year’s surprise hit Sound of Freedom, director Alejandro Monteverde neatly sidesteps a repeat of that film’s controversy with a story that cannot remotely be interpreted as a QAnon allegory. Based on the true story of Frances Xavier Cabrini — literally the first American saint — this takes a most un-maga viewpoint on immigration, painting an unvarnished portrait of racism in a country that is supposed to embrace the tired and the poor.

Right from the start, Cabrini impresses with its set design, giving Martin Scorsese’s studio work a run for its money and taking place shortly after the latter’s atmospheric brace of 19th century movies The Age of Innocence and Gangs of New York. A title card informs us that between 1899 and...

Embraced by Q-Anon conspiracy theorists, last year’s “Sound of Freedom” racked up over $250 million worldwide and brought Mexican-born director Alejandro Monteverde back in the spotlight almost two decades after his awfully saccharine 2006 debut “Bella” won the People’s Choice Award at TIFF. A filmmaker with an unabashedly Christian conservative agenda, Monteverde’s latest is a frustratingly sluggish biopic of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini (Cristiana Dell’Anna), an Italian nun who defied the Catholic Church, as well as American institutions, to aide her countrymen in New York City during the late 1800s.

All of Cabrini’s past is reduced to an incident in her childhood where she nearly drowned. That she survived and continued to outlive her post-tuberculosis prognosis propels her to prove wrong anyone who suggests she doesn’t belong in any male-dominated space. After a meeting with Pope Leo Xiii (Giancarlo Giannini) to discuss her plans to build orphanages in China,...

Angel Studios, a small production studio operating out of Utah, has swiftly ascended as a significant player in the entertainment industry with its unique approach to distribution. Offering a diverse range of, mostly faith-themed, content accessible worldwide; the small film and TV outfit has revolutionised the distribution landscape mostly through crowdfunding.

While their decidedly innovative approach has been making headlines ever since the extraordinary record-breaking success of Sound of Freedom in 2023 – the film grossed around $250 million on a modest $14.5 million budget – the studio has also scored some huge wins with shows like The Chosen, Dry Bar Comedy and more recently the faith-based sci-fi drama The Shift.

The latest release from this ever surprising outfit sees the return of Sound of Freedom co-director Alejandro Monteverde at the helm in this impressive biopic detailing the life of 19th century Catholic missionary Francesca Cabrini. Portrayed by esteemed Italian actress Cristiana Dell’Anna (Patrizia in...

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,...

Cabrini is a raw, powerful movie about poverty, faith, and compassion, shining light on overlooked immigrant struggles. Cristiana Dell'Anna delivers a star-making performance as Mother Cabrini, embodying toughness and virtue. Mother Cabrini's story of resilience and mercy carries a timeless message of benevolence and compassion.

Cabrini tells a powerfully emotional true story of a resilient woman who saved countless orphaned children through kindness, dogged determination, and irrepressible religious faith. Her beatified name adorns institutions worldwide that continue to carry on a devout legacy of humanism. But Mother Cabrini's journey to sainthood began in the appalling slums of 19th century Five Points, Manhattan, where Italian immigrants were treated "worse than rats" and the bodies of the neglected poor littered the streets. She overcame deplorable racism, sexism, and xenophobia to fulfill a mission of desperately needed mercy. Your heart will swell as a captivating film addresses issues that continue to divide American society today.

To quote a famous lyric from the musical Hamilton, immigrants get the job done. That message seems to be getting lost in the current wave of anti-immigrant sentiment sweeping the nation, if not the world. But it receives a timely reminder in Cabrini, the new drama about Francesca Cabrini, the Catholic missionary who arrived on our shores in 1889 and eventually established enough schools, orphanages and hospitals to form a veritable charitable empire. She became the first U.S. citizen to be canonized, in 1946, 29 years after her death. (And she’s apparently still performing miracles to this day, since she’s billed as one of the film’s executive producers.)

The film arrives courtesy of Angel Studios and director Alejandro Monteverde, both responsible for last year’s surprise, controversial smash hit about child sex trafficking, Sound of Freedom. This effort will likely prove far less divisive, if also less commercial. An old-fashioned,...

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.

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...

Sound of Freedom directors Monteverde and Barr respond to controversies surrounding the movie, stating that their intention was to raise awareness of child trafficking, not take a political stance. The film was written and shot before QAnon theories emerged, making it impossible for the movie to reference these theories. The association of actor Jim Caviezel and real-life subject Tim Ballard with QAnon, as well as the support of far-right figures and an astroturfing campaign, have contributed to the movie's controversial status.

Sound of Freedom director Alejandro Monteverde and co-writer Rod Barr attempt to push back the controversies surrounding the movie. Released in American theaters on July 4, the film quickly became one of the most profitable independent movies of the year, outpacing Hollywood blockbusters, such as Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning - Part One and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. However, controversies surrounding actor Jim Caviezel and Operation Underground Railroad's...

Despite its status as the highest-grossing indie film since 2019’s “Parasite,” “Sound of Freedom” has been dismissed as a QAnon fever dream by large swaths of the mainstream media. But that derisive label is “so ridiculous” to the film’s writer-director Alejandro Monteverde, who began working on the project in 2015, two years before QAnon emerged.

“The origin [of the film] has been avoided, purposely or accidentally, in the media,” Monteverde said. “The origin will answer a lot of these misconceptions on the film.”

Back in 2015, the Mexico-born, L.A.-based Monteverde says he was unaware of the scourge of child sex trafficking until he watched a network news segment on the subject. What he learned “shook my soul because I didn’t really believe it [existed],” he says. “I just, in my head, could not put those two pieces together — an adult and a child.”

That night, he couldn’t sleep. So, the next morning,...

Updated Exclusive: Angel Studios’ thriller Sound of Freedom starring Jim Caviezel has seen its presales spike to $10 million. This is before the pic’s opening on July 4 in north of 2,600 locations.

Many rivals are tracking this semi-faith-based, based-on-a-true-story title about about former Homeland Security agent Tim Ballard, who took rescuing abducted children around the globe into his own hands. They’re spotting a $20 million six-day start, impressive for a non-major-studio adult thriller. We’ll see how this plays out. Currently, more than 1 million tickets have been snapped up for Sound of Freedom.

Previously, Exclusive: We all know post-pandemic that tentpoles work at the box office, but it’s been hit and miss for everything else, especially indies movies. From out of nowhere, Angel Studios’ Sound of Freedom, about Tim Ballard, a former Homeland Security agent who left the department after he was frustrated with the U.S. rescue efforts with trafficked children in third-world countries,...

Exclusive: Christiana Dell’Anna (Gomorrah), John Lithgow (The Crown), David Morse (The Green Mile), Rolando Villazón (La Bohèmme) and more will star in an Untitled Cabrini Film from Alejandro Monteverde.

The film tells the story of Francesca Cabrini, one of the greatest entrepreneurs of the 19th Century, who began with nothing and created the largest multinational charitable empire the world had ever known, her accomplishments equaling those of Vanderbilt and Rockefeller. While Cabrini was faced in her time with the sexism and virulent anti-Italian bigotry of 19th century America, she overcame every obstacle through relentless perseverance and business skill, eventually building schools, orphanages and hospitals that transformed the lives of immigrants worldwide.

The Untitled Cabrini Film also stars Montserrat Espadalé, Romana Maggiora Vergano, Patch Darragh, Jeremy Bobb, Virginia Bocelli, Andrew Polk, and Giampiero Judica.

The Francesca Films pic’s producers include Academy Award and BAFTA Award winner Jonathan Sanger and Leo Severino. Rod Barr wrote the script; he collaborated on the story with TIFF’s People’s Choice Award winner Monteverde.

The film is currently in production in New York; the shoot will wrap up in Rome this fall. The project was the brainchild of financier Eustace Wolfington, whose passion for the story of Francesca Cabrini began over 60 years ago.

“The minute I learned of Cabrini’s life story, I realized this was a story that deserved to be brought to the big screen,” said Wolfington. “As a pioneer of human rights long before today, her story will be an inspiration to today’s pioneers of human rights which makes her story and unprecedented accomplishments as relevant today as ever.”

“As an immigrant myself, I am honored to be able to shine a light on the astonishing story of a true warrior of social justice who transformed the lives of immigrants worldwide,” said Monteverde. “Cabrini was a pioneer of women’s empowerment, making her story as relevant today as in the 1890’s. This picture – like Cabrini herself – is surprising, courageous, gritty… and deeply inspirational.”

“In a time when the achievements of women in every sphere of life have inspired a new generation, it is fascinating to contemplate the work of Francesca Cabrini, an Italian immigrant who came to New York in 1889. She would fit perfectly as a leader in today’s world,” added Sanger.

Christiana Dell’Anna’s film credits include Tensione superficiali, Mr. Happiness and more. She has appeared on the small screen in such series as Gomorrah (HBO Max) and Trust (FX). She’s represented in the U.S. by Cavalry Media, and by Volver Consulenze Artistiche in Italy.

A two-time Oscar nominee, John Lithgow recently earned his 13th Emmy nomination for his supporting turn in HBO’s reimagining of Perry Mason. He’ll next appear in Showtime’s Dexter revival, reprising his role as Arthur Mitchell (aka The Trinity Killer), and in FX’s The Old Man. His recent film credits include Bombshell, Late Night and Pitch Perfect 3. Additional TV credits include The Crown, Trial & Error and 3rd Rock from the Sun. Lithgow is repped by UTA, Anonymous Content and attorney Don Steele at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller & Gellman.

Two-time Emmy nominee David Morse will soon appear in Netflix drama The Chair, opposite Sandra Oh. His recent TV credits include The Good Lord Bird, Blindspot, The Morning Show, The Deuce and Escape at Dannemora. Recent film credits include Thank You for Your Service and Concussion. Morse is repped by UTA, Kipperman Management, Arcieri & Associates, and attorney Diane Golden at Katz Golden Lerner.

Rolando Villazón is an opera singer and director whose credits include Mozart in Prague: Rolando Villazón on Don Giovanni, La Bohèmme and La Traviata. He is repped by Columbia Artists Management.

Monteverde is represented by Sentient Entertainment and attorney Sean A. Marks of Marks Law Group.