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The brand new Charles Dickens-inspired animated biblical film — titled ‘The King of Kings’ — is setting new records as families flock to see a fresh retelling of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

A new animated film from Angel Studios is captivating audiences this Easter season — and making history in the process.

The King of Kings, which opened in over 3,200 US theatres on April 11, has earned $14.6 million in pre-sales and achieved a $17 million debut weekend, setting a new record for animated biblical films by surpassing The Prince of Egypt’s long-standing benchmark.

The faith-based production, released just in time for Holy Week and also showing in Australia, has drawn widespread attention for its heartfelt storytelling, high-quality animation, and strong Christian message centred on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Inspired by The Life of Our Lord — a little-known Charles Dickens book originally penned by the famous author for his children — The King of Kings takes a creative approach to telling the gospel story. Set in Victorian England, it follows Dickens (voiced by Kenneth Branagh) as he recounts the life of Christ to his youngest son, Walter, as a bedtime story.

Dickens’ gentle narration draws the boy — and viewers — into a vivid, imaginative world where Walter journeys through the streets of Jerusalem, witnesses Jesus’ miracles, and walks through key moments such as Peter’s denials, Judas’ betrayal, and the resurrection.

The layered style of storytelling has been praised for its accessible yet profound introduction to the gospel for children, while providing plenty to delight adult audiences as well.

A Rising Wave of Christian Media

Directed by Korean visual effects artist Seong-ho (Jay) Jang and co-produced by Mofac Animation, The King of Kings showcases world-class animation that has been noted for its emotional depth and artistic beauty.

The voice cast features an impressive line-up of talent, including Oscar Isaac as Jesus, Uma Thurman as Catherine Dickens, Mark Hamill as King Herod, and Ben Kingsley as High Priest Caiaphas.

Angel Studios, known for its viewer-driven model and previous hits like The Chosen, has once again mobilised grassroots support to drive the film’s success. Its “Kids Go Free” campaign — offering a free child’s ticket with each adult ticket purchase — helped generate over one million ticket pre-sales.

Brandon Purdie, Global Head of Theatrical Distribution at Angel Studios, highlighted the significance of the film’s launch.

“Just like The Prince of Egypt drew families to theatres, our Angel Guild has supported this film through pre-sales and strong word-of-mouth,” he said, as reported by Deadline. “We hope The King of Kings will become part of the Easter tradition for families around the globe.”

The King of Kings is part of a broader trend of faith-based media gaining momentum over recent years, with this Easter season offering more Christian-themed content than any in recent memory.

This year has seen the theatrical release of Mauro Borrelli’s The Last Supper, now streaming on Amazon Prime; the ongoing tour of the multimedia stage play The Thorn; and the launch of The Chosen: The Last Supper — all of which explore the final days of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

What sets The King of Kings apart is its focus on young viewers. By combining classic storytelling with modern animation, the film opens the door for families to engage in conversations about Jesus’ identity, purpose, and the hope of Easter.

Charles Dickens and the Story Behind the Story

Indeed, this was Charles Dickens’ purpose in writing the book on which the film is based.

The Life of Our Lord is a short manuscript Dickens wrote between 1846 and 1849, originally intended only for his children and withheld from publication during his lifetime.

Dickens composed his book in simple, conversational language with the hope of instilling Christian values in his family without the weight of theological argument. Drawing from all four gospels, The Life of Our Lord majors on Jesus’ life and teachings — His compassion, humility, and sacrificial love.

Written during a period of personal religious exploration, Dickens’ version of the gospel is notably undogmatic, and somewhat influenced by the Unitarianism. It teaches a broad moral Christianity and highlights ethical living, charity, and kindness — themes that feature prominently in his better-known works like A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist.

Though not considered a literary masterpiece, The Life of Our Lord offers a rare glimpse into Dickens’ spiritual life. It is deeply paternal in tone, urging his children to love others and follow Jesus’ example. He begins his book:

My Dear Children, I am very anxious that you should know something about the History of Jesus Christ. For everybody ought to know about Him. No one ever lived who was so good, so kind, so gentle, and so sorry for all people who did wrong, or were in any way ill or miserable, as He was.

By bringing Dickens’ deeply personal work to life through animation, The King of Kings honours both the message of Jesus and the legacy of one of history’s great storytellers.

The King of Kings is currently showing in Australian cinemas, with session times and locations available here.

The film’s PG rating for thematic material and some intense moments makes it appropriate for most family audiences, though parents of younger children may wish to preview the film.

A streaming release of the film is expected on Angel Studios’ platform in May 2025, available through Angel Guild membership. DVD and Blu-ray editions are expected to be released by August.

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Images courtesy of Angel Studios.