'Sound of Freedom' Beats 'Indiana Jones' in Incredible Box-Office Coup
https://www.newsweek.com/sound-freedom-beats-indiana-jones-incredible-box-office-coup-1811206
15 million budget vs 300 million budget (money laundering inflated, but still much bigger budget, no doubt).
Some backstory in how the film finally made its way to theaters, despite having been shelved by Disney.
The film was completed in 2018 and a distribution deal was made with 20th Century Fox. However, that studio was purchased by the Walt Disney Company, which shelved the film. The filmmakers reportedly spent years trying to get the distribution rights back from Disney and take it to theaters.[15]
Verástegui approached Angel Studios with the release rights. Angel presented the film to an online group of 100,000 investors in its past projects called the Angel Guild, which gave it a "yes" vote within days.[1] In March 2023, Variety reported that Angel Studios had acquired the worldwide distribution rights, with a planned release during the second half of 2023.[3] Angel later set a release date of July 4, 2023.[16]
Angel used equity crowdfunding to raise the funds needed to distribute and market the film. 7,000 people invested, allowing Angel to meet its $5 million goal in two weeks.[1] They also encouraged patrons to "pay it forward" to allow people who might not otherwise see the movie to watch it in theaters for free.[17] Goya Cares, an anti-human trafficking foundation established by Goya Foods, announced its support as executive producer for the release.[18] Actor and director Mel Gibson endorsed the film in a video.[1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_of_Freedom_(film)
I suppose it's also worth mentioning that 2.5 million of those ticket sales stem from 'pay it forward' fund - where people buy other people tickets (tickets given away for free).
https://www.angel.com/press/release/angel-studios-pay-it-forward-technology-propels-sound-of-freedom-to-1-movie