BILLY BOB THORNTON’S ‘SLING BLADE’ SET TO MAKE STREAMING DEBUT
Available May 28 Exclusively on Red Coral Universe
The wait is finally over! The critically acclaimed and award-winning film Sling Blade has been remastered in 4K and will be available digitally on May 28 exclusively on Red Coral Universe, an artist-first, AVOD, OTT streaming platform. Red Coral Universe is a free-to-use global platform available on all phones, tablets, smart TVs, connected devices, and the web, or via the Red Coral Universe App on App Store, iOS , and Google Play.
Red Coral Universe has built an eclectic roster of content ranging from traditional, feature film and television, to music videos and shorts, to rap battles and podcasts. The platform even has local sports featuring current superstars such as Caleb Williams and Angel Reese in their final high school games. Red Coral Universe celebrates artists by giving them a platform to reach a global audience and an opportunity to earn a greater share of the revenue generated compared to other streaming services. Whereas, some streamers will make creators jump through hoops to share fractions of points, Red Coral Universe gives creators the vast majority of the revenue starting from the first ad watched. The AVOD platform launched in January 2024 and has grown its registrant base at 10% per day since its inception. The catalog now features a wide variety of nearly 7,000 titles from over 600 artists and growing. Red Coral also finances, produces and distributes its own original content and currently has over a dozen film and television projects in Development.
Directed, written by, and starring the immensely talented Billy Bob Thornton, Sling Blade opened in theaters in December 1996 and became a sleeper hit, capturing audiences worldwide with its gripping narrative and stellar cast. Thornton’s portrayal of Karl Childers earned him widespread acclaim, including an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and a Best Actor nomination, while Oscar-winning actor J.T. Walsh, country music legend Dwight Yoakam, the incomparable John Ritter and Lucas Black, delivered performances that have stood the test of time and continue to resonate with audiences today.
With its hauntingly beautiful cinematography and poignant storytelling, Sling Blade has earned its place in cinematic history, captivating audiences, and critics alike for decades. Whether you’re revisiting this cinematic gem or experiencing it for the first time, Sling Blade promises to leave an indelible mark, reminding us of the power of compassion and the possibility of redemption.
Sling Blade was produced by Red Coral Universe Founder and CEO, Larry Meistrich. When the film was purchased by Miramax, it broke all previous sales records for independent film ushering in an era of profitability and opportunity for indie filmmakers. Today, Meistrich has re-acquired Sling Blade as a signature film for the artist-first streaming platform. Chris Ogeneski of Corvid Partners, a Dublin-based financial services company, advised on the re-acquisition.
Film Synopsis
Mentally disabled Karl Childers (Billy Bob Thornton) is released from the mental hospital where he has spent most of his life after murdering his mother and her lover. He soon forms a bond with Frank (Lucas Black), a boy whose father committed suicide. When Frank’s mother, Linda (Natalie Canerday), lets Karl stay at their house, her cruel boyfriend, Doyle (Dwight Yoakam), tries to get Karl removed. Determined to protect his friend, Karl devises a way to save Frank from years of Doyle’s abuse.
Cast
Billy Bob Thornton as Karl Childers
Dwight Yoakam as Doyle Hargraves
J.T Walsh as Charles Bushman
John Ritter as Vaughan Cunningham
Lucas Black as Frank Wheatley
Natalie Canerday as Linda Wheatley
Robert Duvall as Frank Childers
Directed by
Written by
Billy Bob Thornton
Produced by
Larry Meistrich, David T. Bushell, Brandon Rosser
Feature Run Time
135 minutes
Rating
Rated R
Genre
Drama
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