Turns out indie films don’t always need to follow the rulebook. Director Duane Edwards is proving it in just about every way with his debut feature Wrong Numbers. Audience engagement data shows the intimate, character-driven drama isn’t just pulling in niche cinephiles, it’s connecting with viewers across generations, genders, and even continents.
Distributor Indie Rights has been tracking the film’s performance metrics, and CEO Linda Nelson points out a telling shift: “Over 52 percent of views are happening on TV screens via YouTube. Proof that YouTube is the new cable.”
Audiences aren’t just clicking play, they’re treating the film like primetime. And they’re staying invested.
“I haven’t seen another film with such evenly distributed audience engagement across all age groups like Wrong Numbers,” Nelson added. “It’s rare to see a story resonate so consistently from Gen-Z to seniors, and what’s even more impressive is how fully invested viewers stay from the first scene to the final frame.”
The demographic breakdown presents another surprise. While dramas focused on intimate character usually skew female, Edwards’ film is attracting more male viewers. “Interestingly, male viewership is outpacing female, which is unusual for a character-driven indie drama,” notes director and producer Duane Edwards.
International viewership accounts for three-quarters of the audience, proving that its emotional core translates across language and cultural barriers. Even better, 90% of those viewers are finding the film organically, rather than through subscriber feeds. Suggesting that audiences are actively seeking out and sharing the content, through word of mouth.
Edwards finds himself at the forefront of Chicago’s indie film resurgence with Wrong Numbers. Shot in just six days, with two actors, across four Chicago locations, Wrong Numbers embraced a minimalist approach to storytelling. Edwards has stripped away distractions, letting the performances carry the narrative. Written by Frederick Mensch (HBO’s Nightingale), the film follows Jack (David Kelsey) and Emma (Emily Hall), two strangers who first meet under awkward circumstances and later cross paths again in a moment that forces both to confront unresolved emotions.
The result is winning over critics and audiences alike. Wrong Numbers boasts a 93% Rotten Tomatoes rating, with David Kelsey named Best Actor at the Beverly Hills Film Festival, Emily Hall earning Best Actress at the FilmFreeway/Actors Awards, and the two leads recognized as Best Duo. Coverage from outlets including the Chicago Sun-Times, Deadline, Reel Chicago, and multiple appearances on WGN-TV has only amplified the film’s reputation.
Next stop: France. Edwards and Indie Rights will bring Wrong Numbers to MIPCOM this fall, where they intend to connect with collaborators who can translate Wrong Numbers into multiple languages and widen its reach across international markets. By making the film more accessible, they hope to strengthen its global impact.
Wrong Numbers is currently available on Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, YouTube Movies, and the Indie Rights Channel, and it is scheduled for an international in-flight entertainment release later this year.
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Chicago-made feature ‘Wrong Numbers’ takes flight
