The King of Kings, the latest animated depiction of the life of Jesus Christ, is receiving strong reviews from major critics for its creative framing and compelling voice acting.
Released earlier this month, the film has outperformed box office expectations and struck a chord with both faith-based audiences and general viewers. Its emotional depth and inventive approach make it a standout among recent animated releases.
According to IMDb, The King of Kings is directed by Seong-ho Jang and Jamie Thomason, with a screenplay by Rob Edwards and Seong-ho Jang. It was produced by Blue Harbor Entertainment, Giantstep Studios, and Mofac Animation. The story is uniquely told through the voice of Charles Dickens, portrayed by Kenneth Branagh, as he narrates the life of Jesus to his son, seen through a child's innocent eyes. The voice cast also includes Oscar Isaac as Jesus, Pierce Brosnan as Pontius Pilate, Uma Thurman as Catherine Dickens, and Forest Whitaker as Peter. The film premiered on April 11, 2025, as the first animated feature distributed by Angel Studios.
According to The Guardian, the film presents a “syrupy cartoon account” of the life of Jesus, narrated with “consummate weirdness” by Dickens. While it critiques the character animation as exaggerated and “really ugly,” it praises the lush background visuals and standout voice performances, especially from Oscar Isaac and Forest Whitaker.
According to Variety, the film's unique narrative device—Charles Dickens recounting the gospel story to his son and their cat—brings freshness to a familiar subject. The review applauds the emotional resonance and storytelling flair, noting the film successfully “melds faith and fiction.”
According to The New York Times, The King of Kings distinguishes itself through “bold artistic choices” and a “narratively complex” structure. The paper highlights the film’s ambition in blending sacred history with literary imagination, resulting in a visually rich and thought-provoking retelling.
As audiences continue to fill theaters and critics reflect on its stylistic ambition, The King of Kings may mark a turning point for animated faith-based cinema—showing that even ancient stories, when told with imagination and heart, can find new life and meaning on the modern screen.
