New King at Box Office: ‘DAVID’ Has Highest-Grossing Faith-Based Animated Opening of All Time

In a historic weekend for faith-based cinema, Angel Studios’ animated musical “DAVID” has shattered records, claiming the title of the biggest theatrical opening in the company’s history.

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The film, which retells the biblical story of the shepherd-boy-turned-king, debuted to an estimated $22 million at the domestic box office. This performance officially surpasses the studio’s previous high-water mark set by the 2023 breakout hit Sound of Freedom, which opened at $19.6 million.

Breaking Records and Expectations

DAVID didn’t just break internal records; it also made waves across the industry as a whole:

• Faith-Based Milestone: It now holds the record for the highest-grossing faith-based animated opening of all time, outperforming classics like DreamWorks’ The Prince of Egypt ($14.5M) and Angel’s own The King of Kings ($19.4M).
• Holiday Success: The film landed in the #2 spot at the domestic box office for the weekend, trailing only the massive blockbuster Avatar: Fire and Ash.
• Critical & Audience Acclaim: Beyond the numbers, the film earned a rare “A” CinemaScore and currently maintains a 98% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes.

A New Era for Faith-Based Animation

Directed by Phil Cunningham and Brent Dawes, the musical features a powerful soundtrack with contributions from award-winning Christian artists like Phil Wickham (who also voices the title character) and Lauren Daigle.

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The success of DAVID highlights a growing trend in “values-driven” entertainment. Brandon Purdie, Head of Theatrical at Angel Studios, noted that the film’s success is a testament to families searching for stories that honor hope and faith.

“Our Angel Guild members embraced DAVID from the very beginning,” Purdie said in a statement. “Families are searching for values-driven films that honor hope.”

“King David – one of the greatest stories ever told – is powerfully reimagined for the big  screen with this epic family musical,” said David L. Hunt, Co-Founder and Chief  Creative and Content Officer at 2521 Entertainment. “Kids will grow up fondly  remembering how their parents took them to the theater to experience this film.  Moments like these become family memories that can last a lifetime.” 

The film is now in theaters. Watch the trailer below:

Caleb Parke is an independent journalist. Follow him on X, Facebook, Instagram, and connect with him at calebparke.com.