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The Utah-based company made its bold prediction Wednesday during a breakfast session where it took cinema operators through its upcoming slate, which also includes 'Bonhoeffer' and 'Possum Trot.'
By Pamela McClintock
Senior Film Writer
Talk about a prediction of biblical proportions.
Angel Studios — home of the 2023 sleeper hit Sound of Freedom — told theater owners gathered at CinemaCon on Wednesday that it intends for its upcoming film David to be the top-grossing animated film of all time.
The Utah-based company, which eschews the Hollywood system and prides itself on catering to faith-based and conservative consumers, used the breakfast session to go through its upcoming slate of films and to thank exhibitors for their support. It’s the first time the outfit has presented at the show.
David is set to hit theaters Nov. 21, 2025. According to a logline from Angel, the movie is a “joyful animated musical about the life of the ancient prophet, poet and king. After one young shepherd boy is chosen to battle a giant, this chosen one goes on to inspire an entire nation of believers. Coming to the big screen, this underdog story full of adventure and hope is for every giant slayer out there.”
Angel executives also walked exhibitors through its upcoming slate and release dates. Hoping to repeat the magic of Sound of Freedom, the company will open Possum Trot on July 4 of this year, the same day Sound opened and famously beat the latest Indiana Jones movie for the day. Inspired by a true story, Possum Trot follows Donna and Reverend Martin as they lead the charge to prove that faith, community and perseverance have the power to change the lives of children everywhere after 22 families from their church adopted 77 children.
Bonhoeffer opens Nov. 22. The film is based on the life of pacifist Deitrich Bonhoeffer, who preached love while plotting the assassination of an evil tyrant.
Angel has a busy year-end calendar. Homestead, about the actions of a small town when the world erupts in postapocalyptic chaos, launches Dec. 20.
The Utah-based company, run by three Mormon brothers, is proud to work outside of the Hollywood system. It crowdsources its projects and uses a unique “pay it forward” system that allows people to buy tickets for others. Angel was involved in the creation of the hit Jesus miniseries The Chosen but is far less so now.
In its first year as a theatrical distributor, Angel topped $300 million in global ticket sales, with more than $185 million of that coming from Sound of Freedom. Its movies since then, such as Cabrini ($19 million), have done far less business.
“We are eternally grateful to our theatrical partners who helped champion our studio and enabled us to bring films that amplify light into movie theaters,” shares Brandon Purdie, president of Angel Studios’ theatrical distribution. “There is no better place than CinemaCon to celebrate and give credit to our exhibition partners.”
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