Angel Studios’ animated biblical epic The King of Kings: A Story Told by Charles Dickens made a stunning debut at the box office this weekend, earning $19.05 million from over 3,200 theaters and setting a new record for the largest opening of a faith-based animated film. The film, which tells the story of Jesus’ life through the imaginative lens of Charles Dickens, landed the number two spot at the domestic box office, just behind A Minecraft Movie—and outperformed all other new releases.
The achievement is historic: The King of Kings surpassed the previous record held by DreamWorks’ The Prince of Egypt, which opened with $14.5 million in 1998. Other notable faith-based animated films, such as The Star and Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, opened at $9.8 million and $6.2 million, respectively. “It’s discouraging to think that people haven’t been fulfilling this massive of an audience for that long in terms of the animated space,” said Angel Studios co-founder Jordan Harmon. “We look at what the Guild is really resonating with. I think the Guild naturally finds things before even the executives could know that it’s becoming a pent-up demand for the world”.
The King of Kings features a star-studded voice cast, including Oscar Isaac, Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman, Pierce Brosnan, Mark Hamill, Ben Kingsley, and Forest Whitaker. The film’s unique approach frames the Gospel story as a bedtime tale told by Dickens (voiced by Branagh) to his young son, Walter, making the story accessible and engaging for younger viewers. The brisk runtime and stylized animation help keep the film lively, even if some moments of animation are less polished. Still, the strong voice performances and heartfelt storytelling have resonated with audiences, especially families seeking quality, faith-affirming entertainment.
Audience response has been overwhelmingly positive. The King of Kings earned a rare A+ CinemaScore, making it only the fifth non-Disney/Pixar animated film to achieve this honor, and it currently holds a 97% Rotten Tomatoes audience score which is currently the highest at the box office (and may become the highest of the year). That’s up from a 64% critic score, which is at least not a “rotten score.” Even non-Christian reviewers are raving, with Rosa Parra of The Latino Slant! rating it 8/10 and praising its “beautiful animation and excellent voice acting,” adding that the movie is “respectful and inclusive, and I never once felt overwhelmed or uncomfortable with its delivery.”
“The Angel Guild picks winners. Angel’s revolutionary idea is simple: know your audience—and listen to them,” said Brandon Purdie, Angel’s Global Head of Theatrical Distribution & Brand Development. “Families want quality films to see together in theaters. This weekend simply reflects what audiences are craving”.
The film’s success comes as part of a larger trend of faith-based content thriving at the box office. Angel Studios previously scored a surprise hit with 2023’s Sound of Freedom, and the ongoing theatrical run of The Chosen: Last Supper series has also drawn large crowds. With Easter approaching, The King of Kings is poised to continue its strong performance, inviting audiences to rediscover the enduring power of hope, love, and redemption through the eyes of a child. Many faithful families will likely try to see the film tomorrow for Good Friday or on Saturday matinee to make their Easter Sunday even more meaningful.
See our review here.
****
English (US) · 