AMC, Angel Studios say claims of intentional 'Sound of Freedom' A/C issues are false | Fact check

BrieAnna J. Frank, USA TODAY
·3 min read
122

The claim: AMC has been shutting off air conditioning during screenings of 'Sound of Freedom'

A July 10 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) includes a screenshot of reported issues during screenings of an independent film on child sex trafficking.

“AMC Theaters across the country have been turning off the AC in their theater rooms screening ‘The Sound of Freedom,’” reads the post.

It was shared more than 300 times in one week. Other versions of the claim were shared thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.

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Our rating: False

Both AMC Theaters and Angel Studios, which released the film, have said the claim is false. AMC Theaters said reported issues at theaters are rare, and hundreds of additional theaters were showing the film as of mid-July due to high demand.

Angel Studios says AMC Theaters is an 'outstanding partner'

The based-on-a-true-story film follows a federal agent’s journey to save children from sex traffickers. The star of the summer box office hit, Jim Caviezel, has promoted QAnon conspiracy theories surrounding sex trafficking. The film itself does not reference partisan political topics, but it is being promoted by conspiracy theorists and conservative media.

Angel Studios said the claim about theater issues was false in a July 13 statement.

"We understand there are rumors – predominantly in social media – that AMC theaters have made it difficult for fans to see SOUND of FREEDOM in local AMC theaters, and we want to make it clear these rumors are not accurate,” Brandon Purdie, head of Angel Theatrical Distribution, said in the news release. “AMC has been an outstanding partner for Angel Studios, and in fact, as a result of the movie’s performance and consumer demand, AMC has agreed to add additional screens for SOUND OF FREEDOM this weekend."

Fact check: False claim Biden rescinded Trump order on child sex trafficking

Neal Harmon, co-founder and CEO of Angel Studios, said the reported issues were rarities in a July 10 tweet.

“Stuff happens,” he wrote in part. “Bulbs break, air conditioning stops working and volume levels get set wrong, but these are exceptions in over 500 theaters with thousands of screens.”

Jim Caviezel (right) plays Tim Ballard in "Sound of Freedom," a movie based on Ballard's real-life fight as a federal agent to rescue children from sex traffickers.
Jim Caviezel (right) plays Tim Ballard in "Sound of Freedom," a movie based on Ballard's real-life fight as a federal agent to rescue children from sex traffickers.

Adam Aron, CEO of AMC Entertainment, said in a July 12 tweet that more than 1 million people at that point had seen the film at AMC Theaters. He described contrary claims as “so bizarre” and attributed them to conspiracy theorists.

When reached for comment, Angel Studios referred USA TODAY to spokesperson Matthew Faraci’s July 13 tweet in which he also said the claims were false.

USA TODAY reached out to users who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: False claim AMC shut off A/C for 'Sound of Freedom' | Fact check