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Atlantic
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Atlantic
Getting Beyond ‘Pretty Good for a Christian Movie'
Growing up in an evangelical household, I watched films and TV shows meant to teach me about Jesus and the Bible's larger narrative—works such as McGee and Me!, VeggieTales, and various productions involving Psalty, an anthropomorphic book of worship songs. Not all of them hold up, but the ones that do benefit from sharp writing, laugh-out-loud comedy, and an entertainment value that transcends ideology. As a parent who remains a believer, I sometimes mix shows and movies like these into my own family's media diet, but as a culture journalist, I'm looking for artful storytelling as much as educational value. My struggle now, as it was when I was a child, is finding the works that excel without grading on a curve, works that aren't just 'pretty good for a Christian movie'—the ones so absorbing that they could resonate with a broad audience. The canon's newest candidate is The King of Kings, an animated film that recently surpassed the Oscar-winning Parasite as the highest-grossing Korean-produced film in American history. The movie aspires to reach beyond the faithful—to be, as its director Jang Seong-ho put it, 'something even nonbelievers could enjoy without feeling lectured at.' Jang pursues this objective in several ways: Aside from being voiced by big-name actors such as Kenneth Branagh, Oscar Isaac, and Uma Thurman, the film tells a biblical story through the lens of a historical figure, balances the drama with stabs at humor, and avoids today's sociopolitical landscape altogether. These efforts can be effective, and have worked before: Bible dramatizations such as The Star, a playful children's cartoon about the Nativity featuring a stacked cast, and The Chosen, a hit live-action TV series about Christ's life, present their stories with winsome verve. The King of Kings goes further, with a post-credits plea for viewers to open their wallets and purchase tickets for friends, encouraging them to watch the movie themselves. But the film's on-the-nose approach seems unlikely to win over viewers who aren't already on board with its message. The King of Kings is based on The Life of Our Lord, a book that Charles Dickens wrote to explain Jesus's life to his children; the book was kept exclusive to Dickens's family until its publication in 1934, after the last of his children died, at which point his surviving relatives opted to share it with the world. The film version begins with Charles (Branagh) doing a live reading of A Christmas Carol at a packed theater. When his young son Walter (Roman Griffin Davis) and Walter's cat upend the performance with their unruly behavior, Charles's wife, Catherine (Thurman), persuades Charles not to punish the kid but instead to use the opportunity to teach him about Jesus (Isaac). Although the child is initially, even obnoxiously, uninterested, he soon becomes so immersed in these stories that he imagines himself stepping into them. The movie plays the hits: Jesus's birth in a Bethlehem stable; miracles including walking on water and the feeding of the 5,000; the crucifixion and resurrection. Charles pauses sometimes to explain concepts such as Passover, which was being observed in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus's execution, and substitutionary atonement (how Jesus's death shoulders the penalty for humanity's sins). The bursts of religious instruction help the audience understand the theological basis behind the scenes from Jesus's life—one of the film's more effective tools, even if these moments sometimes come off more like Bible-explainer videos than popcorn cinema. Many of these lessons, though, are obfuscated by the film's uncanny comedy, which usually involve the boy's cat aggravating Charles while he attempts to narrate Jesus's story. Otherwise, the film strives to convey the gravity of its material by locking onto a dead-serious vibe, at the expense of character development. One might argue that a sober approach befits the epic sweep of the biblical narrative. Yet a key reason a drama like The Chosen (which was once also produced by the King of Kings distributor, Angel Studios) has appealed to so many is that it allows Jesus and his disciples to be funny, annoyed, exhausted. They're real people, and the solemn moments hit much harder as a result. Evangelistic storytelling doesn't have to be awkward; just look at the Bible itself. The Gospel of John, for instance, offers flashes of amusement, such as when John notes that he ran faster than his fellow apostle Peter on the way to Jesus's empty tomb. One wondrous implication of the Gospels is that the supernatural has intervened in everyday life, with all its petty ego clashes and mundane squabbles; if adapted adeptly, these relatable moments can pop even more on-screen than they do on the page. Take the 1998 DreamWorks production The Prince of Egypt, perhaps the gold standard for biblical cartoons. That film succeeds largely because of its deft presentation of the story's inherent human drama: Moses and his adoptive brother, Rameses, joke and banter, and when Moses returns from decades in exile, the joy of reuniting and anxiety over how their relationship has changed are palpable. The filmmakers translated the Book of Exodus into a format most viewers would understand—the kind of colorful, animated musical Disney popularized—and trusted that their movie's spiritual themes would resonate. They weren't overtly trying to instruct nonbelievers about how to save their soul, but if they had been, they had a hell of a vehicle for it. The King of Kings doesn't come close to matching The Prince of Egypt 's power, but it's found an audience nonetheless. In a landscape where most cultural products aren't generated with a religious audience in mind, there is some value in movies that appeal directly to the faithful. My kids are not known for their discerning tastes, but they did enjoy the movie; for a parent like me who wants them to learn about Jesus, maybe that's enough. Still, a movie that's merely a hit among Christians feels like a missed opportunity to open up a genre that has too often been a closed circuit. The Chosen started as a crowdfunded biblical adaptation on niche streaming services; it became a word-of-mouth success among churches and Christian groups by fleshing out its stories with extra layers of character-driven drama. The show has now run for five seasons and become available on a mainstream platform, Amazon Prime Video, where it reaches a much larger audience of people of any belief. For The King of Kings, telling a story of faith that crackles with life, that connects the Bible to people's real passions and problems, might have yielded more of a crossover smash—a movie that those outside the faith might also have been curious to see. As it stands, I'm still waiting for a film like that.
Korea Herald
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
‘The King of Kings' arrives in Korea after record-shattering US run
Director Jang Seong-ho touts faith-based animation's success ahead of local release Joy to the world, the Lord has come to offer eternal salvation, Christian tradition tells us. What He likely never foresaw was becoming the star of a South Korean animated feature that just swept the US box office and is now coming home on a wave of buzz. Created by VFX specialist-turned-rookie director Jang Seong-ho, "The King of Kings" was the outsider no one had on their tracking sheets. In a 17-day sprint, the film leap-frogged "Parasite" to become the top-grossing Korean title ever released in North America, collecting $60.2 million stateside and $67 million worldwide by early June. Along the way, it toppled benchmarks that had stood for decades: its opening week alone eclipsed Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" and, by week three, it was trailing just behind "Pokemon: The First Movie" to claim the No. 2 slot for Asian animation in North America -- all without the safety net of a built-in franchise. Back in Seoul on Wednesday, Jang exuded a victor's confidence at a press conference at CGV Yongsan. Brandishing the tagline 'The Greatest Story Ever Told,' he said, 'I can confidently say this is probably the highest-quality animated film Korea has produced. It's worth every penny of the ticket price -- a film that deserves the big screen.' From day one, Jang said, the project was strategically engineered for American audiences. 'We needed source material everyone would recognize,' he explained. 'The Bible fit that bill. America was founded by Puritans; I knew the story would resonate.' Above all, the film turned heads with an A-list English-language voice cast led by Kenneth Branagh, Pierce Brosnan and Oscar Isaac. The Korean dub answers in kind: Lee Byung-hun voices Charles Dickens -- an ironic twist given his recent turn as a demon king in Netflix's "K-Pop Demon Hunters" -- while Lee Ha-nee plays Catherine Dickens and veteran character actor Jin Sun-kyu steps into the sandals of Jesus Christ. The performances, though earnest, don't always match the polish of veteran voice talents. Jang, however, seemed more than satisfied. Of Lee Byung-hun, who is not religious, he said: 'He became genuinely interested in this universal story of love as we worked. The playful rhythm he found between father and son was fascinating.' Lee Ha-nee, meanwhile, 'was a revelation,' Jang said. 'If she chose voice acting full-time, she'd be in the top tier.' Casting Jin Sun-kyu as Jesus initially gave him pause -- 'You picture all those villains he's played,' he admits -- but the result, he said, is 'surprisingly youthful and warm,' a testament to the actor's theater-honed projection. Technically, "The King of Kings" definitely pushes local animation forward. The team built a virtual-production pipeline in Unreal Engine, treating the shoot like live action. 'Our cinematographer lit and shot each scene as if we were on a physical set,' Jang said. 'We captured the actors' movements exactly the same way.' The bigger question now: Will anyone outside of church circles show up? Churchgoers will likely turn out in force -- some even perhaps shedding tears of redemption. However, its appeal to broader secular audiences remains uncertain. The film is serviceable but hardly spectacular, with its predictable biblical arc perhaps better suited for Sunday school than for mainstream cinema. And with the domestic box office still struggling to recover, the odds aren't entirely in its favor. Jang remains decidedly optimistic. "Even for general audiences, it's ultimately a story about restoring relationships and love, so I felt they could watch without much resistance," he said. "For people of faith, I included many biblical metaphors they'll enjoy picking up on. But at its core, this isn't just about Christianity — it's about the human experiences we all share."
Mint
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
The King of Kings and 5 other Korean films that broke records at US box office
Animated feature The King of Kings, produced by Mofac Studio and directed by Jang Seong-ho, has grown to become the highest-grossing Korean film in the US, earning $54.7 million. The data, reported by The Numbers and Herald Insight, shows the film overtaking Bong Joon-ho's Parasite, which earned $53.8 million. Adapted from Charles Dickens' The Life of Our Lord, this faith‑based animation hit major milestones within three weeks of its April 11 release, strategically timed around Easter. Bong Joon-ho's Parasite made history as the first non‑English language film to win the Best Picture Oscar. In North America, it grossed $53.8 million, per Box Office Mojo. Its US release began in just three cinemas and still pulled in $376,000 during the opening weekend, demonstrating strong demand for Korean-language films in the American market. Action thriller The Roundup (2022), starring Ma Dong-seok, earned $812,859 in the US and Canada, according to The Numbers. It opened with $102,204 and has grossed over $101 million worldwide. The series continues to expand with new sequels riding on its success. Directed by Kim Han-min, Hansan: Rising Dragon earned $865,888 in North America during its limited theatrical release, as tracked by Box Office Mojo. Globally, it grossed $57.5 million, securing its place among the most successful Korean films of its year. Park Chan-wook's The Handmaiden became the director's most successful US film, earning over $2 million despite debuting in only five theatres. It surpassed his earlier release, Stoker, establishing his international appeal and cult following. While detailed US box office numbers are less abundant, the two-part fantasy series Along With the Gods (2017, 2018) achieved massive international success. Media reports indicate the franchise earned impressive global figures, contributing to Korean cinema's growing footprint in foreign markets. The King of Kings leads with $54.7 million, overtaking Parasite. It earned $53.8 million, starting from just three theatres. Both had limited runs: The Roundup made $812,859 and Hansan earned $865,888. It earned more than $2 million from a US limited release.
Newsweek
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Angel Studios Builds Christian Film Empire Outside Hollywood System
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Angel Studios, best known for its breakout hit Sound of Freedom, is challenging Hollywood by focusing on a market often overlooked by major studios: faith-based audiences. Founded in 2013 by Neal Harmon and his brothers Jeffrey, Daniel, and Jordan, the independent Christian media company emerged from a desire to find uplifting content for their children. Jeffrey Harmon, the studio's co-founder and Chief Content Officer, told Newsweek that they're thriving because Hollywood has an "allergic reaction to faith content." Challenging the Hollywood Model Angel Studios had their first major breakthrough with the 2023 release of Sound of Freedom. The Jim Caviezel movie, based on the real-life efforts of Tim Ballard to combat child trafficking, became an unexpected smash success. Initially projected to gross $25 million, it went on to make over $250 million worldwide and become one of the most successful independent movies of all time. "That takes a movie that has a viral element to it. You can't just force market into that big of a movie," Harmon told Newsweek. Angel Studios co-founder Jeffrey Harmon speaks with Newsweek about their new series "Testament," the lack of religious films in the industry and whether Hollywood is dying. Angel Studios co-founder Jeffrey Harmon speaks with Newsweek about their new series "Testament," the lack of religious films in the industry and whether Hollywood is dying. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva Since then, the studio has steadily released a string of more minor movies and TV shows. Animated movie The King of Kings, a loose adaptation of Charles Dickens' The Life of Our Lord, was released in April and made $67 million at the box office. Their most recent live action movie, The Last Rodeo, was released in theaters on May 23. Its not just that Angel Studios is a Christian media company that makes it different from the rest of Hollywood. The studio relies on an unconventional model where projects are greenlit by the Angel Guild, a community of over 1 million members who pay monthly dues and vote on which projects move forward. "Rather than a dozen people in Hollywood making all the decisions... we have 1.2 million people... and they are voting on all the movies," Harmon explained. Though Harmon sometimes disagrees with the guild's decisions, he says their collective judgment often outperforms his own. "When you have a million people having their voices heard, they know better than I do." Tapping Into a Growing Christian Audience In early 2024, Pew Research Center reported that 62 percent of American adults identified as Christian. Despite this, the number of Hollywood movies featuring Christian themes remains few and far between. Harmon said Angel Studios is uniquely positioned to serve this demographic. "Those people want to have more of their faith represented in movies and TV series, and we're able to provide that." Rather than waiting for traditional studios to cater to this audience, Harmon says, "We're saying, 'That's fine, we'll take them.' We'll provide authentic, faithful views... rather than a more negative, nihilistic view." Jeffrey Harmon attends the premiere of "Sound of Freedom" on June 28, 2023 in Vineyard, Utah. Jeffrey Harmon attends the premiere of "Sound of Freedom" on June 28, 2023 in Vineyard, Angel Studios Gen Z remains the most frequent moviegoing demographic, with older generations, especially Baby Boomers, attending less often. And the Pew research also showed one interesting trend; after years of decline, Gen Z is driving somewhat of a religious revival. Gen Z men in particular are actually more likely to attend weekly religious services than past generations. Angel Studios is keenly aware of this trend. "We are releasing eight movies this year, we're a top 10 U.S. distributor, and I think young people understand that where timeless art is created and where our timeless art is presented is in the theaters," Harmon said. Expanding Beyond the US Angel Studios recently surpassed one million guild members from 170 countries. As well as ramping up their production slate, the studio is looking to expand its footprint beyond the US. In 2024, the studio partnered with U.K.-based Kova Releasing for faith-centered films like Bonhoeffer and The King of Kings. Their latest series, Testament, a modern reimagining of the Book of Acts, was filmed in the U.K., and several other productions are being filmed by the studio in the U.K. and Ireland over the coming months. Harmon believes the show connects with audiences by reflecting how global cultures personalize religious art. "If you go to Africa, Jesus and the apostles are African; in India, they look Indian... people take Jesus into the context that they understand," he explained. Testament places Biblical themes in a dystopian setting. "This world... is different than what we've ever seen before for a Jesus film," Harmon said. With plans to double their guild membership and a potential public listing ahead, Angel Studios is poised to expand further. Testament will premiere June 8 on and the Angel TV & Mobile app.
Korea Herald
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Lee Byung-hun to headline Korean dub cast for 'The King of Kings'
Record-breaking box office hit brings A-list voices to animated biblical epic Actor Lee Byung-hun will lend his voice to Charles Dickens in the Korean dubbing of "The King of Kings," joining a star-studded cast for the animated film that has become the highest-grossing Korean production in US box office history. Thursday's cast announcement by Mofac Studio revealed Jin Sun-kyu as Jesus, Lee Ha-nee as Catherine Dickens alongside Lee and Yang Dong-geun as Peter. Veteran actors Cha In-pyo (Pontius Pilate), Kwon Oh-joong (King Herod), and Jang Gwang (High Priest Caiaphas) round out the ensemble. The film follows Dickens and his son Walter exploring the life of Christ, based on the author's posthumously published work "The Life of Our Lord." Written and directed by Jang Seong-ho, the production had already turned heads with its A-list Hollywood voice cast featuring Pierce Brosnan, Oscar Isaac and Kenneth Branagh. The animated feature has emerged as an unexpected box office phenomenon since its April 11 release. It claimed second place in its opening week with $19.4 million, trailing only "A Minecraft Movie" while outpacing several major studio releases. By early June, "The King of Kings" had earned $60.2 million in the US and Canada, with worldwide gross reaching $67 million. It became the highest-grossing Korean film in North American box office history, surpassing "Parasite," which earned $53.8 million following its Oscar sweep in 2020.
