How Content Protection Helped “Dayı” Reach the Top
August 1, 2023
Turkish Delights…But Not for Creators? The Untold Story of Piracy
April 25, 2024In the world of cinema, success often hinges on box office numbers and critical acclaim. However, the story of 'Sound of Freedom' defies norms. Despite its modest budget, this Angel Studios hit became a global sensation. Its poignant theme, which is centred on protecting children from trafficking, resonated with many people, earning prestigious awards along the way. This film won viewers’ hearts with its compelling narrative, leaving an indelible mark on audiences worldwide.
The impact of this narrative unfolds further as we explore the 'Sound of Freedom' in this case study. We will demonstrate how this film achieved its remarkable success, primarily due to its powerful storyline, but also thanks to essential anti-piracy efforts. In addition to delivering a compelling story to the audience, one of the key factors contributing to the success of content, perceived by movie owners as an added value and ensuring it reaches its rightful official audience, is the anti-piracy service. This service not only safeguards success but also ensures its longevity and seems as content insurance.
DigiGuardians provided anti-piracy services across the USA, LATAM, and various parts of Europe for this movie. Our assessment of the movie's success in these regions revealed data that will be discussed below.
Let's explore how this movie conquered the box office, thrived on digital platforms, and stood tall with the support of robust anti-piracy measures. Discover the interplay between exceptional content and protective measures in the tale of 'Sound of Freedom.'
Box Office Success of the Movie
Flowing from this movie’s impact on its audience, an examination of the Box Office Mojo data1 reveals the remarkable financial triumph of ‘Sound of Freedom,’ amassing a worldwide gross of $247.801.971. Notably, a substantial 74,3% of this revenue stems from local screenings within the USA, where the movie made a significant impact. In the initial three weeks after hitting the USA screens, the movie made an incredible $127 million2, prompting Angel Studios to strategize for an international release.
In the same vein, in the USA, "Sound of Freedom" opened with an impressive domestic gross of $19.680.879 and played in 2.852 theaters3. The movie’s undeniable resonance in the USA, bolstered by our anti-piracy protection since its release, notably contributed to its box office success, constituting 74,3% of the film's total worldwide earnings.
The Success of Movie on Digital Platforms
Following its success in theaters, 'Sound of Freedom' attracted audiences across Europe, MENA, LATAM, and the USA on Video-On-Demand (VOD) platforms. Examining the USA and LATAM regions, where the movie’s success is particularly noticeable, and taking November statistics for both regions into account, the movie's popularity on digital platforms stands out.
USA Results
During the dates we looked at from Flix Patrol's USA demand data4, this movie ranked in the Top 10 rankings for 15 days on iTunes, 29 days on Google Play Movies, and 9 days on Vudu, highlighting its significance.
| USA Top 10 | |
| Digital Platform | Number of Days in the Top 10 |
| iTunes | 15 |
| Google Play Movies | 29 |
| Vudu | 9 |
*Flix Patrol Data on 'Sound of Freedom' Popularity (USA)
Based on digital demand statistics, it maintained an outstanding position in the USA market throughout November. This period was particularly noteworthy because of the movie’s post-theatrical release, which demonstrated not only continuous viewer engagement but also the movie’s persistent appeal.
LATAM Results
The movie performed exceptionally well on VOD platforms in LATAM, just as it did in the USA. The movie was able to maintain a consistent spot in the Top 10 charts on platforms like iTunes and Google Play Movies. The strong position in the USA market was likewise captured by LATAM audiences.
The data from Flix Patrol for the LATAM region was evaluated country by country. The analysis looked at the number of days the movie was in the Top 10 lists of each country in the region and combined the relevant data.
| Number of Days the Movie Ranked in the Top 10 on iTunes and Google Play Movies by Country on LATAM in November | |
| Country | AR | BO | BR | CL | CO | CR | DO | EC | GT | HN | MX | NI | PA | PY | PE | SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Days on iTunes | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 24 | 29 | 26 | 29 | 23 |
| No. of Days on Google Play Movies | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 21 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Based on statistics from the Top 10 list of 'Sound of Freedom' across LATAM countries for November, it's clear that the movie maintained a position in the Top 10 in nearly all LATAM countries for almost the entire month. Taking proactive measures to sustain the movie's box office success and ensuring its consumption on official digital platforms is critical.
The successes in these two regions outlined above underscore the movie’s lasting impact outside of theatres, confirming the critical function of DigiGuardians in directing viewers to authorized platforms and strengthening the movie's presence in the digital realm.
In both the LATAM and USA regions, where piracy poses a significant challenge for 'Sound of Freedom,' the movie's success can be credited in large part to the comprehensive impact of anti-piracy services. This will become clearer as we progress through the case study.
Meet Your Global Anti-Piracy Partner
The widespread circulation of pirated content copies poses a significant threat to the potential of content creators and the entire industry. Continuous monitoring through official channels is essential to ensure the success and popularity of content. The rise in content investments and the extension of the content's lifespan are inversely proportional to the increase in superficial solutions and short-term protection.As DigiGuardians, our comprehensive approach strives to prevent the risks that threaten success, while ensuring that the rights to the content stay with the actual right owners. We maintain continuity, undertake rigorous monitoring, and take all necessary actions on behalf of the content owner.
So, How Did DigiGuardians Navigate This Project?
With a decade of expertise and our cutting-edge technology, we thoroughly scanned the internet and quickly removed any unofficial versions of 'Sound of Freedom,’ all without overshadowing the movie. Our goal was to keep the movie's essence intact, free of piracy.
To achieve this goal, DigiGuardians diligently scanned every nook and cranny of the internet, employing cutting-edge AI-based machine learning technology that mimics audience behavior and works much faster than a human could to find and remove any illegal copies of the movie. This rigorous approach, backed by manual checks, served as a strong shield against piracy, maintaining the movie's heart and value. As seen in the image below, the most recent anti-piracy efforts data reviewed between 2 July 23 and 3 December 23 across the regions we serve represents an extensive operation for pirated copies. DigiGuardians was able to locate and remove over 13.077 pirated copies of this movie, resulting in an outstanding compliance rate of 99,28%.
This scan was conducted all across the internet, including search engines, social media platforms, torrent sites, and others. Following an investigation with our software to identify locations where 'Sound of Freedom' was pirated, our findings revealed that YouTube was the platform with the most significant unauthorized distribution of the content. Following YouTube, other platforms such as TikTok and Telegram had major instances of piracy. Because of the popularity of the movie, YouTube particularly has received a lot of attention.
The following social media platforms received the most traffic for pirated copies of this movie:
- YouTube clearly comes in first with 48,4%
- TikTok comes in second with 19,1%
- Telegram comes in third with 4,9%
- Twitter comes in fourth with 3,5%
Given the above data, who wouldn't want their content to be equally protected with its success? Regrettably, the rise in audience demand for the movie has resulted in the widespread distribution of numerous pirated copies. As evidenced by the infringements discovered by DigiGuardians, Sound of Freedom became a target for pirates who spread illegal content. However, potential losses were minimized as a result of a comprehensive investigation, and the movie's success was ensured directly through legitimate channels.
At DigiGuardians, we are committed to ensuring that your creative works, like 'Sound of Freedom,' receive the recognition and acclaim they rightfully deserve. Our dedication is to preserving not only the monetary value of exceptional content but also its integrity and prestige.
This emphasis reflects our strong resolve to ensure that impactful creations thrive and stand tall, undeterred by threats of piracy, and receive the recognition and respect they deserve.
Another movie for which we provide anti-piracy services locally - 'Dayı: Bir Adamın Hikayesi,' has seen great success, particularly on digital platforms. The movie’s lifespan has been significantly extended thanks to the anti-piracy services it has received since its theatrical release. More information on Dayı’s success over the years, including the content we protected can be found here: case study: 'Dayı: Bir Adamın Hikayesi' success story.
In conclusion, 'Sound of Freedom' transcended its humble beginnings to become a global sensation, demonstrating the power of compelling storytelling. Angel Studios' hit was a huge success not only at the box office but also on digital platforms, bolstered by the DigiGuardians’ unwavering dedication to fighting piracy. This case study emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between creative genius and effective anti-piracy measures.
A well-planned anti-piracy protection service tailored to your content preserves its lasting value and success. The clear evidence is the case of 'Sound of Freedom,' where rigorous, meticulous scanning combined with comprehensive piracy removal was critical to the movie's success. This demonstrates how real success can be achieved through a focused and comprehensive approach to fighting piracy, rather than superficial solutions.
Notes & Sources
As of December 6, 2023 1
Sound of Freedom to Hit International Market 2
'Sound of Freedom': Hit Film's International Releases 2
Movie's Global Box Office Performance on Box Office Mojo 3
Between 1st November and 5th December 2023 4
