Trump, Gibson Encounter Comes As Human Trafficking Film Soars
Even as Disney and other major entertainment companies struggle to produce compelling and profitable movies, the new anti-human trafficking film “Sound of Freedom” is topping the box office charts despite being released by the much smaller Angel Studios.
The production company has also seen massive success with “The Chosen,” a series that follows the ministry of Jesus and his disciples.
As for the new film, which stars Jim Caviezel, it made a whopping $14 million on its opening day, easily eclipsing the revenue of Disney’s latest “Indiana Jones” sequel, which premiered just a few days earlier. Mel Gibson, who directed Caviezel in his portrayal of Jesus in 2004’s “The Passion of the Christ,” also played a role in developing and promoting “Sound of Freedom.”
“One of the most disturbing problems in our world today is human trafficking and particularly the trafficking of children,” he said in a recent interview.
Supporters and critics alike took to social media when news surfaced that Gibson and former President Donald Trump met backstage on Saturday during a Ultimate Fighting Championship fight in Las Vegas, Nevada. There was no immediate confirmation regarding the topics of discussion, but Trump has made it a point to speak out harshly against human trafficking in the past.
In the final weeks of his administration, he approved $35 million in grants to be issued through the Department of Justice to organizations designed to assist trafficking victims.
UFC President Dana White also joined in the promotion of the film, vowing to foot the bill for all of the league’s employees to see it in theaters.
“This movie has now taken on a life of its own to become something more than that, a grassroots movement,” said Angel Studios CEO Neal Harmon, noting that word-of-mouth promotion has exponentially expanded the promotion beyond traditional marketing techniques.
In the film, Caviezel portrays Tim Ballard, who embarked on a real-life mission to save victims of human trafficking. He left his government job to take on this momentous task and ultimately helped rescue 123 individuals — 55 of whom were children.
Trump greeted fans and met with other celebrities — including podcast host Joe Rogan and celebrity chef Guy Fieri — during the recent UFC match.
