Jerry Kane is a sovereign citizen who hosts public talks about the movement for a living. He lives with his homeschooled son Joe in their house which is subject to foreclosure, much to Jerry's protests. They are informed that they have 30 days to pay the bank, otherwise they would be evicted. Jerry is pulled over and arrested for driving without a license or registration, and Joe is briefly held at a juvenile detention center where he is encouraged to attend public high school. During his time there, he is questioned about his father's ideological views.
After Joe is released, he accompanies his father in his seminar tour around the country. Jerry befriends Leslie, a regular attendee, and the two gamble at a casino. After refusing to pay the bank, the Kanes return to their home where they are evicted. Jerry dismisses Joe's interest in taking the placement test for high school, citing their lack of funds. They drive away aimlessly as Jerry becomes progressively agitated, purchasing more firearms on the way.
Meanwhile, recent police academy graduate Adam Bouchart fathers a newborn son, and his policing career is encouraged by his father John who is the chief of the police department. While on the job, Adam and his partner pull over the Kanes, where they detain an uncooperative Jerry. A helpless Joe abruptly exits the car and opens fire on the two policemen, killing them both. John and his wife arrives on the scene to find their son dead. As a statewide manhunt is launched to find the Kanes, the father and son flee into a Walmart to purchase clothing to hide their tracks as well as more ammunition. Joe, horrified at what he had done, tries to run away in tears from his father after the latter yells at him when he briefly stops to feed their dog but Jerry stops him from doing so. As they attempt drive away from the parking lot, they are surrounded and killed by police. Both pairs of causalities are honored in their respective communities; the police by their local city, and the Kanes by the atendees of Jerry's sovereign citizen movement. Later that night, John carries Adam’s infant son out to the porch as he stares out at the night sky with a look of despair on his face.
Sovereign premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 8, 2025.[15] It was released theatrically and on demand by Briarcliff Entertainment on July 11, 2025.
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 73 critics' reviews are positive.The website's consensus reads: "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."[17]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 67 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[18]
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