"Sound of freedom" reached third place in US cinema after its July 4 premiere, surpassed only by the blockbusters "Insidious: the red door" and the latest "Indiana Jones". Behind the film is the company Angel studios, with a focus on Christian content.
The film is about the real person Tim Ballard, an activist who founded the organization "Operation underground railroad", whose purpose is to save children from sex trafficking.
Connected to QAnon
"He claims to have saved a lot of children, but his methods are questionable and so are the results. They are considered to be grossly overrated and even fabricated, says Caroline Hainer, cultural journalist.
The actor who plays Tim Ballard, Jim Caviezel, has also been mired in controversy. He is best known for playing Jesus in the Mel Gibson film "The Passion of the Christ". But he has also participated as a speaker at a QAnon event in 2021, and in several contexts spread the idea of a powerful association of pedophiles.
"He spreads these conspiracy theories both as a private person and in connection with the film," says Caroline Hainer.
High audience figures
Since its premiere, Sound of Freedom has grossed over $41 million, which is high numbers for an indie film funded in part by donations.
"There has been a system in place that has allowed you to pay for tickets even if you don't see the film there and then," says Caroline Hainer.
Audiences have been urged by the film company to purchase additional tickets after watching the film, to give more people the opportunity to see it. The film has also received a lot of attention via major right-wing figures – such as ex-President Donald Trump and Canadian psychology professor Jordan B Peterson.
Both Tim Ballard and Jim Caviezel and the production company Angel Studios themselves claim that the film has nothing to do with QAnon, and that they did not even know the theory when the film was shot.