The Oscar Isaac-led animated film The King of Kings has made an impressive debut at the box office, setting records and earning accolades for its unique storytelling and star-studded voice cast. The film, which depicts the life of Jesus Christ through a narrative influenced by Charles Dickens’ style, was acquired by Angel Studios, the faith-based production company behind the surprise 2023 hit Sound of Freedom.
Opening just before Easter, The King of Kings generated an impressive $19 million during its opening weekend, securing the number two spot at the box office, just behind A Minecraft Movie. The opening weekend haul surpassed The Prince of Egypt’s 1998 record of $14 million, making it the biggest debut for a biblical animated film.
The film has also garnered a rare A+ CinemaScore rating, an honor only 128 films have achieved. The King of Kings becomes the second movie of 2025 to earn this recognition, following Bob Trevino Likes It. This rating speaks volumes about the film’s appeal, especially considering it is only the fifth animated film to earn an A+ rating that isn’t from Pixar or Disney.
Brandon Purdie, Global Head of Theatrical Distribution & Brand Development at Angel Studios, commented on the success, highlighting the importance of Angel’s community-driven approach. “The Angel Guild picks winners. Angel’s model is simple – listen to what our Angel Guild wants,” Purdie said in a statement. “The CinemaScore for The King of Kings says it all… This weekend simply reflects what audiences are craving.”
While the film’s opening weekend numbers are noteworthy, they reveal more than just financial success. The King of Kings performed strongly despite competition from other new releases like Drop, The Amateur, and Warfare. It also ranks as one of the top five openings of 2025, alongside Mickey 17, and behind A Minecraft Movie, Captain America: Brave New World, Snow White, and Dogman.
The film’s box office performance is also influenced by Angel Studios’ unique promotional strategies. Through their “Kids Go Free” initiative, the studio offered one free child’s ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket, powered by the Pay It Forward system. While this initiative boosted ticket sales, it also raised concerns, as some viral videos from 2023 had shown empty theaters despite sold-out showings for Sound of Freedom, highlighting the potential issue of unredeemed tickets.
Though the A+ CinemaScore rating reflects the enthusiasm of the film’s audience, it’s important to note that such scores are often skewed by the expectations of a targeted demographic. Christian faith-based films frequently earn high ratings, given the strong alignment between the film’s message and the audience’s values. Recent A+ films like Jesus Revolution and Sound of Freedom have followed a similar trend, suggesting that the positive feedback is partly due to audience pre-disposition.
In the context of box office expectations, The King of Kings’ $19 million opening is seen as impressive. However, it still falls short of Snow White’s $43 million debut, which, despite its larger reach, was deemed a box office disappointment. While The King of Kings may not have drawn as large an audience, it benefits from a smaller production budget and is expected to see a significant surge over Easter Weekend, further solidifying its financial success.
As the Easter season unfolds, The King of Kings will likely see a continued boost in popularity, helping Angel Studios continue its upward trajectory in the faith-based film market.
