Sound of Freedom edged Disney’s Indiana Jones: Dial of Destiny for No. 1 on opening day Tuesday with $14.2 million and followed that Wednesday with a solid $4 million, placing it at No. 2 (Indiana Jones had $5.5 million).

Heading into its first full weekend, it has grossed roughly $20 million. A week ago, many Hollywood experts hadn’t even heard of it.

“We’re so thrilled. I know it’s been a surprise to Hollywood,” Jared Geesey, senior vice president of global distribution at Angel Studios, told Christian Headlines.

Thanks to the success, Angel is adding more theaters for this weekend. It’s also planning to add more theaters for the following weekend, July 14-16.

Geesey credits the Angel community, which is composed of fans and investors and which previously made the Bible-based film His Only Son a surprising hit. That film, released during the spring, opened at No. 3 on its first night.

The film tells the true story of a government agent, Tim Ballard, who quit his job at the Department of Homeland Security so he could dedicate his life to rescuing children in other countries from sex trafficking. Jim Caviezel portrays Ballard.

The studios’ fan base – dubbed “angels” – ensures that a film has a core of supporters before it reaches theaters, Geesey said.

“Every time we go to theaters, we are coming with a community that has chosen to invest, that greenlit the project, and is also paying it forward for other people to see that don’t know about it,” Geesey said. “So we are just thrilled that the fans of the show have gotten a hold of the mission to get 2 million people in seats this week to represent the 2 million children that are trafficked this year. And that mission I think is what’s driving the success that’s been very key to it. People have gotten a hold of the vision that God’s children are not for sale.”

Through the “pay-it-forward” model, fans of Sound of Freedom can visit the Angel website and purchase tickets for other fans. The opening day gross included $2,678,803 through “pay-it-forward” tickets. The gross of His Only Son also included such tickets.

“It really empowers moviegoers who are inspired by the film to purchase tickets for other people that want to see it,” he said. “… We really think that’s the reason there will be continued growth and impact [with Sound of Freedom]. We’re just getting started. It’s not just about July the Fourth.”

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Photo courtesy: ©Angel Studios, used with permission