A film released just weeks ago has left the audience and critics stunned with the gripping drama receiving a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Released in July this year, Sovereign is a gripping crime film based on true events.
It tells the story of Jerry Kane and his teenage son Joseph, played by Nick Offerman and Jacob Tremblay, who believe in the Sovereign Citizen movement—a radical view that rejects government control and authority. As they travel across the US challenging the system, they clash with a police chief named Jim Bouchart (Dennis Quaid).
This confrontation leads to a tragic series of events, raising tough questions about power, personal beliefs, and how far freedom can go before it turns dangerous.
Offerman, famous for his hilarious role in the sit-com Parks&Rec, sheds his familiar comedic persona to deliver a chillingly intense portrayal of Jerry Kane, a man consumed by anti-government ideology and personal loss. His performance anchors the film with a quiet menace that builds toward devastating consequences.
Tremblay, as Kane’s teenage son Joe, adds a layer of emotional vulnerability—his character torn between devotion to his father and a growing unease with their radical path. Quaid brings gravitas and grit to Police Chief Bouchart, a man trying to uphold the law while grappling with the moral weight of escalating conflict.
The supporting cast—Martha Plimpton, Nancy Travis, and Thomas Mann—round out the story with nuanced performances that deepen the film’s exploration of belief, authority, and the fragile bonds of family.
The film is immensely popular among critics and viewers alike on Rotten Tomatoes.
A critic commented on the website: “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.”
Another critic wrote: “It’s in the utterly brilliant casting of Nick Offerman as this shattered and dangerous man that the film finds its catastrophic equilibrium.”
A third one wrote: “A meeting of ‘Leave No Trace’ and ‘Hell or High Water,’ ‘Sovereign’ is a thought provoking political work whose sympathetic eye is given focus by its potent cast.”
One of the viewers wrote: “Powerful. The whole cast was brilliant. Well written. Beautiful cinematography. An underrated classic. I hope it gets some kind of acknowledgement during awards season.”
A second viewer commented: “Great film, slow burn development. Brilliant acting. heartbreaking story.”