Everyone knows that the most commonly practiced religion in Hollywood is the worship of self, even if most celebrities won’t admit it. 
There are also plenty of stars who dabble in New Age practices, who call themselves “spiritual but not religious,” and a solid number of famous people who follow Eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism. 
And while lukewarm “Christians” are prevalent enough in Tinseltown, when it comes to being a Hollywood A-lister, it’s very unlikely that any will admit to being a full-fledged, church-going, sacrament practicing Catholic. It could be that the celebrity lifestyle doesn’t align with Catholicism. Or, perhaps there’s an invisible barrier preventing Catholics from reaching A-list status. More likely it’s a combination of both.
However, there are a handful of Catholic celebrities who wear their faith loudly and proudly. It may mean that they’re shunned by their peers, but despite that, these famous players have decided that their religion means more than fitting in.
<h4>Mark Wahlberg</h4>
<div id="attachment_732461" style="width: 796px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-732461" class="size-large wp-image-732461" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-2003553617-786x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 14: Mark Wahlberg is seen at &quot;Good Morning America&quot; on February 14, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)" width="786" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-2003553617-786x576.jpg 786w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-2003553617-300x220.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-2003553617-768x563.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-2003553617.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px" />Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images</div>
Many millennials think of Wahlberg by his former stage name, Marky Mark. Wahlberg has collected plenty of impressive Hollywood accolades including a BAFTA Award, nominations for two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, nine Primetime Emmy Awards, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. 
Besides just achieving success on the screen, the 52-year-old father of four is also a devout Catholic. 
“I attribute everything good and everything positive in life to my faith,” Wahlberg said during a 2023 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mark-wahlberg-says-once-he-started-putting-my-faith-and-focus-on-god-good-things-happened-to-him" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a>. “As soon as I started putting my faith and focus on God, good things started happening for me.”
“And even when they didn’t, [faith] gives you the coping skills to deal with things that are inevitable, like loss and failure and those things,” he continued. “But, you know, again, my faith and my family, those are the most important aspects of my life.”
In 2022, Wahlberg appeared in “Father Stu,” a movie based on the true story of a boxer who became a Catholic priest. The actor said it was “his calling” and “mission” to get the movie made.
The meditation app Hallow, the most downloaded and used Catholic app in the world, launched a partnership with the actor in 2022 as he was promoting the movie. At the time, Wahlberg urged his 18 million social media followers to pray the rosary with him.
“You got to stay prayed up. God bless you,” he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/stay-prayed-up-mark-wahlberg-urges-his-18-million-followers-to-say-the-rosary-with-him" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> at the time.
<h4>Gary Sinise</h4>
<div id="attachment_732463" style="width: 382px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-732463" class="size-large wp-image-732463" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1827867832-372x576.jpg" alt="LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 02: Actor Gary Sinise attends the Thalians annual Winter Gala honoring Gary Sinise with the 2023 Mr. Wonderful Award at Brentwood Country Club on December 02, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)" width="372" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1827867832-372x576.jpg 372w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1827867832-194x300.jpg 194w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1827867832.jpg 661w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 372px) 100vw, 372px" />Michael Tullberg/Getty Images</div>
Yes, Lieutenant Dan from “Forrest Gump” is also a practicing Catholic in addition to promoting causes that help veterans.
He said he’s found success despite being openly conservative in Hollywood. 
“I’ve had a blessed career in the movie and television and theater business,” Sinise <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gary-sinise-talks-about-being-a-conservative-in-hollywood-and-how-it-affected-his-career" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in January 2023. “I’ve done amazing things, I’ve worked with amazing people, and it really played a major role, if not the key element, in what I’m doing today on the service side.”
Sinise discussed his journey to becoming Catholic in 2019. He said he was led to the church by his wife, Moira Harris, who converted herself after being cast in a play. The actor said he surprised his family by choosing to join the church about a decade after his wife. 
“I surprised my family. I’d gone through the confirmation classes and whatnot myself behind everybody’s back and I didn’t tell anybody that I was doing it,” he <a href="https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2019/02/actor-gary-sinise-describes-his-road-to-the-catholic-church" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Catholic News Service.
“On Christmas Eve 2010 I told the family I was taking them to dinner at Morton’s Steakhouse and have Christmas Eve dinner,” Sinise continued. “And on the way there, I pulled into the church, and everybody asked, ‘What are we doing here?’ I said come on in. We walked into the church. The priest was there, and he confirmed me. It was beautiful.”
<h4>Jim Caviezel</h4>
<div id="attachment_584027" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-584027" class="size-large wp-image-584027" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/GettyImages-652329212-e1680206549796-1024x566.webp" alt="AUSTIN, TX - MARCH 11: Actor Jim Caviezel attends the premiere of &quot;The Ballad of Lefty Brown&quot; during 2017 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Stateside Theater on March 11, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Steve Rogers Photography/Getty Images for SXSW)" width="1024" height="566" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/GettyImages-652329212-e1680206549796-1024x566.webp 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/GettyImages-652329212-e1680206549796-300x166.webp 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/GettyImages-652329212-e1680206549796-768x425.webp 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/GettyImages-652329212-e1680206549796.webp 1275w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Steve Rogers Photography/Getty Images for SXSW</div>
The actor who portrayed Jesus in Mel Gibson’s massively popular drama, “The Passion of the Christ” (2004) is himself a Catholic. The 55-year-old actor credits his entire career to saying a daily rosary. He also credits his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary with helping him be cast in “The Thin Red Line” (1998), which was the starting point of his career.
While filming “The Passion,” Caviezel is said to have experienced a dislocated shoulder, pneumonia, and hypothermia, among other ailments. 
“When I was up there on the Cross, I learned that in His suffering was our redemption. Remember the servant is no greater than the master,” he <a href="https://aleteia.org/2019/03/20/jim-caviezel-gave-what-may-be-the-greatest-catholic-address-of-the-21st-century/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> while addressing a roomful of college students. “Each of us must carry our own cross. There is a price for our faith, for our freedoms. I have been literally scourged, hit by the whips, crucified, struck by lightning, yes, open heart surgery — that’s what happens after five and a half months of hypothermia.”
He spoke about his faith similarly in 2018. “I never thought that being a Christian would be an easy road, but that my heart, even on a cross in the freezing cold, nothing could stop my burning heart from loving Jesus. It’s important. And I took it as an actor because I want people to see why I am proud to be a Christian,” Caviezel <a href="https://relevantradio.com/2018/03/jim-caviezel-catholic-hollywood-love-greater-motivator-fear/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> at the time.
<h4>Patricia Heaton</h4>
<div id="attachment_732467" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-732467" class="size-large wp-image-732467" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1425932756-864x576.jpg" alt="NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 21: Patricia Heaton, Actor, Producer and Author, speaks on stage during Taking a Leading Role in Solving the Global Water Crisis at The 2022 Concordia Annual Summit - Day 3 at Sheraton New York on September 21, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Concordia Summit)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1425932756-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1425932756-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1425932756-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/05/GettyImages-1425932756.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Concordia Summit</div>
Actress Patricia Heaton is another mainstream actress who was cast on a hit sitcom despite being conservative, and Catholic to boot. She discussed growing up in a devout family during an interview in 2022 after meeting Pope Francis at the VITAE Summit in the Vatican.
“My sister is a Dominican nun,” she <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-09/actors-reflect-on-pope-francis-call-to-promote-common-good-vitae1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> at the time. “My grandparents met Pope John Paul I. My mom was one of 15 children. I have some 100 first cousins on my mom&#8217;s side. So, we&#8217;re a very Catholic family. Meeting the Pope is such an incredible honor that I never thought I would have.”
Unlike some of her peers, Heaton said she hasn’t been ostracized for her faith.
“As much as people want to paint Hollywood as a sort of anti-religious place, I have found that going into work, we&#8217;re all there to do a job,” Heaton said during the same conversation. “We&#8217;re all there to be professional. We all respect each other. We share opinions, different opinions. And because we love each other and we have a common goal of creating something wonderful for people to enjoy, the differences in our religion or politics or whatever, in my experience on a set, have not been a problem.”
Besides sharing bible quotes with her followers, Heaton also openly discusses how she’s pro-life.
“I don’t understand why pro-life people want to know if they are ‘welcome’ to join the democrat party,” the actress <a href="https://twitter.com/PatriciaHeaton/status/1227643710646566914" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared</a> on X in February 2020. “Why would any civilized person want to support a barbaric platform that champions abortion for any reason through all nine months funded by taxpayers?”
<h4>Shia LaBeouf</h4>
<div id="attachment_432144" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-432144" class="size-large wp-image-432144" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1185322394-scaled-e1685997615852-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1185322394-scaled-e1685997615852-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1185322394-scaled-e1685997615852-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1185322394-scaled-e1685997615852-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1185322394-scaled-e1685997615852.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />(Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for HFA)</div>
One of the newest Catholic converts in the Hollywood community is actor Shia LaBeouf, best known for getting his start on the Disney series “Even Stevens” and later moving into film roles, including the “Transformers” franchise.
Now the celeb is a practicing Catholic as well after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation on New Year’s Eve 2023. And he may go even further than that.
His sponsor told Catholic News Agency that the 37-year-old star is also considering becoming a deacon in the future. LaBoeuf credited being cast in the film “Padre Pio” (2022) with influencing his decision to convert after going through turmoil and scandals, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shia-labeoufs-conversion-to-catholicism-becomes-official-confirmation-sponsor-says-he-may-take-it-further" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
LaBeouf said he was “never an atheist,” but was previously agnostic. The actor further explained how the role in “Pio” saved his life.

Celebrity Sightings In New York – February 14, 2024

Faith In Hollywood: 5 Celebrities Who Are Openly Catholic 

actors

Catholic

Catholic Church

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Gary Sinise

Hollywood

Jim Caviezel

Mark Wahlberg

Patricia Heaton

&#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-dominates-box-office-in-florida-texas-and-arizona" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sound of Freedom</a>&#8221; screenings at the military&#8217;s U.S. Southern Command have been pulled following a prior announcement that military members and their families would be able to watch the film, which deals with the horrors of human trafficking.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/actor-jim-caviezel-sends-message-to-fans-as-sound-of-freedom-surpasses-150-million-mark" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jim Caviezel</a>-led film was initially going to be shown at its headquarters &#8220;in support of SOUTHCOM&#8217;s mission to promote respect for human rights and combating trafficking in persons in Central and South America and the Caribbean,&#8221; according to material from U.S. Army Garrison-Miami manager Joanne B. Fitzgerald obtained by <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/extremism-disinformation/2023/09/05/qanon-embraced-film-pulled-from-screening-on-base-at-southcom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Military Times</a>.
The bottom of the material read, &#8220;the showing of this film does not imply or constitute endorsement by the U.S. Army nor SOUTHCOM,&#8221; the outlet noted. The free screenings were initially to be available on August 28 and then again on October 19.
Military Times noted that after it reached out about the initial screenings, SOUTHCOM canceled them and explained in an email to those on the base that free screenings were canceled until further notice in order to &#8220;prevent the appearance of copyright infringement.&#8221;
https://twitter.com/jimcaviezelfilm/status/1689244034198626304?s=20
The email included a message that said, &#8220;the film is currently available to view at local theaters, and personnel and their families who would like to see the film are encouraged to do so,&#8221; the outlet noted.
&#8220;The movie’s central theme and its connection to SOUTHCOM’s AOR and our Human Rights Office (HRO) Combatting Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) program are inescapable and will serve to raise awareness of the prevalence of trafficking in human persons and sexual abuse and exploitation within our area of responsibility,&#8221; the release added.
SOUTHCOM spokesman Jose Ruiz initially told the outlet that the &#8220;subject of the movie is something that&#8217;s of great concern to the command, in that it follows as part of its mission of countering transnational criminal organizations.&#8221;
&#8220;Because of the way these transnational criminal organizations exploit migrants — the hopes of migrants — in ways that end up being serious violations to their human rights, and unfortunately in some cases lead to the deaths of the migrants,&#8221; he added.
&#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-adds-more-international-dates-amid-films-success" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sound of Freedom</a>&#8221; comes from Angel Studios, the same company responsible for the popular faith-based television series, &#8220;The Chosen.&#8221;
In the movie — which is based on a true story — Caviezel portrays Tim Ballard, a federal agent who quits his job and embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue a young girl from sex slavery in South America.

Sound of Freedom

‘Sound Of Freedom’ Screenings At U.S. Southern Command Pulled

Celebrities

Human Trafficking

Military Bases

Movies

Sound of freedom

It was announced on Friday that &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/actor-jim-caviezel-sends-message-to-fans-as-sound-of-freedom-surpasses-150-million-mark" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sound of Freedom</a>&#8221; from Angel Studios will add more international dates as the film nears the $200 million mark worldwide.
The Jim Caviezel-led film, which deals with the horrors of human trafficking, will now be seen in more than 50 countries on top of the previously announced release of the film on screens in places like South Africa, Australia/New Zealand, the U.K., and the United States.
&#8220;We are thrilled to roll out another list of countries where &#8216;SOUND OF FREEDOM&#8217; is doing a theatrical run, this list spans several continents including Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia, and there is even more to come,&#8221; Jared Geesey, senior vice president of Global Distribution for Angel Studios, said in a press release.
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🚨 New international theaters added!🚨 Keep up to date with news of “Sound of Freedom” on the Angel Studios blog.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AngelStudios?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AngelStudios</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoundOfFreedom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SoundOfFreedom</a><a href="https://t.co/Dg60SSYIP0">https://t.co/Dg60SSYIP0</a>
&mdash; Angel Studios (@AngelStudiosInc) <a href="https://twitter.com/AngelStudiosInc/status/1695254898407833767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;We&#8217;re seeing surging demand for this film around the globe, and we will continue to make additional announcements in the coming days and weeks,&#8221; he added.
The film has been what many called the sleeper hit of the summer and remains in 2,100 theaters six weeks after its release on July 4, the press release noted. It has earned, as of August 30, $181,084,909, <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl4254237441/?ref_=bo_hm_rd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Box Office Mojo</a> noted. And it now &#8220;ranks in the Top 10 Box Office Cume for the year,&#8221; the press release added.
&#8220;Sound of Freedom&#8221; comes from the same studio responsible for the popular faith-based television series &#8220;The Chosen.&#8221;
In the movie, which is based on a true story, Caviezel portrays Tim Ballard, a federal agent who quits his job and embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue a young girl from sex slavery in South America.
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In July, the studio <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-to-be-played-on-hundreds-of-additional-screens-in-4th-week-of-release" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that the hit film would be released globally, appearing in theaters across the world, in Latin American countries, the U.K., and Ireland between August and October.
&#8220;Since &#8216;SOUND OF FREEDOM&#8217; launched in the US, demand has been building around the world in dozens of regions and languages,&#8221; Geesey said at the time. &#8220;Child trafficking is a global issue, and we hope to build on the incredible momentum here in the states and share the film&#8217;s powerful message worldwide.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-dominates-box-office-in-florida-texas-and-arizona" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8216;Sound Of Freedom&#8217; Dominates Box Offices Across The Country</a>

‘Sound Of Freedom’ Adds More International Dates Amid Film’s Success

&#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-to-be-played-on-hundreds-of-additional-screens-in-4th-week-of-release" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sound of Freedom</a>&#8221; writer-director Alejandro Monteverde opened up about the possibility of a sequel to the hit that has become the highest-grossing indie film since 2019&#8217;s &#8220;Parasite.&#8221;
The movie, which deals with the horrors of human trafficking, has earned more than $170 million at the <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl4254237441/?ref_=bo_hm_rd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">box office</a> as of Monday. According to Variety, Monteverde said there are already talks about a follow-up.
&#8220;There&#8217;s definitely a lot of interest to exploring [the subject] a little deeper, because this is just the tip of the iceberg,&#8221; the director told the outlet in a wide-ranging interview.
&#8220;There&#8217;s a lot of interest to kind of explore Haiti, what&#8217;s happening in Haiti,&#8221; he added. &#8220;There&#8217;s [sequel] talks focusing on Haiti.&#8221;
Monteverde admitted going into opening weekend, he said he thought it would be great if the movie earned $5 million.
&#8220;I will be really happy with that,&#8217; he said. &#8220;$14 million I thought for the whole run.&#8221;
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“If there’s one issue that can unite everyone, it’s ending child trafficking.”<a href="https://t.co/CmKUuS8Ubo">https://t.co/CmKUuS8Ubo</a>
&mdash; Sound of Freedom | Movie (@SOFMovie2023) <a href="https://twitter.com/SOFMovie2023/status/1691125080401625089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Sound of Freedom,&#8221; based on a true story, comes from Angel Studios, the same studio responsible for the popular faith-based television series, &#8220;The Chosen.&#8221; Actor Jim Caviezel portrays Tim Ballard, a federal agent who quits his job and embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue a young girl from sex slavery in South America.
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The director said, &#8220;Haiti was a big part of Tim [Ballard&#8217;s] work. I was very tempted to do Haiti on this film. But I wanted to do an origin story, and it was too much material. I needed to end where I ended.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/actor-jim-caviezel-sends-message-to-fans-as-sound-of-freedom-surpasses-150-million-mark" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Actor Jim Caviezel Sends Message To Fans As &#8216;Sound Of Freedom&#8217; Surpasses $150 Million Mark</a>

Alejandro Monteverde-1

‘Sound Of Freedom’ Director Talks Possible Sequel Following Film’s Success

‘Sound Of Freedom’ Director Talks Possible Sequel Following Film's Success

U.S.

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jim-caviezel-thanks-supporters-for-not-letting-the-media-silence-sound-of-freedom?fbclid=IwAR1GGphqAa3rvFjArWx6c14obx32I_Cz8vZxWmAKCWPyXH8NIMT4JlT14kA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jim Caviezel</a> sent a message of thanks to fans as his new movie &#8220;Sound of Freedom&#8221; surpassed the $150 million mark at the box office.
In a <a href="https://twitter.com/reallycaviezel/status/1687227093837385728?s=46&amp;amp;t=yVg_AIbZC0FnyCtU4qPVYw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post to X</a> on Thursday, the 54-year-old actor expressed gratitude for those who have supported the film, which deals with the horrors of human trafficking. It comes from Angel Studios, the same studio responsible for the popular faith-based television series, &#8220;The Chosen.&#8221;
&#8220;Thank you for supporting Sound of Freedom!&#8221; Caviezel wrote. &#8220;Thanks also for all the prayers for me &#8211; I&#8217;m feeling much better and am energized by all the awareness that we&#8217;ve brought to the issue of child trafficking. God&#8217;s children are not for sale!&#8221;
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Thank you for supporting Sound of Freedom! Thanks also for all the prayers for me &#8211; I&#39;m feeling much better and am energized by all the awareness that we&#39;ve brought to the issue of child trafficking. God&#39;s children are not for sale!
&mdash; Jim Caviezel (@reallycaviezel) <a href="https://twitter.com/reallycaviezel/status/1687227093837385728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The post comes as the film has earned to date $155,000,017 as of the close of business on Wednesday, according to <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl4254237441/?ref_=bo_hm_rd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Box Office Mojo</a>.
&#8220;Throughout our fourth weekend, audiences have continued to show up and support SOUND OF FREEDOM, and our theatrical partners have given us ample real estate to meet that continued demand,&#8221; Brandon Purdie, head of Theatrical Distribution at Angel Studios, shared in a weekend press release estimating that the movie would pass $150 million.
&#8220;We now know that this incredible film is going to surpass the $150 million mark domestically, and we&#8217;re strongly positioned to go well past that,&#8221; he added.
The film has been performing well at the domestic box office, staying ahead of the highly-anticipated summer blockbuster led by Tom Cruise &#8220;Mission:Impossible-Dead Reckoning Part One&#8221; and &#8220;The Flash.&#8221; The seventh &#8220;Mission:Impossible&#8221; film <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1896449537/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earned</a>, as of Wednesday, $143,350,787 while the DC superhero film had <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0439572/?ref_=bo_se_r_1">brought in $107,975,616</a>.
In &#8220;Sound of Freedom,&#8221; which is based on a true story, Caviezel portrays Tim Ballard, a federal agent who quits his job and embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue a young girl from sex slavery in South America.
In July, the studio <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-to-be-played-on-hundreds-of-additional-screens-in-4th-week-of-release" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that the hit film will soon be released globally, appearing in theaters in South Africa, Australia/New Zealand, Latin American countries, the U.K., and Ireland between August and October, a release read. More countries are being added weekly, it added.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jim-caviezel-thanks-supporters-for-not-letting-the-media-silence-sound-of-freedom?fbclid=IwAR1GGphqAa3rvFjArWx6c14obx32I_Cz8vZxWmAKCWPyXH8NIMT4JlT14kA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jim Caviezel Thanks Supporters For &#8216;Not Letting The Media Silence&#8217; &#8216;Sound Of Freedom&#8217;</a>

James Caviezel

Actor Jim Caviezel Sends Message To Fans As ‘Sound Of Freedom’ Surpasses $150 Million Mark

&#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-takes-top-spot-at-box-office-on-fourth-of-july" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sound of Freedom</a>&#8221; has been dominating box offices across the country in places like Florida and Texas its first weekend out after taking the number one spot across the country on its release day July 4.
The film — which deals with the horrors of human trafficking — has done <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/sound-of-freedom-box-office-movie-theaters-1235532352/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">incredibly well</a> in the middle of the country and the southern portion of the United- States, becoming number one movie over the July 7-9 weekend at multiplexes in Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Phoenix, and Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, and Salt Lake City, according to Comscore data.
It ended up beating Disney&#8217;s highly-anticipated Harrison Ford sequel &#8220;Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny&#8221; along with &#8220;Insidious: Red Door&#8221; its opening weekend in these places, the outlet noted.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/absolutely-appalling-jim-caviezel-slams-christian-bigotry-happening-around-the-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jim Caviezel</a>-lead film has earned — over its 8 days run — a total of more than $45 million at the domestic box office, according to <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl4254237441/?ref_=bo_hm_rd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Box Office Mojo</a>. It also earned a coveted A+ CinemaScore, which generally guarantees strong word of mouth, THR noted.
&#8220;Sound of Freedom&#8221; comes from AngelStudios movie — the same company responsible for the popular faith-based television series, &#8220;The Chosen.&#8221;
Angel Studios CEO Neal Harmon said in a statement that their movie has taken on a &#8220;life of its own.&#8221;
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“We&#39;re getting messages from all over the country telling us about packed theaters, sold-out theaters, and spontaneous standing ovations for the film in numerous locations. Seeing this film has become a must thanks to incredible word-of-mouth…”
 <a href="https://t.co/QNlUcFYiZn">https://t.co/QNlUcFYiZn</a>
&mdash; Sound of Freedom | Movie (@SOFMovie2023) <a href="https://twitter.com/SOFMovie2023/status/1678817248650096648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;This movie has now taken on a life of its own to become something more than that, a grassroots movement,&#8221; Harmon said. &#8220;The world needs to see &#8216;Sound of Freedom&#8217; and we know that our biggest competitive advantage — our incredible fans and investors — are going to make sure that happens.&#8221;
Following the film&#8217;s success over the weekend, the &#8220;Passion of the Christ&#8221; star <a href="https://twitter.com/reallycaviezel/status/1677467624064577549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared a video</a> with followers thanking them for &#8220;not letting the media silence&#8221; this movie.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve always said do you want to be liked by many, the world, Hollywood, or do you want to be loved by one, which is God,&#8221; Caviezel said in the clip. &#8220;Because love don&#8217;t come from man it comes from above.&#8221;
&#8220;So, I&#8217;m sitting here thinking about all you amazing Americans that are fighting the battle and helping us in this war against the greatest evil that has ever been,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Because you know that God&#8217;s children are not for sale.&#8221;
In the movie, Caviezel portrays Tim Ballard in the true story of a federal agent who quits his job and embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue a young girl from sex slavery in South America.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jim-caviezel-thanks-supporters-for-not-letting-the-media-silence-sound-of-freedom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jim Caviezel Thanks Supporters For &#8216;Not Letting The Media Silence&#8217; &#8216;Sound Of Freedom&#8217;</a>

‘Sound Of Freedom’ Dominates Box Offices Across The Country

Singer and song-writer Jewel showed her support for the new film &#8220;Sound of Freedom,&#8221; sharing a video on TikTok and Twitter encouraging everyone to get out and see the movie.
Responding to a month-old tweet from Twitter owner Elon Musk – who had suggested that Angel Studios make the film available to stream on Twitter — the &#8220;Foolish Games&#8221; singer shared a video of herself talking about the importance of the movie&#8217;s message.
&#8220;It saddens me that some media is trying to politicize this movie,&#8221; she captioned the video. &#8220;This is not left or right. It’s about millions of kids being trafficked, and no matter what your faith or creed, we need to protect all the vulnerable kids rather than fight over philosophical differences.&#8221;
WATCH:
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It saddens me that some media is trying to politicize this movie. This is not left or right. It’s about millions of kids being trafficked, and no matter what your faith or creed, we need to protect all the vulnerable kids rather than fight over philosophical differences. <a href="https://t.co/aKjCtUlmi3">pic.twitter.com/aKjCtUlmi3</a>
&mdash; Jewel (@jeweljk) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeweljk/status/1678442209887256576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;You guys, I just saw the &#8216;Sound of Freedom,'&#8221; she said. &#8220;You have to see it. I&#8217;m so verklempt.&#8221;
&#8220;Some friends of mine made this movie,&#8221; the singer continued. &#8220;And I&#8217;ve — it&#8217;s been years of it being in production. It&#8217;s the most inspiring film. Did you know that there are millions of children in slavery? This is the fastest-growing criminal enterprise, and the amount of children enslaved right now is greater than all 300 years of the transatlantic slave trade. What the actual eff?&#8221;
&#8220;This is a true story about a man who just doesn&#8217;t give up on a child,&#8221; she said, referencing the inspiration for the movie — former federal agent Tim Ballard. &#8220;So touching, you&#8217;re going to love it. Please go see it. This is the little Indie movie that could, it&#8217;s competing with all of the giant blockbusters and it&#8217;s kicking butt and it deserves it.&#8221;
&#8220;Go see this and have your heart filled,&#8221; Jewel concluded. &#8220;Love you guys, take care of your babies!&#8221;
Jewel joins a number of others who have worked to promote the film — including actor Mel Gibson and UFC President Dana White, the latter of whom even <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ufc-president-gave-his-employees-free-tix-to-sound-of-freedom-encourages-others-to-do-the-same" target="_blank" rel="noopener">offered to pay for tickets</a> for any of his employees who wanted to see the film.
Critics – including a number of media outlets – have attempted to tie the film to QAnon conspiracy theories.
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The mainstream media are coordinating with each other to attempt to discredit Sound of Freedom because it exposes real life child trafficking. 
These outlets want to hide the truth:
Washington Post Rolling Stone Media Matters Jezebel The Guardian
📸 <a href="https://twitter.com/CourageHabit?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CourageHabit</a> <a href="https://t.co/FasQDT37Le">pic.twitter.com/FasQDT37Le</a>
&mdash; Oli London (@OliLondonTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/OliLondonTV/status/1678162919689781255?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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46th Annual Gracie Awards

‘This Is Not Left Or Right’: Singer Jewel Defends ‘Sound Of Freedom’ Amid Backlash

'This Is Not Left Or Right': Singer Jewel Defends 'Sound Of Freedom' Amid Backlash

jewel

Music

Sex Trafficking

Come for Morning Wire’s Afternoon Update’s straight news, but stay for the rapid reaction analysis. The following five stories, and more, can be heard on today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update podcast. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire/biden-administration-appeal-twitter-threatens-legal-action-afternoon-update-7-6-23" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here to listen</a>. 
1. Larry Nassar Stabbed: Report
Former U.S. gymnastics doctor and convicted child molester Larry Nassar was reportedly stabbed multiple times in the back and neck in an altercation at the United States Penitentiary Coleman Sunday night.  The extent of his injuries is unknown, but he is said to be in stable condition. The full report can be <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/convicted-child-molester-larry-nassar-stabbed-in-prison-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read here</a>.
Rapid Reaction: Never forget that the FBI <a href="https://www.wthr.com/article/news/crime/fbi-director-addresses-failures-larry-nassar-case-during-indianapolis-stop-usa-gymnastics-biles-raisman-maroney-sue-settlement/531-60daed07-20dd-41a3-9e31-9c3892a0d432" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dropped</a> the ball on this guy long ago. The G-Men reportedly knew that Nassar was assaulting athletes at Michigan State University and elsewhere, but failed to open an investigation. It wasn&#8217;t until 2016 that the DOJ moved against Nassar.
The mistakes were so egregious that FBI Director Christopher Wray formally apologized.
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&#8220;Every great organization makes mistakes. What defines them is they learn from those mistakes,&#8221; Wray said in March 2023. &#8220;And I think we&#8217;re learning from them and we&#8217;re hellbent on making sure that what happened or more precisely what did not happen there, doesn&#8217;t ever occur again.&#8221;
So while the Right might view the FBI&#8217;s treatment of President Donald Trump, for example, as evidence that something is rotten with The Bureau, the truth is that it has been on the decline for quite some time. The decay is ubiquitous and not necessarily wholly political.
2. New York Dems Use Flooding To Push For Climate Change Funding
More than nine million Americans are under flood warnings in North Eastern states — including New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Maine. Heavy rainfall is causing mayhem, and now flash floods and even landslides are expected in those areas. Over 1,000 flights were delayed due to the flooding, and Amtrak temporarily suspended service along the popular Northeast Corridor. The full report can be read <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/rare-flash-flood-warning-issued-new-york-woman-dies-trying-evacuate-rcna93346" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Rapid Reaction: New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIC92Cwi8wE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">used</a> the tragedy to push for climate change funding and other big government programs on Tuesday.
&#8220;Yes, money is going to have to be part of the solution,&#8221; Hochul said of how New York will have to proceed in its supposed fight against climate change.
Somehow, spending taxpayer money is always part of the solution for the Left.
Failing schools?<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unions-complain-of-dire-teacher-shortages-ahead-of-new-school-year-push-for-more-funding" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Throw more money at it</a>!
Homeless? <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/san-francisco-has-spent-billions-to-end-homelessness-and-its-been-a-total-disaster" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Fork over billions</a>!
Climate change? <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bidens-green-energy-boondoggle-keeps-getting-bigger" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shell out more moolah</a>!
Want to have your classic New York pizza slice?<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-man-takes-on-woke-a-idiots-in-new-york-city-chants-give-us-pizza-or-give-us-death" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> That&#8217;ll cost you</a>! 
3. Wagner Leader Pledges Loyalty To Russia
Yevgeny Prigozhin <a href="https://www.walb.com/2023/07/10/russian-mercenary-leader-prigozhin-pledges-loyalty-kremlin-after-short-lived-mutiny/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> pledged loyalty to the Russian government in a Kremlin meeting with President Vladimir Putin just days after Prigozhin’s Wagner mercenary group led a short-lived rebellion against the Russian President. Though Russia’s president branded him a traitor as the revolt unfolded and vowed harsh punishment, the criminal case against the mercenary chief was later dropped. However, he could still face prosecution for financial wrongdoing or other charges.
Rapid Reaction: The longer the Ukraine war goes on, the more people are asking, &#8220;What&#8217;s the endgame here?&#8221; On Monday, Daily Wire editor emeritus Ben Shapiro tweeted an essay starting with the premise, &#8220;Western policy in Ukraine is incoherent, if not outright dangerous.&#8221;
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Western policy in Ukraine is incoherent, if not outright dangerous. We keep hearing our leaders repeating two phrases: &quot;as long as it takes&quot; and &quot;until Ukraine wins.&quot; The problem is that both are lies, and we all know it.
&quot;As long as it takes&quot; is always a lie in a democracy. See…
&mdash; Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/1678406812012298243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Indeed, hardly anybody in support of Ukraine has stated what ultimate success actually looks like. Well, one guy has provided a clear end-game scenario: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has repeatedly said that regime change and/or the assassination of Putin should be the goal for the West. If Graham got his way, a guy like Prigozhin could come to power.
As this <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-is-the-wests-end-goal-in-ukraine-the-million-ruble-question-nobody-will-answer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">author wrote</a> in February 2023, &#8220;The West cannot define what &#8216;winning&#8217; looks like — but is asking U.S. taxpayers to help foot the bill to drag Ukraine over the finish line. In doing so, we just may wind up being dragged into a nuclear war with Russia.&#8221;
4. Tennessee Youth Soccer Coach Suspected Of Raping Unconscious Minors
A Tenessee youth soccer coach has been <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tennessee-youth-soccer-coach-suspected-of-raping-unconscious-minors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> after police say pictures and “unconscionable videos” were allegedly found on his phone revealing that he drugged and raped unconscious boys.
In late June, 63-year-old Camilo Hurtado Campos, of Franklin, Tennessee, left his phone at a restaurant, prompting a customer to hand it to employees. As employees went through the phone to identify its owner, they discovered the alarming content and contacted the police.  According to authorities, there is video evidence showing that at least ten minors were raped. Two minors have been identified, but police are working to identify the other victims. Detectives said some were in such an unconscious state they likely didn’t even realize what happened. The victims are expected between the ages of nine and 17. Campos would allegedly recruit young boys at playgrounds and schools to join his soccer team before taking advantage of them.
Rapid Reaction: It&#8217;s a dangerous world filled with creeps and the worst kind of perverts imaginable. And yet, for some reason, legacy Media outlets choose to disparage men like Jim Caviezel and Tim Ballard for helping to expose the child sex-trafficking industry in their new movie, &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-expected-to-hit-40-million-after-first-weekend" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sound of Freedom</a>.&#8221;
While it&#8217;s unclear if Campos sold or trafficked children, it is clear that he posed a threat to the community and innocent minors, if the allegations are true. These sorts of dangers are around every corner — even in red states and conservative communities.
This author knows Franklin well. It is a generally safe, family-friendly own. In many ways, it feels like it has been frozen in time in the best possible way. Kids still ride freely on bikes. Strangers strike up conversations with each other. It has numerous parades and festivals replete with civic pride.
But simply because it&#8217;s idyllic doesn&#8217;t mean it&#8217;s entirely safe. And despite what <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jim-caviezel-thanks-supporters-for-not-letting-the-media-silence-sound-of-freedom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Legacy Media insists</a>, sexual threats to children are everywhere. It&#8217;s not paranoia to recognize that.
5. NIH Funding Research On The Effects Of Puberty Blockers
A Daily Wire investigative report has revealed that the National Institutes of Health is funding research on the effects of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone treatment on youth despite acknowledgment from the grantee that these medical interventions can result in sterility.
The NIH has doled out millions for similar studies around the country. That full original Daily Wire report can be <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nih-funds-study-on-puberty-blockers-hormones-on-youth-despite-risk-of-sterilization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read here</a>.
Rapid Reaction: There&#8217;s a lot of money to be made in &#8220;trans-ing&#8221; the kids. Don&#8217;t take my word for it, listen to some of the so-called experts.
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Last September, The Daily Wire&#8217;s best-selling LGBTQ children&#8217;s author Matt Walsh <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/huge-money-maker-video-reveals-vanderbilts-shocking-gender-care-threats-against-dissenting-doctors">exposed</a>  University Medical Center’s Clinic for Transgender Health’s Dr. Shayne Sebold Taylor bragging about how radical gender surgeries were &#8220;big money maker.&#8221; 
Taylor also explained that individuals “just on routine hormone treatment, who I’m only seeing a few times a year, can bring in several thousand dollars … and actually makes money for the hospital.”
It would appear that hospitals also have incentives from our own government to encourage sex rejection and gender-denial procedures.
For example, the NIH is also giving more than $3.2 million to an effort from the Boston Children’s Hospital to produce a “trans health guide” that aims to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republican-senators-blast-nih-for-3-million-grant-to-expand-medical-transitions-for-minors">expand access</a> to sex changes for minors.
It&#8217;s all so perverse and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nih-funds-study-on-puberty-blockers-hormones-on-youth-despite-risk-of-sterilization" target="_blank" rel="noopener">worth the read</a>. Why are our taxes going to this?
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To listen to the audio version of Afternoon Update, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.
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Kathy Hochul

The Rundown: Don’t Forget The FBI Botched Larry Nassar’s Case, Money Is Always The Dems’ Answer, And More Stories To Know About

The Rundown: Don't Forget The FBI Botched Larry Nassar's Case, Money Is Always The Dems' Answer, And More Stories To Know About

Climate Change

Larry Nassar

Morning Wire

New York

Podcast

Russia

Tennessee

Transgender

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/absolutely-appalling-jim-caviezel-slams-christian-bigotry-happening-around-the-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jim Caviezel</a> thanked supporters for &#8220;not letting the media silence&#8221; his new film &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-film-based-on-a-true-story-exposes-horror-of-human-trafficking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sound of Freedom</a>&#8221; which deals with the horrors of human trafficking, saying &#8220;saving children should never be a controversy.&#8221;
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-takes-top-spot-at-box-office-on-fourth-of-july" target="_blank" rel="noopener">54-year-old actor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/reallycaviezel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a> a video message over the weekend praising all who have come out to support the AngelStudios movie — the same company responsible for the popular faith-based television series, &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-chosen-scores-extended-theatrical-release-following-overwhelming-response-for-finale-tickets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Chosen</a>.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;ve always said do you want to be liked by many, the world, Hollywood, or do you want to be loved by one, which is God,&#8221; Caviezel said in the clip. &#8220;Because love don&#8217;t come from man it comes from above.&#8221;
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We hit 2 million tickets for <a href="https://twitter.com/SOFMovie2023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SOFMovie2023</a>! This is a representation of the children’s lives who will be saved. Thank you to <a href="https://twitter.com/AngelStudiosInc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AngelStudiosInc</a> for championing this film and to the audience. Please continue to share this message because God’s children are not for sale! <a href="https://t.co/UBUi5pFXgU">pic.twitter.com/UBUi5pFXgU</a>
&mdash; Jim Caviezel (@reallycaviezel) <a href="https://twitter.com/reallycaviezel/status/1677467624064577549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;So, I&#8217;m sitting here thinking about all you amazing Americans that are fighting the battle and helping us in this war against the greatest evil that has ever been,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Because you know that God&#8217;s children are not for sale.&#8221;
&#8220;I want to thank you all for helping us reach two million tickets and thanks for not letting the media silence us,&#8221; the &#8220;Passion of the Christ&#8221; star continued. &#8220;Your voices were heard. I love you.&#8221;
Jared Geesey, Angel Studios’ senior vice president of global distribution, had previously shared a company goal to get &#8220;two million people into theaters opening week to remember the two million children who are trafficked each year.&#8221;
The Caviezel-lead film ended up topping the box office on its opening day, July 4, and took the number one spot, beating out Disney&#8217;s highly-anticipated &#8220;Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny,&#8221; among others, <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/date/2023-07-05/weekly/?sort=2023-07-04&amp;ref_=bo_da__resort#table" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Box Office Mojo</a> reported.
In the movie, Caviezel portrays Tim Ballard in the true story of a federal agent who quits his job and embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue a young girl from sex slavery in South America.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-takes-top-spot-at-box-office-on-fourth-of-july" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8216;Sound Of Freedom&#8217; Takes Top Spot At Box Office On Fourth of July</a>

Jim Caviezel Thanks Supporters For ‘Not Letting The Media Silence’ ‘Sound Of Freedom’

UFC President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-is-f-america-what-we-can-learn-from-dana-whites-stand-against-cancel-culture" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dana White</a> announced on Saturday that he had given his employees free tickets to see the movie &#8220;Sound of Freedom&#8221; — based on a true story about human trafficking.
White shared a video explaining that he had offered his staff the chance to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-takes-top-spot-at-box-office-on-fourth-of-july" target="_blank" rel="noopener">see the film</a>, and challenged other executives to do the same for their own employees. &#8220;YOU MUST SEE THIS MOVIE @SOFMovie2023,&#8221; White captioned the video he shared on Twitter.
WATCH:
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YOU MUST SEE THIS MOVIE <a href="https://twitter.com/SOFMovie2023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SOFMovie2023</a> <a href="https://t.co/vQ1ThcqW5d">pic.twitter.com/vQ1ThcqW5d</a>
&mdash; danawhite (@danawhite) <a href="https://twitter.com/danawhite/status/1677840090780028933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Hey, everybody, I&#8217;m Dana White,&#8221; he began. &#8220;There&#8217;s a new movie out called &#8216;The Sound of Freedom,&#8217; and it&#8217;s about human trafficking. More importantly, it&#8217;s about the trafficking of children. This is a disgusting, horrific issue that&#8217;s happening all around the world, and it&#8217;s not getting better, it&#8217;s getting worse.&#8221;
&#8220;What I&#8217;m going to do, is I&#8217;m going to give any of my UFC employees that want to see this movie free tickets to go see it, and I would like to encourage other executives to do the same at their companies,&#8221; he continued.
White then shared video of actor Mel Gibson — who has been promoting the film from the beginning — explaining why he believed the movie was so important.
&#8220;One of the most disturbing problems in our world today is human trafficking, and particularly the trafficking of children,&#8221; Gibson said. &#8220;Now, the first step in eradicating this crime is awareness. Go see &#8216;Sound of Freedom.'&#8221;
The film <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-film-based-on-a-true-story-exposes-horror-of-human-trafficking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stars Jim Caviezel</a> – who played the role of Jesus in Gibson&#8217;s &#8220;The Passion of the Christ&#8221; — as Tim Ballard, a federal agent who quit his job to save a young girl from sex slavery in South America.
&#8220;After rescuing a young boy from ruthless child traffickers, a federal agent learns the boy’s sister is still captive and decides to embark on a dangerous mission to save her. With time running out, he quits his job and journeys deep into the Colombian jungle, putting his life on the line to free her from a fate worse than death,&#8221; a press release stated.

UFC 290: Whittaker v Du Plessis

UFC President Gave His Employees Free Tix To ‘Sound Of Freedom,’ Encourages Others To Do The Same

UFC President Gave His Employees Free Tix To 'Sound Of Freedom,' Encourages Others To Do The Same

Dana White

Mel Gibson

Sometime between the years of 2018 and 2023, Left-leaning news outlet <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/the-guardian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian</a> went from writing their own exposes about child sex trafficking to denigrating a movie that does the same by calling it “QAnon-adjacent.”
Reviewer Charles Bramesco makes no effort to hide his abhorrence for the massively popular Angel Studios film “Sound of Freedom,” which recounts the true story of Tim Ballard, a federal agent who quit his job to save a young girl from sex slavery in South America. The newly released movie shocked Hollywood industry insiders with its impressive box office numbers despite a lack of major promotion.
“Sound of Freedom” was in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-takes-top-spot-at-box-office-on-fourth-of-july" target="_blank" rel="noopener">number one spot</a> at the U.S. box office on July 4, beating out Disney’s highly-anticipated “Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny” and other huge releases during the 4th of July holiday.
Bramesco won’t even admit that success was valid. The reviewer <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jul/06/sound-of-freedom-movie-qanon-jim-caviezel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that “Sound of Freedom” only outperformed “Indiana Jones” for a “fleeting moment this past Fourth of July, while the intended audience of Indy’s latest outing was presumably spending time with their families and friends at barbecues or in other social situations.”
He further called the undeniably impressive box office ticket sales reports “selective” and as having “almost willfully misleading framing” to create a “David-and-Goliath narrative.”
Box office earnings aside, it’s hard to see how a formerly bipartisan issue such as working to end the horror of human trafficking could possibly be seen as primarily Right-wing, or as controversial in the slightest.
Conservative commentator Jack Posobiec pointed out how The Guardian itself did an in-depth expose on child trafficking in 2018. The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/dec/23/child-sex-trafficking-rife-colombia-cartagena" target="_blank" rel="noopener">piece</a>, titled “Child sex trafficking rife in Colombia&#8217;s picturesque Cartagena,” featured interviews with victims of the practice, including teenage girls who were kidnapped, raped, and otherwise abused.
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The Guardian ran a huge exposé on child sex trafficking in Columbia in 2018
Now they are saying it&#39;s a conspiracy theory to watch a movie about child sex trafficking set in Columbia <a href="https://t.co/sQHVUpaKlM">pic.twitter.com/sQHVUpaKlM</a>
&mdash; Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/1677297575227973632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Writer Mathew Charles described trafficking as the country’s “shameful problem” that had become “out of control” in the city. The expose also highlighted the thriving sex tourism industry where younger victims fetched the highest prices. One interviewee said underage workers “earn a lot more.”
“Clients pay more for them, but sometimes they can be scared. Often, they’re given drugs first or lots of alcohol to get them drunk. I think it makes it easier,” the 24-year-old sex worker explained.
This coverage stands in stark contrast to the “Sound of Freedom” review, which paints the panic over child sex trafficking as some kind of Right-wing conspiracy theory. Bramesco focuses much of his vitriol at the film’s lead actor Jim Caviezel.
“Even if he did not literally have the face of Christ, Ballard would still exude an angelic aura as he gently hoists dirty-faced moppets out of peril with the gravely uttered catchphrase: ‘God’s children are not for sale,’” the Guardian reviewer writes of Caviezel’s performance, referencing his former role as Jesus in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.”
Bromesco admits that the movie is solely about trafficking and doesn’t delve into any fringe conspiracy theories. But the reviewer insists that “Sound of Freedom” is a Trojan horse in that respect, implying that viewers are being tricked into believing more elaborate conspiracies just by accepting the film at face value.
“The trafficking follows no motivation more elaborate than the servicing of rich predators, eliding all talk of body-part black markets and the precious organic biochemical of adrenochrome harvested as a Satanic key to eternal life,” he writes. “The first rule of QAnon: you don’t talk about QAnon where the normals can hear you.”
The Guardian reviewer next accuses “Sound of Freedom” of “prend[ing] to be a real movie” just as he accuses crisis pregnancy centers, which offer mothers-to-be resources and prenatal care, of “masquerading” as “bona fide health clinic(s).”
Bromesco concludes by mocking Angel Studios for providing a QR code that would allow viewers to purchase tickets for other prospective attendees. He sees the whole thing as a shameless money grab rather than as a way for creators to find a creative way to spread the message.
The Guardian review of “Sound of Freedom” is not common. Moviegoers are mostly stunned and moved by the effort by Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Monteverde.
Reviewer Aaron Gleason at The Federalist <a href="https://thefederalist.com/2023/07/07/sex-trafficking-drama-sound-of-freedom-is-a-heartbreaking-and-hopeful-call-to-action/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called the film</a> “a heartbreaking and hopeful call to action.” Unlike Bromesco, he believed the central aim of “Sound of Freedom” creators was to inspire viewers to take action against these atrocities. Gleason notes how Caviezel gives a stunning performance, but ultimately it’s the young actors who drive the message home.
“It’s about the children — lost, invisible children who suffer in the depths of hell every single day. While the rich and powerful try to indoctrinate us with critical race theory and other ideological moralisms, true victims suffer in literal cages and chains,” he writes.
Even more mainstream reviewers found the movie effective. A Variety <a href="https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/sound-of-freedom-review-jim-caviezel-1235660035/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reviewer</a> said Caviezel “anchors” this “solidly made and disquieting thriller.” They also wrote that while it’s “been sold as a ‘conservative’ thriller,” you “don&#8217;t need that mindset to find it compelling.”
“You needn’t hold extreme beliefs to experience ‘Sound of Freedom’ as a compelling movie that shines an authentic light on one of the crucial criminal horrors of our time, one that Hollywood has mostly shied away from,” Variety writer Owen Gleiberman concluded after stating he does not believe in Pizzagate.
The movie currently has a 79% rating on movie review site Rotten Tomatoes and a 100% audience score.
Interestingly, The Guardian released their own short film about child trafficking in June. “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/video/2023/jun/13/sex-trafficking-the-fight-to-recover-indias-stolen-children" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The hunt for India’s stolen children</a>” tells the shocking story of teens and younger children who go missing in the Sundarbans, a mangrove forest located in India’s Bay of Bengal.
The 15-minute video has many of the same elements as “Sound of Freedom.” There are survivors who recount some of the horrors they experienced after being drugged, kidnapped, and gang raped. At one point, a non-profit coordinator admits that at least one victim was kidnapped specifically for traffickers to sell their blood.
The Guardian’s video also features police staging a rescue of two sisters who were trafficked to another region and sold as sex slaves. Viewers could argue that their story was a shorter version of Agent Ballard’s quest to reunite trafficked siblings.
The major difference between “Sound of Freedom” and “India’s stolen children” is the framing. The Guardian’s expose blames trafficking on poverty in the region that’s exacerbated by climate change, which has caused the already impoverished region to become poorer and less stable.
“The Sundarbans is the world’s largest mangrove forest and one of the most climate vulnerable locations on the planet,” the video description says. “Climate change has taken an enormous toll on the rainforest in recent years, repeatedly uprooting families and decimating the incomes of residents who have traditionally relied heavily on agriculture and fishing for their livelihoods.”
“Now, repeated natural disasters and environmental changes to the region have created a highly vulnerable population increasingly at risk of participating in or becoming victims of child trafficking,” it reads.
Ending child trafficking is still a topic leftists will champion. But only when it fits the rest of their narrative.
The title of this article was changed for clarity. Previous title was &#8220;‘Sound Of Freedom’ Mocked As ‘QAnon Adjacent’ Despite Sex Trafficking Being Non-Partisan.&#8221;

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Leftists Mock Anti-Sex Trafficking Film As ‘QAnon Adjacent’

Child Sex Abuse

Media

Readers Pass

The Guardian

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/disgustingly-abusive-gina-carano-defends-swim-champ-riley-gaines-after-attack-from-left-wing-campus-mob" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gina Carano</a> said &#8220;tears definitely flowed&#8221; while watching the emotional &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-tops-10m-in-box-office-presales" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sound of Freedom</a>&#8221; film and called on everyone to see the movie which deals with the horrors of human trafficking.
The 41-year-old actress <a href="https://twitter.com/ginacarano/status/1676732066829062144?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a> on Wednesday to her 1.2 million followers about the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/absolutely-appalling-jim-caviezel-slams-christian-bigotry-happening-around-the-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jim Caviezel</a>-led movie and urged people to support the film from Angel Studios — the company responsible for the popular faith-based television series &#8220;The Chosen.&#8221;
&#8220;Just got out of the movie theater where I watched [SoundofFreedom] by [AngelStudiosInc] starring [JimCaviezel] based on the true story of TimBallard,&#8221; Carano tweeted.
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Just got out of the movie theater where I watched <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoundofFreedom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SoundofFreedom</a> by <a href="https://twitter.com/AngelStudiosInc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AngelStudiosInc</a> starring <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JimCaviezel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JimCaviezel</a> based on the true story of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TimBallard?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TimBallard</a> .
It is a movie that is speaking about one of the most important topics in the world today.. child slavery, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HumanTrafficking?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HumanTrafficking</a> 
I… <a href="https://t.co/6Np5rwNHVd">https://t.co/6Np5rwNHVd</a>
&mdash; Gina Carano 🕯 (@ginacarano) <a href="https://twitter.com/ginacarano/status/1676732066829062144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;It is a movie that is speaking about one of the most important topics in the world today&#8230; child slavery, [HumanTrafficking],&#8221; she added. &#8220;I was grateful to watch it in a theater full of other human beings. The theater was packed. It was a beautiful thing to see the support.&#8221;
&#8220;Tears definitely flowed throughout the film, with a heavy enlightening of what is happening in the world today but also with hope that this topic is finally gaining more traction and touching the hearts of people who can help make a difference,&#8221; Carano continued. &#8220;Maybe we all can just by becoming more aware. Support this movie. Go see it.&#8221;
Country superstar <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/john-rich-discusses-how-americans-can-fight-child-trafficking-touts-movie-every-parent-in-america-needs-to-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Rich</a> also took to Twitter to celebrate that the movie was &#8220;smashing box office expectations&#8221; amid reports that it was projected to score $20 million during its opening week.
&#8220;SoundOfFreedom is smashing box office expectations!&#8221; Rich tweeted. &#8220;That&#8217;s a GREAT thing to see. Please share this tweet, the link below is where you go to find theaters near you.&#8221;
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SoundOfFreedom?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SoundOfFreedom</a> is smashing box office expectations! That’s a GREAT thing to see. Please share this tweet, the link below is where you go to find theaters near you👇 <a href="https://t.co/eMyM6nDmri">https://t.co/eMyM6nDmri</a>
&mdash; John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnrich/status/1676219048621744129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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In the film, Caviezel portrays Tim Ballard in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-film-based-on-a-true-story-exposes-horror-of-human-trafficking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">true story</a> of a federal agent who quits his job and embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue a young girl from sex slavery in South America.
The movie opened in theaters in the U.S. on July 4th and took the number one spot at the domestic box office, beating out Disney&#8217;s highly-anticipated &#8220;Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny,&#8221; among others, <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/date/2023-07-05/weekly/?sort=2023-07-04&amp;ref_=bo_da__resort#table" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Box Office Mojo</a> reported.
The film scored $14.2 million at the box office ($11.5 million at the direct box office combined with another $2.6 million from <a href="https://www.angel.com/pay-it-forward/sound-of-freedom?utm_medium=direct&amp;utm_source=angel-freedom&amp;utm_campaign=sound-of-freedom-theatrical" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PAY IT FORWARD</a> tickets sold), per a release from Angel Studios.
The box office report showed that &#8220;Sound of Freedom&#8221; grossed $14,242,063 after the movie&#8217;s opening on Tuesday while Disney&#8217;s &#8220;Indiana Jones&#8221; sequel, which opened on June 30, earned $11,698,989 from more than 4,000 theaters.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gina-carano-starts-trending-on-twitter-ahead-of-her-terror-on-the-prairie-premier-on-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gina Carano Starts Trending On Twitter Ahead Of Her &#8216;Terror On The Prairie&#8217; Premiere On Daily Wire</a>

Gina Carano

Gina Carano Reacts After Seeing Emotional ‘Sound of Freedom’ Film, Calls On Everyone To See It

John Rich

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