Sound of Freedom press released photo.

Chautauqua County is playing a role in the summer’s biggest film box office surprise.

The film is being screened at the Lakewood Cinema 8 despite controversy in the film industry over potential “blackballing” of the movie.

“We don’t endorse or ‘blackball’ any movies,” said Mike Clement, the president of Dipson Theater Company. “We simply play movies for the communities we serve. We played this movie simply because we had space for it in our schedule.”

Sound of Freedom is a quasi-faith-based film about the life and times of Tim Ballard, previously worked at the United States Department of Homeland Security around 2013 and then founded Operation Underground Railroad — which works with local police in other countries to catch child sex traffickers. Ballard has since made a name for himself as author and as an anti-human trafficking advocate. However, this movie, just like other movies, has its supporters and nah-sayers. Moreover, nationwide, individuals on both the ‘left’ and ‘right’ seemed to have varied, yet strong opinions on this flick.

“Journalists all but declare war whenever Dinesh D’Souza brings a new film to the public” wrote Christian Toto in reference to this move, in a story titled Media’s Insane Attacks On ‘Sound Of Freedom’ Film Speaks Volumes in early July at the Outkick. Roughly a week later the Outside published an opinion piece titled “‘Sound of Freedom’ Conspiracy Theorists Accuse AMC Of Sabotaging Screenings by Turning Off Air Conditioning: “Garbage Information,” Responds AMC CEO.”

While there’s plenty of information and disinformation floating around the internet, it does not appear that the movie has been targeted for blackballing by Hollywood or any other big theater company.

“I know the American Movie Company (AMC) and others are playing this movie,” Clement said.

However, as controversial as this movie maybe, big bucks are associated with it now. According to the Associated Press, Sound of Freedom finished fourth in box office receipts last weekend, making $12.4 million to finish behind only Barbie ($93 million), Oppenheimer ($46.2 million) and Haunted Mansion ($24.2 million). Sound of Freedom has been the best performing non- “Barbenheimer” release in theaters, according to the AP. The Angel Studios’ release, which is counting crowdfunding pay-it-forward sales in its box office totals, made $12.4 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its haul thus far to nearly $150 million.

“It’s holding its own against some big named movies,” Clement said. “People are coming back to see it, then bringing friends with them to see it again and again; while this movie is doing well, it’s not beating say Barbie, but it is matching, or in some cases, beating other movies in ticket sales.”

An overtone to the movie’s financial success locally, may be attributed to Chautauqua County’s diverse religious communities.

“Faith-based movies and entertainment, traditionally, do well in this area,” Clements said. “However, this had no bearing if we showed this movie or not, it all comes down to scheduling.”