\’Crowning \’The King of Kings\’: How Angel Studios\’ Stellar Biblical Epic Dominates Early Box Office\’

Two decades ago, DreamWorks debuted the highly acclaimed animated musical \”The Prince of Egypt.\” This movie follows the story of the biblical character Moses and achieved significant praise and box office triumphs. Featuring compositions by future \”Wicked\” creator Stephen Schwartz along with the vocal talents of actors like Val Kilmer and Ralph Fiennes, this cinematic work is often celebrated as a classic. However, despite its acclaim, the trend of producing biblically themed animated movies appeared to fade away around the year 2000.

\”The King of Kings\” marks Angel Studios’ attempt to bring faith-based children’s movies back into cinemas. This production features Oscar Isaac portraying Jesus, Pierce Brosnan taking on the role of Pontius Pilate, Mark Hamill as King Herod, Forest Whitaker as Peter, and Ben Kingsley as High Priest Caiaphas. It skillfully presents itself through renowned writer Charles Dickens, played by Kenneth Branagh, along with his spouse Catherine, portrayed by Uma Thurman, aiming to educate their Arthurian legend-loving child Walter, acted out by Roman Griffin Davis, about the most significant monarch ever known.

Inspired loosely by Dickens\’ \”The Life of Our Lord,\” the film \”The King of Kings\” has shattered the previous debut record held by \”The Prince of Egypt.\” It earned more than $14.6 million from pre-sales before hitting theaters this weekend.

Angel Studios\’ Jordan Harmon isn\’t surprised by the promising numbers – after all, Angel\’s unique pay-it-forward and crowdfunding \”Angel Guild\” models, both in full effect here, are precisely what made 2023\’s \”The Sound of Freedom\” a runaway success.

It’s disheartening to consider that such a large audience hasn’t been adequately served within the realm of animation for so long,\” says Jordan Harmon, co-founder of Angel Studios, speaking to Velvet Voque. \”Rather than focusing on gaps in our current lineup, we examine what elements resonate most strongly with audiences through the Guild. It seems the Guild has a knack for identifying trends even before management realizes they represent growing demands from viewers around the globe.

After acquiring the project from director Seong-ho Jang in November 2024, Angel stated that there was “no doubt” it would be released theatrically aligned with Easter and the Holy Week preceding it.

Harmon mentions, “This film could be considered \’The Passion\’ tailored specifically for children. After conducting an advanced viewing, I observed several children leaving the theater with tears streaming down their faces.” He continues, “These young viewers are experiencing something deeply profound and emotionally stirring within the cinematic setting, sharing this collective journey together. They’re overwhelmed by such intense feelings and emotions that it strengthens their bond, fostering an even greater affection toward Christ. In my opinion, this movie holds the capacity to positively impact countless children’s lives, becoming what one might call a defining childhood memory.”

Hamill, who voices tyrannical leader King Herod in \”The King of Kings,\” says he was drawn to the role not only because of his Roman Catholic upbringing and affinity for films like 1961\’s live-action \”King of Kings\” with Jeffrey Hunter, but because of Herod\’s deliciously evil persona.

This character is a quintessential antagonist. He completely lacks compassion. Drunk on his authority, he issued the notorious decree for slaughtering every young boy below the age of two. In essence, a textbook psychopath,\” he explains. \”If this were a live-action movie, I would never land the role of King Herod because casting directors look for someone who appears authoritative—physically commanding, large, and regal like Victor Buono. This is precisely why voice acting appeals to me; they focus solely on your vocal performance rather than physical appearance. As long as you nail the voice, that’s what truly matters.

Hamill describes the movie as \”a revelation\” and thinks it will attract younger audiences. He mentions, “Kids are bound to find this incredibly captivating, regardless of whether they\’re interested in religious narratives. The film encompasses all elements of a fantastic adventure while imparting valuable lessons about faith, altruism, and acting ethically for the benefit of others rather than solely oneself.” Additionally, he expresses his desire to catch the movie at the theater. Hamill excitedly adds, “It would be amazing to watch it surrounded by elementary school students; their enthusiasm could fill the place!”

Angel Studios has embraced its child-centric appeal through a \” Kids Go Free\” initiative, which provides one complimentary child’s ticket for each purchased adult admission. According to Harmon, this strategy has proven highly effective since many parents often lack both the means and the availability to take their children to movies. This program gives those families just enough encouragement to visit the theater. Moreover, when faced with producing a film aimed at younger audiences, the Angel crew had to devise fresh approaches to attract a wider viewership beyond their usual grown-up crowd.

Many historical Angel films tend to be more geared towards adults; they often involve intense themes and dramatic storylines, which makes them less appealing to children. This posed a distinct challenge,\” explains Harmon. \”A challenge we believe we addressed effectively.