Angel Studios’ The King of Kings has made a historic debut, earning an impressive $19 million over its opening weekend and setting a new record for the highest-grossing biblical animated film. The film also achieved one of cinema’s rarest honors: an A+ CinemaScore, a distinction held by only 128 films. Released on 3,200 screens, the film brought in an estimated $7 million on Friday, $6.8 million on Saturday, and $5.2 million on Sunday, according to Angel Studios.
With a weekend total of $19,050,397, The King of Kings has surpassed previous record-holders like The Prince of Egypt ($14.5 million), The Star ($9.8 million), and Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie ($6.2 million), as reported by The Numbers.
Brandon Purdie, Global Head of Theatrical Distribution & Brand Development at Angel, attributed the film’s success to the company’s audience-first approach. “Angel’s philosophy is simple: know your audience and listen to them,” he said. “The A+ CinemaScore reflects the demand for high-quality, meaningful films. It’s only the fifth animated film outside of Pixar and Disney to earn this distinction. This weekend’s results show that families are eager for films that resonate on a deeper level.”
Loosely based on Charles Dickens’ The Life of Our Lord, The King of Kings tells the story of Jesus Christ through the eyes of a child, blending Victorian-era aesthetics with modern virtual cinematography. The star-studded voice cast includes Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman, Pierce Brosnan, and Mark Hamill.
Director Seong-Ho Jang, who was inspired by his Christian faith and a desire to reach younger generations in Korea, shared that the project was born out of a need to present Jesus’ story in a way that speaks to today’s audiences. “I want viewers to feel the love behind Jesus’ sacrifice,” Jang explained. The film’s use of motion capture and virtual production creates an immersive, live-action-like experience, setting it apart from traditional animation.
