Sovereign

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Sovereign

R

Jul 2025

1h 40m

Action

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

74 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Inspired by real events, SOVEREIGN is a tense and provocative true crime thriller about a father and his teenage son -- Jerry and Joseph Kane (Nick Offerman and Jacob Tremblay) -- who follow the Sovereign Citizen belief system, a deeply anti-establishment worldview rooted in distrust of government authority. As the pair travel across the country delivering self-taught legal seminars and pushing back against systems they believe have failed them, their journey brings them into conflict with Police Chief Jim Bouchart (Dennis Quaid), setting off a tragic chain of events that forces a reckoning with power, principle, and the limits of freedom.

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Critics Consensus

A nerve-jangling thriller that exposes how reactionary extremism can lead to a road of destruction, Sovereign is ruled by Nick Offerman's unforgettably unhinged performance.

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Audience Says

Searingly brought to life by Nick Offerman and Jacob Tremblay, Sovereign reigns as a gut-wrenching true-crime drama that cuts deep into the heart of justice.

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Cath Clarke

Guardian

This is muscular stuff, with a firm grip on your attention.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 11, 2025

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William Bibbiani

TheWrap

Some of [Nick] Offerman’s most complex and disturbing work.

Jul 13, 2025

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Owen Gleiberman

Variety

The movie is a real-world thriller that’s also a riveting character study that’s also a portrait of the place where the reactionary politics of today curdles into obsession.

Jul 11, 2025

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John Serba

Decider

Sovereign is an intense, tough but worthy drama.

Nov 13, 2025

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John Stark

Mac the Movie Guy

Nick Offerman carries Sovereign, a thriller best enjoyed if you actually know what a sovereign citizen stands for, because the film itself is a little murky on the details.

Rated: 83/100

Oct 31, 2025

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Nick Boyd

Battle Royale With Cheese

This is a timely and thought provoking movie that does a skillful job at showing how this kind of radical thinking that Jerry espouses to his son can take hold. Both Offerman and Tremblay give powerful and intense performances...

Oct 28, 2025

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D G

Powerful. The whole cast was brilliant. Well written. Beautiful cinematography. An underrated classic. I hope it gets some kind of acknowledgement during awards season.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/15/25

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Jonathan D

Great film, slow burn development. Brilliant acting. heartbreaking story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/15/25

Full Review

Ghederick Eshmont

Compelling, but the totality is below the sum of the quality actors

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/12/25

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Audience Member

A really beautiful and thought-provoking film about the meaning of family, despair in middle america, and the human psyche

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/15/25

Full Review

Ryan C.

Sovereign is a very in your face and tense film that is very unforgiving. The movie feels like it can drag at times but starts to gain momentum toward 2/3 of the way in. Sovereign has good performances from Nick Offerman, Jacob Tremblay, and Dennis Quaid. Based on the events surrounding the 2010 West Memphis police shootings, the film follows Jerry and Joe Kane (Offerman and Tremblay), a father and son who align themselves with the sovereign citizen movement and clash with Police Chief John Bouchart (Quaid). This movie tries to put the viewer in the mindset of the followers of the Sovereign citizen movement. This movie will not be for everyone. Sovereign gets a solid 3 stars out of 5 from me.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/27/25

Full Review

TheDirk

A lot of viewers don't realize this film is based on a TRUE STORY (see: 2010 West Memphis shootings) that was all caught on dashcams & news helicopters. Our two leading men do a fine job with subject matter & fairly decent script.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/27/25

Full Review

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Christian Swegal

Director

Dennis Quaid

John Bouchart

Jacob Tremblay

Joe Kane

Nick Offerman

Jerry Kane

Martha Plimpton

Lesley Ann

Nancy Travis

Patty Bouchart

Sovereign: Movie Clip - Traffic Stop

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Sovereign: Movie Clip - The Duel

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Sovereign: Teaser - Listen to Your Dad

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Sovereign: Teaser - America

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Sovereign: Trailer 1

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Sovereign: Teaser

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Synopsis

Inspired by real events, SOVEREIGN is a tense and provocative true crime thriller about a father and his teenage son -- Jerry and Joseph Kane (Nick Offerman and Jacob Tremblay) -- who follow the Sovereign Citizen belief system, a deeply anti-establishment worldview rooted in distrust of government authority. As the pair travel across the country delivering self-taught legal seminars and pushing back against systems they believe have failed them, their journey brings them into conflict with Police Chief Jim Bouchart (Dennis Quaid), setting off a tragic chain of events that forces a reckoning with power, principle, and the limits of freedom.

Director: Christian Swegal
Producer: Nick Moceri
Screenwriter: Christian Swegal
Distributor: Briarcliff Entertainment
Production Co: All Night Diner
Rating: R (Violence and Language)
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 11, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 11, 2025
Runtime: 1h 40m

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