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Gone are the days of movies released in theaters being a tight 90 minutes. We’re now in an era where some of the biggest films of the year are clocking in at close to three hours long.

That holds true for 2024 too. If it felt like you were in the theater for a long time when you went to see a movie, it could be because, well, you were. But if you’re curious just how long it was, we’ve got you.

We’ve rounded up the 20 longest films released in U.S. theaters this year. You can check them out below, from shortest to longest.

Adam Driver in “Megalopolis” 20. Megalopolis

Francis Ford Coppola’s epic fable “Megalopolis” is a retelling of the Roman Empire starring Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza and more. It clocked in at 2 hours and 18 minutes in total.

Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in...

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...

Angel Studios, through an agreement with Haven Films will produce, develop and distribute the motion picture adaptation of Fablehaven, based on the best-selling fantasy book series by Brandon Mull, with focus on the first novel.

The film adaptation is in the early stages of pre-production and is preparing to begin shooting late in the summer of 2025, slated for a 2026 release.

“The Fablehaven books have been a favorite series for myself and all of my kids, and so I was not surprised when the Angel Guild responded so enthusiastically to their torch,” Jordan Harmon, President of Angel Studios, said. “We are thrilled to bring to the big screen these incredible stories that promise to delight families, and inspire viewers of all ages.”

The film, directed by Cameron Sawyer (Tim Timmerman: Hope of America), will introduce viewers to a world of hidden magical creatures and ancient secrets that readers know well.

Exclusive: Paradigm has signed veteran actor Ben Chaplin for representation.

Currently, Chaplin can be seen starring opposite Peter Sarsgaard and John Magaro in September 5, Tim Fehlbaum’s historical thriller examining the 1972 Munich Olympic hostage crisis from the perspective of the ABC Sports broadcasting team. The film delves into how the crew, initially covering the Olympics, swiftly transitioned to reporting on the unfolding tragedy involving Israeli athletes taken hostage by the Palestinian group Black September. This event marked a pivotal moment in live news coverage, as the world watched the crisis unfold in real-time.

Chaplin plays Marvin Bader, a seasoned ABC Sports producer who plays a crucial role in the network’s coverage of the hostage situation. His work in the film earned him the Best Actor Award from the Denver Film Festival.

Premiering to strong reviews out of Venice, September 5 hits limits theaters on December 13 before expanding nationwide on January 17 for MLK Day weekend.

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sound of Freedom has become a major hit on AVOD after its release in 2022. Directed by Alejandro Monteverde, Sound of Freedom is loosely based on real events, chronicling former government agent Tim Ballard's mission in South America to rescue children from human traffickers. Despite controversy surrounding the movie's star, Jim Caviezel, the Angel Studios crime thriller became a surprise box office success upon its release, adopting a unique marketing and release strategy.

Reelgood now reveals that Sound of Freedom...

Jonathan Majors secures first lead role in revenge thriller Merciless following legal issues. Majors, acclaimed for past performances, will play a CIA interrogator going darker to defeat a malevolent force in haunting narrative. Directed by Martin Villeneuve the movie intertwines themes of revenge, possession, and personal justice.

Former Marvel actor and Creed 3 star Jonathan Majors has landed his first lead role following the fallout from his recent legal issues, which saw him found guilty of two misdemeanor counts of assault and harassment. Now, Deadline is reporting that Majors will lead the revenge thriller, Merciless, from director Martin Villeneuve, the younger brother of Dune and Dune 2 filmmaker Denis Villeneuve. While the title of the project will no doubt have many questioning Majors PR strategy, Merciless sounds like it will appeal to both horror and thriller fans, with the movie combining possession and vengeance. You can read the logline for the...

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...

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

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

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

To celebrate the physical release of Cabrini out now on Blu-Ray, DVD & Digital Download platforms, we have 2 Blu-ray copies to give away to some lucky winners!

From the studio (Angel Studios) and director (Alejandro Monteverde) behind last summer’s box office sensation Sound of Freedom, this stunning biographical epic stars Cristiana Dell’Anna, two-time Oscar nominee John Lithgow, two-time Emmy nominee David Morse and Oscar nominee Giancarlo Giannini. Cabrini was produced by Academy Award-winning Jonathan Sanger (The Elephant Man) and features an original song performed by the world renowned tenor, Andrea Bocelli.

In 1889, Italian immigrant Francesca Cabrini arrives in New York City, greeted only by disease, crime, and impoverished children. Witnessing the vast inequality of the city, Cabrini sets off on a daring mission to help society’s most vulnerable, but must first overcome the prejudices and indifference of those in power. However, despite these momentous setbacks, her broken English, and poor health,...

Your browser does not support the video tag. Dr. Ming Wang's inspiring journey from poverty-stricken Chinese immigrant to world-class eye surgeon is captured in the film Sight. Sight stars Terry Chen as Dr. Wang (and Ben Wang as a young version of the doctor) and Greg Kinnear, and continues Angel Studios' trend of inspiring biopics. Dr. Wang's philanthropic efforts through The Wang Foundation for Sight Restoration have helped patients globally, and he's teaming with Angel Studios for the social campaign 'I Am In.'

With the new film Sight, the surprisingly successful Angel Studios continues to distribute biographical dramas about inspiring true stories and small heroes. Following the excellent Cabrini and Sound of Freedom from Alejandro Monteverde, Sight tells a moving true story of a Chinese immigrant who works to become a Harvard and MIT-educated eye surgeon whose innovations in the field have helped countless people regain their vision. You...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Cabrini,” the origin story of the first American canonized saint, Mother Cabrini, directed by Alejandro Monteverde of “Sound of Freedom.” Currently in theaters see local listings.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Christina Dell’Anna is Mother Cabrini, an Italian nun whose life mission is to build orphanages around the world. When she goes to Pope Leo (Giancarlo Giannini) to plead to do this in Asia, the Pope instead sends her to New York City America, where the notorious Five Points neighborhood is crowded by the influx of Italian immigrants in need. She goes to work building an orphanage and hospital, much to the chagrin of Archbishop Corrigan (David Morse) and New York’s Mayor Gould (John Lithgow). Some of their dread is bureaucratic and most has to do with the headstrong female in a man’s world. Can Mother Cabrini make a difference?

“Cabrini” is currently in theaters.

Mother Cabrini dedicated her life to helping those in need, establishing numerous institutions for the poor and children in the United States and abroad. Her legacy lives on through the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who continue to provide essential services to marginalized communities. Mother Cabrini's miracles, including restoring sight to a blinded child, solidified her reputation as a saint and a beacon of hope for many.

The story of Mother Cabrini may be something akin to a miracle. She was a person of great moral wisdom and personal achievements that benefited hundreds, if not thousands, of people. The film of her life, aptly named Cabrini, was released in March 2024, but it is important to know the history of her life before seeing the glorified Hollywood treatment. Especially when the real story is so astounding.

Mother Cabrini brought many things with her to America, one of which...

Indies in moderate-wide release claimed the nos. 6, 8 and 9 spots at the domestic box office led by Love Lies Bleeding. Kristin Steward toplines the Berlin-premiering film by Rose Glass that expanded nationwide, grossing $2.5 million for the weekend on 1,362 screens (up from five theaters opening week). The steamy crime thriller from A24 also stars Katy O’Brian with an ensemble featuring Ed Harris, Anna Baryshnikov Dave Franco and Jenna Malone. It’s 88% Certified Fresh with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes (92% critics score).

Stewart plays a reclusive gym manager who falls hard for an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Vegas in pursuit of her dream as the pair is pulled into the web of Lou’s criminal family. Weekend breakdown: Friday, $1.1 million; Saturday, $790k; Sunday; $592k.

One Life by James Hawes pulled in a $1.7+ million debut 983 screens. The Bleecker Street film, starring Anthony Hopkins as a British stockbroker who helped rescued hundreds of Jewish children from Czechoslovakia,...

The early weekend box office numbers are in, and it looks like Dune: Part Two wasn’t quite able to take the number one spot from Kung Fu Panda 4 after all. It was very close, with the animated sequel grossing $30 million to Dune’s $29.1 million. It’s so close that I’m not quite willing to admit my prediction that Dune 2 would top Panda was wrong, as Denis Villeneuve’s sequel has been overperforming at Sunday matinees the last few weeks. That said, even if it doesn’t top Panda, it still had a great weekend, with it only dropping a modest 37% in its third week. It also passed the double-century mark, with its final gross at $205 million. Will it cross $300 million? It’s possible, although it will face heavy competition over the next two weeks with Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and Godzilla x Kong.

Meanwhile, Kung Fu Panda 4...

“Kung Fu Panda 4” and “Dune: Part Two” are both putting up strong holds in North American theaters, staying ahead of Lionsgate’s new based-on-a-real-dog drama “Arthur the King,” which earned $3 million from 3,003 locations on its opening day.

The Mark Wahlberg vehicle is expected to earn south of $8 million heading into the weekend, which would be good for bronze on domestic charts. It’s a solid place to start for the drama, which carries close to a $20 million production budget and boasts a stellar “A” grade from audience survey firm Cinema Score. (Reviews have been mixed.) As a canine comparison, the Channing Tatum-starring “Dog” from United Artists opened to $14 million back in February 2022 before more than quadrupling that with a $61 million total. Lionsgate will hope that “Arthur” can strike a similar chord with audiences.

Based on the nonfiction book “Arthur – The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home,...

So! How’d you do on your 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards ballot? Not good? Well, don’t worry, because a brand new film year begins right now with a fresh crop of Don’t-Miss Indies ready for consumption. Only time will tell which of these titles will still be standing by the time we head back to the beach in 2025. But hey, it’s never too early to start prognosticating!

Love Lies Bleeding

When You Can Watch: Now

Where You Can Watch: Theaters (Limited)

Director: Rose Glass

Cast: Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Jena Malone, Dave Franco, Ed Harris

Why We’re Excited: Billed variously as a lesbian revenge story and a psychological thriller set in the 1980s Las Vegas, filmmaker Rose Glass’s second feature (after 2019’s Saint Maud) premiered at Sundance in January. Desperate to find a way out of her desolate existence, frantic gym manager Lou (Film Independent...

Director Alejandro Gomez Monteverde follows up the blockbuster Sound of Freedom with a powerfully emotional biopic of an indomitable woman. Cabrini stars Italian actress Cristiana Dell'Anna as the revered nun in her nascent steps to sainthood. Maria Francesca Cabrini arrived in New York City on March 31, 1889, with her missionary sisters. Their goal was to save orphaned Italian children from a cruel fate on the streets. Mother Cabrini encountered hideous racism, sexism, and xenophobia but refused to abandon her righteous cause. She fought City Hall, the Catholic Church, ignorance, and violence to create a network of global institutions that continues her work today.

Monteverde "was attracted to [Mother Cabrini's] story because of her desire to serve others" and laments that "we live in times that are very driven by politics." He's proud to make "stories and movies that unite, which is the opposite of politics." Monteverde extols Mother Cabrini's virtues. She cared for...

Hollywood has two reasons to celebrate today, with one of them being the fact that it’s Oscar Sunday. However, the more important reason is no doubt the fact that after a sluggish start to the year, the box office is finally picking up, with the top two movies this weekend overperforming significantly. Even the most optimistic box office forecasters didn’t see Kung Fu Panda 4 opening north of $50 million (we had it pegged at $48 million), but the movie ended up rallying to a massive $58 million weekend. While that’s not much compared to the last Jack Black animated film (The Super Mario Bros. Movie), it’s worth noting that the Kung Fu Panda franchise was widely thought to have run out of gas some time ago. The last two Kung Fu Panda movies only made $47 and $41 million on their opening weekends, thus giving the franchise its biggest start...

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...

Alejandro Monteverde, whose Sound Of Freedom was the top grossing independent film of 2023, is back in theaters this weekend with Cabrini, also from Angel Studios, in wide release. The true story of an indomitable Italian nun on a mission to aid immigrants living in misery and poverty in late 19th century New York City, stars Cristiana Dell’Anna as waif-like Francesca Cabrini. She navigates a Pope, an Archbishop, the mayor of New York and the Italian Senate among others to build a charitable empire starting with one orphanage in the immigrant slum called Five Points (last seen in Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York). Giancarlo Giannini plays Pope Leo; David Morse is Archbishop Michael Augustine Corrigan; and John Lithgow a villainous Mayor Gould — men Cabrini lectured, sparred with, cajoled and threatened to realize her life’s work. Canonized in 1946, she is the Patron Saint of Immigrants.

In a Q&a with Deadline,...

Homegrown hits led by A Moroccan Affair and Championext, an explosion of comedies and the solid performance of several European indies have helped the Spanish box office to withstand the lack of US releases following the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes last year.

Local productions were the highest grossing independent films at the Spanish box office in the year ending February 2024, with Álvaro Fernández Armero’s A Moroccan Affair at the top of the list.

The 2023 Spanish box office total was €504 million, with 77.8 million tickets sold, representing a 26% increase on 2022.

The two biggest Spanish films are both part of existing franchises.

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...

Cabrini portrays Mother Cabrini's inspiring mission of inclusion and integration in a democratic society. Dell'Anna infused her scenes with personal touches to enhance Mother Cabrini's message of empowerment. The film highlights the emotional depth of characters like Mother Cabrini and Archbishop Corrigan in the face of adversity.

Italian actress Cristiana Dell'Anna has a star-making performance in the powerfully emotional Cabrini. She portrays the kind and devoted nun on her journey to sainthood. Mother Maria Francesca Cabrini, and the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, arrived in New York City on March 31, 1889. Directed by Alejandro Monteverde, Cabrini displays the horrific racism and xenophobia faced by poor Italian immigrants.

Her mission to help the starving and abandoned children of Five Points was initially blocked by Irish Archbishop Michael Corrigan. The venerable David Morse co-stars as a patriarchal figure initially unnerved by Mother Cabrini's formidable determination. Morse hopes that Cabrini will "open up" hearts.

“Cabrini” is a new biographical drama feature, directed by Alejandro Monteverde, based on a true story, starring John Lithgow, Cristiana Dell’Anna, Romana M. Vegano, David Morse, Giancarlo Giannini, Virginia Bocelli, Frederico Ielapi, Christopher Macchio, Patch Darragh, and Rolando Villazón, opening March 8, 2024 in theaters:

“…after she moves to Five Points in New York City, ‘Francesca Cabrini’ goes toe to toe with the government, the church, and blatant bigotry to fight for those at the margins of society.

“With entrepreneurship, grit, and boldness, Cabrini creates a home full of compassion and a legacy that’s everlasting…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

The thawing of the winter box office continues this weekend with Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Kung Fu Panda 4 which is bound to see the franchise’s second highest domestic opening at $50M+ at 3,900 theaters after the original 2008 movie ($60.2M). But that’s not all, it’s also the second biggest start for a Dwa title after Universal acquired the label from its 20th Century Fox distribution deal; the biggest during Universal’s 2.0 with Dwa being How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World which debuted to $55M in March 2019. Kung Fu Panda 4 is skewing among males and females under 25. Previews start Thursday at 2Pm. No Rt review rating yet.

Legendary Entertainment/Warner Bros’ Dune: Part Two keeps humming with $8.1M yesterday off bargain Tuesdays, +12% over Monday, for a running total through five days of $98M. The Zendaya-Timothee Chalamet-Austin Butler-Josh Brolin-...

After one of the biggest opening weekends of 2024 (by far), things normally might settle down, but DreamWorks Animation is releasing one of the first family animated movies since December, and it’s one that can help the box office recover. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.

Offering “Dune: Part Two” some hearty competition and counter-programming this weekend is the first family animated feature in months, as DreamWorks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda 4” arrives in over 3,900 theaters nationwide. Once again starring Jack Black as Po, the martial arts savvy panda bear, he’s joined in this one by the ubiquitous Awkwafina – when was the last time there was an animated movie in which she didn’t provide a voice? –as a thieving fox. Viola Davis voices the primary villain, the evil sorceress chameleon, plus there are new characters voiced by Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once...

To mark the release of Cabrini across the United States, we had the pleasure in interviewing two of the film’s leading stars, in the eponymous lead role Cristiana Dell’Anna, along with Hollywood veteran David Morse, as well as the Mexican director Alejandro Monteverde.

In our two interviews, which you can watch in their entirety below, we discussed the inspiring nature and powerful messages within the film, while with Monteverde, we discuss his own personal connection to the tale, and how the film also works as a celebration of women. Finally, of course we had to discuss the decorated career of Morse as he looks back fondly over some excellent projects.

Cristiana Dell’Anna & David Morse

Alejandro Monteverde

Synopsis

Arriving in New York City in 1889, Italian immigrant Francesca Cabrini is greeted by disease, crime and impoverished children. She soon sets off on a daring mission to convince the mayor to...

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

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

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

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

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,...

Another year, another savior movie. “Dune: Part Two” opens Thursday, and there’s a real chance that its opening weekend will outrank the total domestic gross of any film that’s opened this year. However, this savior doesn’t travel solo: It’s one of four films in March that could pass $100 million in domestic gross — something that hasn’t happened since last July.

The new “Dune” should be the month’s top film, particularly with a March 1 debut, but “Kung Fu Panda 4” (Universal) on March 8 also looks strong. There’s also potential in fellow sequels “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire”.

All told, it’s likely that March’s total will meet or exceed the approximately $650 million grossed last year for the same month. That’s essential to reverse the box office’s terrible start to 2024. Through February, grosses will be off more than 20 percent compared to last year.

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

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

Sound of Freedom director Alejandro Monteverde is returning to theaters with his new film, Cabrini.

Cabrini is another Angel Studios production starring Cristiana Dell'Anna. She plays Francesa Cabrini, an Italian-American Catholic nun who established the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus during the late 1800s.

The movie began principal photography in Western New York during Summer 2021 and later shifted to Rome, Italy, in the fall of the same year.

Read full article on The Direct.

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

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

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

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

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

“Sound of Freedom” will be available at no charge to Amazon’s domestic Prime Video subscribers beginning the day after Christmas, Dec. 26, 2023. The film, which debuted Friday to buy for $20 on most VOD platforms, had previously been available to stream (following its theatrical release) exclusively on Angel Studios’ own platform starting Oct. 13.

Even if one counts the VOD/download on-sale debut as the end of its “theatrical window,” that’s still a four-month period when it was mostly available only in theaters, which now qualifies as old-fashioned amid swiftly shrinking theatrical windows. As previously reported in TheWrap, DVD and Blu-Ray availability will begin on Nov.14. Finally, on Dec. 15 — five months after its Independence Day week theatrical debut — it’ll be available for digital rental. And now we know where it’ll land in its first streaming window.

Alejandro Monteverde’s “Sound of Freedom” was the biggest non-“Barbenheimer” story of the 2023 summer movie season.

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

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

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

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

The faith-based indie outfit behind summer blockbuster Sound of Freedom is out with documentary After Death, which opens in over 2,600 theaters this weekend, an extremely wide release for a doc that doesn’t also happen to be a concert film.

The exploration of near-death experiences by survivors, scientists, medical professionals and authors that addresses the question of what happens when we die has pre-sold over 211,000 tickets. That’s according to the latest check of a constantly updating ticket counter on Angel’s website that estimates pre-orders based on integrations with ticketing platforms and exhibitors.

The company declined to put a dollar figure on pre-sales. “We are thrilled by audience response, craving a theatrical experience for After Death,” said Jared Geesey, distribution head of Provo, Utah-based Angel. “Life’s biggest question deserves the biggest screens and a distraction-free environment.”

Director Stephen Gray said the sudden loss of his brother-in-law at age 36 in part inspired the film.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

While Sound of Freedom undoubtedly represented a passion project for everyone who was involved in the making of the film, specifically co-writer and director Alejandro Monteverde and star Jim Caviezel, no one could have predicted that the film, which was completed in 2018 and then languished in limbo until the film received worldwide distribution in 2023, would become the most surprising box office hit of not just 2023 but recent history.

Moreover, as Sound of Freedom, which had a production cost of $14.5 million, has now reached the end of its theatrical life domestically, the film’s current domestic box office gross of approximately $184 million has surpassed the domestic box office totals of such would-be blockbuster films as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.

However, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One have each bested Sound of Freedom at the overseas box office,...

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

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

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

Risky Sacrifices

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

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

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

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“Sound of Freedom” will continue to disrupt the film distribution industry. With $216 million in domestic box office earnings since its early-July release, the film will arrive on home video beginning Oct. 13.

However, the film will be exclusive to the Angel Guild via Angel Studios apps. Its digital sell-through (Est) availability won’t begin until Nov. 3, with DVDs and Blu-Rays dropping on Nov.14. Finally, on Dec. 15, five months after its Independence Day week debut, it’ll be available for digital rental.

“The Angel Guild selected and made ‘Sound of Freedom’ so successful theatrically. They decide what projects are green-lit and are presented to audiences,” said Angel Studios Chief Distribution Officer Jared Geesey. “We are honored to give them exclusive early access to this film prior to its wider release through the world’s leading digital platforms and retailers.”

This kind of exclusivity is somewhat unusual for a highly successful theatrical release.

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

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

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

Buy: Sound of Freedom $23.45

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