How many people in the US have seen Sound of Freedom??
GOOoOoooooooo!!!
We keep hearing about the money, but for public exposure isn't it more important how many people have seen it? So at 100 million $ at an average of $10/ ticket, that would come to 10 million people. Yes?
We need to get this to 100 million views.
Call me a cynic too but I would have preferred to see "pay if someone wants to sit in that seat". Or maybe your "donation" becomes an actual donation to fight child trafficking rather than paying for an empty seat that ends up in the pockets of a movie theatre.
Think bigger. This movie has been released to wake up as many people as possible. Human trafficking is the most lucrative industry on earth, and it operates with impunity because most people are unaware of it. Exposing it to normal people who will oppose it is the only way to shut it down for good. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Many of those people may donate to organizations to fight trafficking after seeing the movie, which they were able to see because it put money in the pocket of the movie theater.
Keep in mind that this movie was blocked from being released for 5 years, and it cost $15 million to make, which is low for such a quality production, but still a loss for the makers of the movie. Angel Studios and the people involved in the release were aware of the obstacles that would be thrown in their way. Ensuring the revenue stream for the theaters kept it playing until word got out, and it may have been the only way to make it happen. The increasing attendance after two weeks is proof of that.
I don't think your position is cynical, just short-sighted. It's criticism because you don't like movie theaters getting the money for an empty seat instead of groups that fight trafficking. You are entitled to keep and voice your opinion, but if it were done the way you preferred, attendance may have fizzled out in the first few days and the movie dropped. What purpose would that serve? Keep in mind that no one is required to pay it forward and everyone is free to donate to organizations that fight human trafficking.