Posted on 04/18/2025 4:00:48 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Just in time for Easter, the faith-based animated film from Angel Studios “King of Kings” continues to dominate the box office, coming in second place ahead of the holiday weekend.
From the same studio responsible for the sleeper hit “Sound of Freedom,” the movie tells the story of Jesus Christ from his birth to his crucifixion and resurrection.
RedState was able to watch the film and can offer our readers a review of the animated movie that takes on Charles Dickens’ short story “The Life of Our Lord," which was never published until decades after he died in 1934, as the Hollywood Reporter noted.
With a star-studded voice cast that includes Kenneth Branagh as Dickens, Forest Whitaker as Peter, Ben Kingsley as High Priest Caiphas, Pierce Brosnan as Pontius Pilate and... Mark Hamill as King Herod, Jesus’ story is told through Dickens’ youngest son Walter’s eyes, allowing the child to learn the story and the transformative power of prayer as he walks alongside the leader.
It’s the greatest story ever told…💜 Watch the official trailer for Angel Studios’ The King of Kings, only in theaters April 11! Get your tickets now! 🎟️
Get Showtimes: https://t.co/CD2bFl95QC pic.twitter.com/aeQla2vVoC— Angel Studios (@AngelStudiosInc) February 17, 2025
The movie opens with a wintry scene of Dickens' Ebenezer Scrooge walking through a cemetery only to discover his headstone.
But because this is a children’s movie, it’s soon revealed that it's actually Dickens on a stage acting out a scene from his famous story “A Christmas Carol” in front of an audience, before the family’s cat Willa appears onstage to disrupt the show.
Fast forward to Dickens at home feeling distraught about the performance, where his wife Catherine Dickens convinces him to share his latest script, “King of Kings,” with their youngest son.
“Some say it’s the greatest story ever told… our story begins two thousand years ago in the little town of Bethlehem, Israel,” the author told his son, who wants the story to center around King Arthur and slaying dragons.
Dickens then begins to share the story of Jesus’ birth, how Joseph and Mary could find no place for shelter, eventually finding an empty stable where the son of God was born.
Walter soon learns King Herod was “threatened” by the very existence of the baby and the steps the king took to find this “newborn king” and get rid of any child under two from the city.
Celebrate Easter weekend with The King of Kings. 💛 Listen to the powerful soundtrack and watch the story of Jesus Christ come to life in theaters. https://t.co/xBIChfptjn pic.twitter.com/uyq6Jpcv2C— Angel Studios (@AngelStudiosInc) April 18, 2025
The movie briefly touches on Jesus’ childhood as he grows up as a carpenter in Nazareth, celebrations of Passover, before time passes to when he’s older, needing to find others who will help him spread the word of God.
Walter continues the adventure as Jesus and those who will become his disciples go from one town to the next, where Jesus performs one miracle after another to those who have faith in who he is. “A miracle to some, a threat to others,” the story noted.
At one point, Dickens pointed out that “Unfortunately, every time Jesus showed God’s Grace, he brought on the wrath of the Pharisees. Who were threatened by Jesus' closeness to God.”
Walter also learns that the more the Pharisees try to turn Jesus' followers against him, the more powerful he grows, which leads them to devise a plan to kill Jesus after turning the people against him.
Because this is a movie for children, they find a unique way to deal with Jesus' final days, complete with a Last Supper scene, his being nailed to the cross and his death before he is risen.
The film is visually very striking, from the colorful landscapes to the bigger-than-life characters, as the story is told of Jesus’ journey with his disciples and followers. However, there are scenes around the crucifixion that are dark and could be a bit scary for really young children.
It has made $19 million to date and earned the title of ”the best opening ever for an animated Biblical movie,” as previously reported.
More: Christian Movie 'King of Kings' Set to Shatter Records, Estimated to Have Surpassed Snow White
The 'Sound of Freedom' Shows the Culture Is Slipping Through the Media's Fingers
“Charles Dickens had a tradition of sharing this story with his family, and we hope that ‘The King of Kings’ will become a part of the Easter tradition for families around the globe,” Brandon Purdie, Global Head of Theatrical Distribution & Brand Development at Angel, recently said.
Going into its second weekend, the movie remains in the top 5 at the box office, coming in second place behind the monster hit “A Minecraft Movie.”
Audiences on the movie review site Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 97% Popcornmeter rating. Over on the parent movie review site CommonSense Media, a majority of parents credit the movie with having a great message for kids.
There is currently no word from Angel Studios about how long the film will remain in theaters.
Mark Hamill? Why was that creep cast?
Mark Hamil??
Hard pass.
...and?
A cropped picture of an animated kid from a 2025 movie poster doesn’t tell me anything about the “cartooned fakery” you experienced at “age five”.
Saw it least weekend with my six year old daughter who was in rapt attention from start to finish.
How do you dominate the marketplace by being second? Odd article.
Minecraft is dominating the marketplace. It may be better to just simply state, it’s doing better than expected, but it is a very distant second.
RE: Mark Hamill? Why was that creep cast?
Heck, there were criticisms of his casting on ALL sides — both left and right. The left didn’t want him using his talents on a “conservative” film and the right of course didn’t like a left-wing actor in the film.
The reason he was cast is ... well, he is a very talented voice actor and he only reads the script, nothing more.
Despite all these, Mark Hamill, who voiced King Herod in The King of Kings, responded positively to the film’s reception and addressed criticism by emphasizing its universal appeal. He described the movie as a “revelation” for young audiences, even those not drawn to religious stories. Hamill highlighted the film’s themes of faith, selflessness, and doing what’s right for the greater good, suggesting that these values resonate beyond religious contexts.
Someone has to dub the voice of Herod...
I went last weekend with friends. Very near to us was a mom and daughter, maybe 8 or so. She seemed to enjoy it. We all did.
Sorry, but the fact that the deranged little Nazi insurrectionist was cast in a “Christian” film is extremely offensive. I HATE that worthless traitor.
It’s no big deal; I haven’t darkened the door of a movie theater since my High School Senior year of 1989. I have missed absolutely nothing. If Hollyweird ceased to exist, Americans would take to the streets to celebrate.
Music is important and life-changing. Hollyweird is completely irrelevant.
No offense intended. I just HATE that filthy soy boy.
Will keep in mind to check out!
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