New Animated Bible Epic Crushes Opening Expectations
Angel Studios’ The King of Kings made a powerful entrance at the box office over the weekend, raking in approximately $19 million in domestic earnings. This marks the highest-ever opening for a biblical animated film, surpassing previous titles like The Prince of Egypt, The Star, and Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie. Released on over 3,000 screens, the movie also achieved an elite distinction by receiving an A+ CinemaScore, a rare honor reserved for only a select few films, particularly in the animated category.
The film presents the story of Jesus Christ through the unique lens of Charles Dickens, who shares the tale with his son, transforming it into a moving narrative seen through the eyes of a child. The animated feature merges a Victorian-era aesthetic with cutting-edge virtual cinematography, and features a renowned voice cast including Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, and Forest Whitaker. The film concludes with an original song co-written and performed by Kristin Chenoweth.
Director Seong-Ho Jang, a South Korean filmmaker and Christian, shared that the idea stemmed from his personal faith and a desire to fill the gap in animated films that portray the life of Jesus. He expressed concern about the declining interest in Christianity among young people in South Korea and hoped the film would deliver Christ’s message in a compelling and accessible way. His goal was to highlight the central theme of love found throughout the Bible.
Producer and cinematographer Woo-hyung Kim discussed the innovative techniques used in the film’s production. Actors were first recorded via motion capture, and the team then used virtual tools to shape each scene, offering a cinematic style that mirrors live-action storytelling. The combination of cutting-edge technology, heartfelt storytelling, and artistic direction contributed to the film’s strong reception among audiences and critics alike.