The King of Kings (2025) Angel/Drama RT: 104 minutes Rated PG (thematic material, violent content, some scary moments) Director: Seong-Ho Jang Screenplay: Seong-Ho Jang Music: Kim Tae-Seong Cinematography: Woo-Hyung Kim Release date: April 11, 2025 (US) Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, Pierce Brosnan, Roman Griffin Davis, Forest Whitaker, Ben Kingsley, Oscar Isaac, Ava Sanger, Dee Bradley Baker, James Arnold Taylor, Jim Cummings, Fred Tatasciore, Vanessa Marshall, Mick Wingert.
Rating: ***
I honestly didn’t expect I’d like The King of Kings, the first animated feature from faith-based Angel Studios, as much as I did. I put off seeing it for a week. I walked into the theater on Good Friday expecting something they might put on for kids at Sunday school around Easter. My expectations weren’t high making it easier for them to be exceeded which they were. It’s actually a pretty good family movie.
In case you couldn’t tell by the title, The King of Kings tells the story of Jesus from birth to death to rebirth. It’s a story that’s been told countless other times, but this one comes with a bit of a twist. The tale is narrated by Charles Dickens (Branagh, Henry V). I thought it was strange too until somebody told me the Christmas Carol author wrote a book about the life of Christ (The Life of Our Lord) for his children. In the film, Dickens relates the story to his son Walter (Davis, Jojo Rabbit) after the rambunctious lad disrupts a reading of A Christmas Carol before a live audience. The boy is obsessed with King Arthur so Charles, at the urging of his wife Catherine (Thurman, Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2), tells him about a king greater than Arthur, the “king of kings”.
If you’re taking the time to read this review, it’s a safe bet you know the story of Christ (Isaac, Dune: Part One). You know He was born to Mary and Joseph in a stable in the little town of Bethlehem. An extraordinary child, He had an ordinary upbringing. When He came of age, He set out to begin his journey as the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. He recruited twelve apostles who went with Him everywhere. People started listening to Jesus which worried those in power. He performed miracles which only made it worse. He was finally arrested, tortured and crucified. Three days later, He was resurrected.
Little Walter, bored at first, listens raptly. He becomes so invested, he begins to imagine himself as an eyewitness to the major events of Christ’s life. Along with his cat Willa, he travels with Christ and the apostles. It’s an emotional journey for the boy as he comes to know and accept the love of Christ.
For an animated movie not from Disney, The King of Kings has an impressive line-up of voice talent. It includes Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) as King Herod, Pierce Brosnan (James Bond) as Pontius Pilate, Ben Kingsley (Gandhi) as High Priest Calaphas and Forest Whitaker (Bird) as the apostle Peter. The whole cast does a fine job. Isaac is especially good as Jesus, a kind and gentle man always dispensing words of wisdom.
While The King of Kings does cover what Jesus went through at the end, it is nowhere near as graphic as The Passion of the Christ. It still depicts enough to give you an idea of the pain and suffering He endured. Remember, this is a movie for children. Writer-director Seong-Ho Jang, a visual effects guy making his first film, keeps that in mind with the inclusion of humor at appropriate times. Walter is an imaginative boy with a penchant for getting into mischief. His antics at his dad’s performance are amusing. Jang effectively uses this as a hook to get the little ones interested. It’s a trick, but not a mean or dishonest one.
The animation, a blend of 3D CGI and illustration-like graphics, is nothing special or innovative. It looks fairly generic. It doesn’t hurt The King of Kings, but it doesn’t make it stand out either. It’s assembly-line stuff.
As per usual with Angel, The King of Kings closes with a plea for money as the end credits roll. This time, it’s a bunch of little kids singing the movie’s praises before asking viewers to scan a QR code so people who can’t afford movie tickets will have a chance to see it. It sounds altruistic, but I have to wonder what the studio’s cut is. What percent of all monies collected goes to the suits at Angel? I still say it’s shameless.
I like The King of Kings. A South Korean production, it’s definitely well intentioned. It’s funny, sad and moving. It’s not too preachy. It’s more like an extended Sunday school class replete with moving illustrations. The after-church crowd and their children will enjoy it. But is it worth the price of admission for more than one? I’d say yes, but only if you go to a bargain matinee and sneak in your own snacks.
