Crowning ‘The King of Kings’: Inside the Early Box Office Success of Angel Studios’ Starry Biblical Epic

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Approximately a quarter-century ago, DreamWorks unveiled the enchanting, musically inclined animated movie “The Prince of Egypt,” narrating the life story of the biblical figure Moses. This production, boasting music from future “Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz and the vocal talents of Val Kilmer and Ralph Fiennes, is often hailed as a masterwork. However, following the dawn of the new millennium, it appears that the genre of biblically themed animated films has largely fallen by the wayside.

Explore “The King of Kings,” a new venture by Angel Studios aiming to reintroduce faith-based children’s films on the big screen. This movie, featuring Oscar Isaac as Jesus, Pierce Brosnan as Pontius Pilate, Mark Hamill as King Herod, Forest Whitaker as Peter, and Ben Kingsley as High Priest Caiaphas, is uniquely presented through the perspective of renowned author Charles Dickens (played by Kenneth Branagh) and his wife Catherine (Uma Thurman), who are attempting to educate their son Walter (Roman Griffin Davis), who is fascinated with King Arthur, about the most remarkable king of all.

As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the movie “The King of Kings,” which draws inspiration from Dickens’ “The Life of Our Lord,” is set to shatter the opening box office record previously held by “The Prince of Egypt. In fact, it has already earned an impressive $14.6 million in pre-sales, indicating a promising start ahead of its release this weekend!

Jordan Harmon from Angel Studios doesn’t find the impressive figures surprising – given that the project’s distinctive pay-it-forward and crowdfunding model, which is active here, played a significant role in making “The Sound of Freedom” (2023) a massive hit.

I find it disheartening to reflect on how long it seems people haven’t been catering adequately to such a vast animated audience. At Angel Studios, rather than pondering what we might be lacking in our own lineup, we focus on discerning what the community truly connects with. I believe that the community often discovers these popular trends before even the executives can recognize them as burgeoning demands worldwide.

When Angel obtained the project originating from director Seong-ho Jang in November 2024, Harmon stated without a doubt that it would be scheduled for a theatrical release coinciding with Easter and the ensuing week of religious observance.

Harmon describes ‘This movie’ as being similar to ‘The Passion’, but designed for children. During a preliminary viewing, he noticed several young audience members leaving with tears in their eyes. He explains that these children were deeply moved within the cinema, experiencing a profound and emotional moment collectively. This emotional resonance seems to strengthen their bond with Christ, fostering a deeper love. Harmon believes this film could significantly impact the lives of countless children, creating a memorable experience that may serve as a cornerstone of their faith.

Hamill, who lends his voice to the tyrannical character King Herod in “The King of Kings,” was captivated by the role not just due to his Roman Catholic background and fondness for films like the 1961 live-action “King of Kings” starring Jeffrey Hunter. Instead, he was also attracted to the part because of the tantalizingly wicked personality of King Herod.

He’s the archetypal antagonist, showing no remorse or compassion. He seems intoxicated by his power, issuing an infamous decree to kill all male children under two. You could say he’s a classic sociopath. In a live-action film, I wouldn’t be cast as King Herod because that role demands physical imposing presence, rotundness, and an air of authority. Voiceovers are attractive because they cast based on voice quality rather than appearance. If you can speak the part convincingly, that’s all they require.

Hamill, who describes the movie as a “revelation,” thinks it will attract young viewers. He believes that even those not typically interested in religious stories will find this film captivating. It offers all the elements of a fantastic adventure, yet promotes such valuable lessons like faith, selflessness, and doing what’s right for everyone, rather than just oneself. He expresses his eagerness to catch it at the cinema and suggests that a theater full of grade schoolers would create quite a spectacle, possibly causing the roof to lift off!

angel Studios has emphasized its family-friendly aspect by introducing a promotional offer called “Kids Go Free,” where one child’s ticket is given free with every purchase of an adult ticket. This campaign, as Harmon explains, is particularly effective because many parents may lack the financial resources or time. By offering this incentive, Angel Studios provides these families with an additional motivation to attend, thereby broadening their audience beyond their usual adult-oriented content, as a children’s movie necessitated new strategies for wider appeal.

Historically, many Angel films have been more suited for mature audiences, as they tend to be serious and dramatic rather than appealing to children. This presented a distinct challenge, one that we believe we’ve handled effectively.

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2025-04-12 00:16