CV NEWS FEED // Angel Studios’ The King of Kings, an animated movie about the life of Christ, has brought in more than $7.8 million in presales, which is more than the studio’s Sound of Freedom made in presales by the same time, according to the Hollywood reporting outlet Deadline.
The film, which will be released April 11, has launched a campaign that allows families to receive a free children’s ticket for every qualifying adult ticket, Deadline reported April 7. According to the outlet, fans of Angel Studios’ previous movies contributed to a pay-it-forward fund to ensure that families could enjoy the new film together.
Brandon Purdie, Angel Studios’ global head of theatrical distribution and brand development, said the “grassroots momentum” propelling The King of Kings ahead of its release date resembles the support Sound of Freedom had received.
“Will The King of Kings ignite that same level of cultural intensity? Few films ever do,” Purdie said, according to Deadline. “But this film is charting its own course, leaving its mark on animated storytelling and capturing the hearts of audiences.”
Crisis Magazine’s Sheryl Collmer wrote that the movie is based on an obscure work by Charles Dickens, The Life of Our Lord, which he wrote for his children. The book remained unpublished until 1934 since Dickens had forbidden his children to share it outside of their home.
In the movie, Dickens tells his son Walter the story of the Gospels, and the two “jump in” to the Gospel scenes, occasionally interacting with biblical figures.
Collmer added that by showing the Gospel through Walter’s eyes, the movie is able to portray even the more intense scenes, such as the flight into Egypt and the crucifixion, in a way that is appropriate for children.
“It’s a delicate balance, to pull off a brutal story in a way that kids can weather, without Disnifying the meaning out of it,” Collmer stated. “I think the moviemakers succeeded.”
CatholicVote’s lifestyle newsletter Refine also reviewed the movie, which readers can access here.
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