Every now and then a movie comes along that catches Hollywood completely off guard. It doesnât arrive with the biggest marketing budget, it isnât backed by one of the major superhero franchises, and it doesnât dominate entertainment headlines for months before release. It just opens, audiences show up, and suddenly everyone is asking, âWait⌠where did this come from?â
That seems to be exactly whatâs happening with Young Washington.
Over the Independence Day weekend, Chris Pratt jumped onto Instagram to encourage Americans to give the film a chance, and judging by his reaction, he wasnât just offering a polite celebrity endorsement.
He sounded genuinely impressed.
âCelebrate Americaâs 250th birthday at the box office!!! Thereâs a lot of great choices this weekend. But considering itâs July 4 weekend I humbly suggest âYoung Washington,'â Pratt wrote.
Then he made a comparison that immediately grabbed attention.
âI was actually blown away. The movie is incredible. Like Braveheart for Americans.â
Thatâs not exactly faint praise.
Pratt didnât stop there. He applauded director Jon Erwin and singled out lead actor William Franklyn-Miller, predicting audiences would be hearing much more from him in the future.
âJon Erwin crushed it. William did a great job as young Washington. Remember the name! A star is born!â
His final verdict was simple.
âThe movie is awesome! Way to go!!â
The timing couldnât have been much better.
According to Box Office Mojo, Young Washington opened with approximately $20.8 million while playing in about 2,700 theaters. For a historical drama from Angel Studios, thatâs an eye-catching debut, particularly when stacked against much larger studio releases.
On July 4 alone, the film reportedly earned roughly $7.65 million as families around the country balanced fireworks, cookouts, and holiday celebrations with trips to the theater.
The comparison that immediately caught peopleâs attention came from the superhero box office.
According to Box Office Mojo, Supergirl earned about $9.6 million during its second weekend despite showing on 3,602 screens. While the films are very different in genre and audience, the numbers fueled plenty of discussion about whether audiences are becoming more interested in historical dramas than another comic-book adaptation.
Angel Studios has built a reputation for succeeding without the marketing budgets available to major Hollywood studios, relying instead on strong word of mouth and direct audience engagement. Young Washington appears to be following that same formula.
The film explores George Washingtonâs early years, focusing on his military service during the French and Indian War and the experiences that shaped him long before he became commander of the Continental Army or the nationâs first president.
Franklyn-Miller headlines the cast alongside Kelsey Grammer, Ben Kingsley, and Mary-Louise Parker, giving the production a mix of emerging talent and veteran performers.
Critics have been divided, but audience reactions have generally been much stronger.
One Rotten Tomatoes reviewer summed up what many viewers seem to appreciate about the film.
âI liked seeing the early years of Washingtonâs life during the French and Indian War. We often just think of the midlife and elder version of Washington. I hope this is the first movie of a trilogy covering his whole life.â
That hope may already be on its way to becoming reality.
Following the filmâs release, director, producer, and co-writer Jon Erwin announced that a sequel, titled 1776, is already in pre-production. As the title suggests, the follow-up will move from Washingtonâs formative military years into the American Revolution, continuing the story as the colonies move toward independence.