Sound Of Freedom: The Surprising Box Office Hit Of 2023

Sound of Freedom was the surprise summer hit of 2023, overtaking such classics as Pulp Fiction and Good Will Hunting at the box office. Starring Jim Caviezel as a government agent attempting to rescue two young siblings from sex traffickers in Colombia, the movie earned $242 million during its theatrical run and is officially one of the most successful independent films of all time—despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.

However, the film has also caused controversy, with child trafficking experts accusing Sound of Freedom of misinformation. Tim Ballard—the real-life ex-government agent who inspired the story—has also been the subject of sexual misconduct allegations, resigning from the anti-sex trafficking agency he helped to co-found in June. He has denied sexual misconduct.

For those who loved the movie, or just want to know what all the hype is about, here’s where and when you can stream Sound of Freedom.

Where Can I Stream Sound of Freedom?

For U.S. viewers, Sound of Freedom will be available to stream on Prime Video from December 26, 2023. If you can't wait that long, you can already purchase or rent the film on Amazon Prime and other digital platforms.

There were previously rumors that Amazon, along with Netflix, had refused to stream Sound of Freedom due to its divisive subject matter, but these were debunked.

Is Sound of Freedom a True Story?

Sound of Freedom is based on the life of Tim Ballard, a former employee of the Department of Homeland Security. After several years helming rescue missions, he founded the anti-sex trafficking organization Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) in 2013.

A devout Mormon, Ballard told Slate in 2014 that he had been "called by God" to rescue children. According to Ballard, his teams have rescued over 7,000 women and children and helped to take down 5,000 traffickers and pedophiles as of 2023.

Sound of Freedom Controversy Explained

However, O.U.R and its strategies have always been contentious. Over the years, the organization has been accused of exaggerating its success rate, along with claims of unconventional tactics and of victims not receiving adequate care post-rescue.

For more than two years, O.U.R was investigated by a prosecutor in Davis County, Utah, for reported witness tampering and communications fraud, although the case was dropped in May 2023.

In June 2023, Ballard resigned from O.U.R after an internal investigation of sexual misconduct claims by seven women, Vice News reported.

A spokesperson for O.U.R told Newsweek in September 2023: "Tim Ballard resigned from O.U.R. on June 22, 2023. He has permanently separated from O.U.R. O.U.R. is dedicated to combatting sexual abuse and does not tolerate sexual harassment or discrimination by anyone in its organization."

Five women filed a lawsuit against Ballard in Salt Lake City last month, accusing him of coercing them into sexual contact when they worked with him on child rescue operations.

Ballard has previously denied any sexual misconduct and dismissed the claims as "baseless inventions designed to destroy me and the movement we have built to end the trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable children."

Newsweek has reached out to O.U.R and Angel Studios, the distributor of Sound of Freedom, for comment via email.

Is Sound of Freedom Linked to QAnon?

Prior to leaving the organization, Ballard was a divisive figure. Although some reports have alleged he is a QAnon conspiracy theorist, Ballard denied the claims in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald.

"I've disavowed it so many times," he told the publication in August. "But I will say that the sex addiction that brings the demand for child sex is everywhere."

"It's on every level of every economic order, every type of person. Professionals, educators, law enforcement, and politicians. Jeffrey Epstein is an example. So I don't think it's more prominent in elite circles. I think it's really just everywhere."

Popular among the far-right, QAnon theorists believe that former president Donald Trump was covertly battling a group of Satanic cannibalistic pedophiles, primarily within the Democratic Party and Hollywood.

Ballard co-chaired a council to fight child trafficking during Trump's presidency and accuses critics of Sound of Freedom of having an "agenda" against him.