‘Kings of Kings’ Shatters Records, Scores A+ CinemaScore!

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On weekends, Angel Studios’ animated biblical epic titled “The King of Kings: A Tale Spun by Charles Dickens” made a spectacular debut at the box office, raking in an impressive $19.05 million from more than 3,200 cinemas. This opening marked a fresh record for the largest debut of an animated faith-based film. The movie, which portrays the life story of Jesus as seen through the creative perspective of Charles Dickens, claimed the second position at the domestic box office, only trailing behind “A Minecraft Movie“. It surpassed all other fresh releases in its performance.

The remarkable milestone has been set: The Monarch of Monarchs outperformed the earlier record established by DreamWorks’ The Pharaoh of Egypt, which debuted with $14.5 million in 1998. Other significant religious-themed animated films, including The Star and Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie, started with earnings of $9.8 million and $6.2 million respectively. Jordan Harmon, co-founder of Angel Studios, commented, “It’s disheartening to consider that audiences haven’t been responding on this scale for such a long time in the realm of animation. The public seems to be drawn to what ‘The Guild’ is offering. I believe that ‘The Guild’ has an uncanny ability to identify trends before even the executives can recognize it as a growing demand for the future.

The King of Kings boasts an illustrious ensemble of voice actors, such as Oscar Isaac, Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman, Pierce Brosnan, Mark Hamill, Ben Kingsley, and Forest Whitaker. This movie offers a fresh perspective on the Gospel narrative by presenting it as a bedtime story told by Charles Dickens (voiced by Branagh) to his child, Walter. This adaptation makes the tale more relatable for young audiences. The film’s speedy pace and artistic animation keep the story lively, despite some moments of less refined animation quality. Despite this, the powerful voice acting and touching narrative have struck a chord with viewers, particularly families looking for high-quality, faith-inspiring entertainment.

The audience feedback for The King of Kings has been exceptionally favorable. This film garnered an exceptional A+ CinemaScore, making it one of just five non-Disney/Pixar animated films to receive this accolade. At the moment, it boasts a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, leading all other box office contenders (and potentially setting the record for the year). This is a significant improvement over its initial 64% critic score, which at least didn’t qualify as a “rotten” rating. Even reviewers who aren’t Christian are singing its praises, with Rosa Parra of The Latino Slant! awarding it an 8/10 and commending the “stunning animation and top-notch voice acting.” She also noted that the movie is “respectful and inclusive,” adding that she never felt “overwhelmed or uncomfortable” while watching it.

The Angel Guild selects top choices. At the heart of Angel’s innovative concept is understanding your audience and actively engaging with them,” said Brandon Purdie, Head of Global Theatrical Distribution & Brand Development at Angel. “Weekend releases are a reflection of what viewers yearn for – high-quality films suitable for family outings at cinemas.

The movie’s success is part of a broader pattern of faith-based productions doing well at the cinema. Angel Studios previously had a successful run with 2023’s “Sound of Freedom,” and the ongoing theater screenings of the “The Chosen: Last Supper” series have also attracted big audiences. As Easter approaches, “The King of Kings” is expected to maintain its impressive performance, inviting viewers to rediscover the enduring power of hope, love, and redemption through a child’s perspective. Many devout families may plan to watch the movie on Good Friday or during Saturday matinee to make their Easter Sunday even more significant.

See our review here.

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2025-04-17 14:45