Through a father’s vivid storytelling, a boy journeys through Jesus’ life, from humble beginnings to ultimate sacrifice. Along the way, he discovers the transformative power of faith. Now streaming exclusively on Angel!
Synopsis
THE KING OF KINGS invites us to rediscover the enduring power of hope, love, and redemption through the eyes of a child. This animated film takes inspiration from Charles Dickens’ book The Life of Our Lord. Dickens is the narrator, telling his son Walter about the story of Jesus Christ.
Together, father and son embark on a dramatic journey through the life and times of Jesus. Through vivid imagination, the boy walks alongside Jesus, witnessing His miracles, facing His trials, and understanding His ultimate sacrifice.
Cast & Crew
THE KING OF KINGS was produced by South Korean animation house MOFAC and directed by Seong-Ho Jang. During its Easter 2025 theatrical run, THE KING OF KINGS captivated global audiences of all ages and backgrounds, and it was the highest-grossing Korean-made film ever released in the United States.
The animated film features an all-star voice cast—including Kenneth Branagh as Charles Dickens, Uma Thurman as Catherine Dickens, Pierce Brosnan as Pontius Pilate, Mark Hamill as King Herod, Roman Griffin Davis as Walter Dickens, Forest Whitaker as Peter, Ben Kingsley as High Priest Caiaphas, and Oscar Isaac as Jesus.
Review
THE KING OF KINGS brings the story of Jesus to life with breathtaking animation, a stirring musical score, and a powerful retelling of the Gospel. Inspired by Charles Dickens, what begins as a bedtime tale becomes a life-changing journey.
The movie actually starts out with another Dickens character – Ebenezer Scrooge in the cemetery scene – but don’t worry, you’re not watching the wrong show. Soon, we see that it’s just a theatrical production. Everything goes awry when his mischievous children get involved. Their backstage antics will get kids interested.
Charles Dickens’ son Walter is crazy about King Arthur, and his wife suggests telling him a story about an even greater king, the King of Kings. Unlike King Arthur, Jesus doesn’t need a magic sword! So Dickens captivates his son, Walter, by telling him about Jesus Christ, delivering a fresh and heartfelt take on the greatest story ever told.
“Our story begins 2,000 years ago, in the little town of Bethlehem, in Israel…”
The exciting narration and colorful animation make the story of baby Jesus interesting to kids. Then of course there is the dramatic entry of the wicked King Herod, just like a Disney villain. The whole story is told in a dramatic manner, like it was written by a playwright. While Dickens was not primarily a playwright, he did engage in theatrical activities during his early career.
Personally, I would have preferred to be immersed in the story, rather than having it be interrupted by the story teller. Although I can see why they did that, because his son asks questions during the story and his dad stops to explain what’s happening, which will help young viewers. Father and son also appear as extras in the scenes with Jesus.
It’s amazing how THE KING OF KINGS touches on all the major highlights of Jesus’ life and ministry in only an hour and forty minutes. I must say the animation is spectacular, especially the scene with the stormy sea where Jesus walks on water. The story flows well, and it will certainly help children better understand the life and teachings of Jesus.
“I didn’t come here to be served; I came here to serve.”
The film shows Jesus getting baptized by John the Baptist, casting out evil spirits (portrayed by a whirlwind), and being tempted by Satan in the desert. It emphasizes that Jesus defeated Satan by using the Word of God, not a magic sword. The film mentions the woman caught in the act of adultery with the people wanting to throw stones at her. Jesus stops them in their tracks – again, no magic sword needed.
THE KING OF KINGS includes a couple of stories from the Old Testament: Adam and Eve, and the origin of Passover. The film shows Jesus teaching at the temple when he was 12, overturning the tables of the money at that same temple when he was older, and the Pharisees talking behind His back. It depicts Jesus washing His disciples’ feet at the Last Supper. It shows Jesus getting arrested and being nailed to the cross, which is done as tactfully and non-graphically as possible, but it’s still a heartwrenching scene.
Even though THE KING OF KINGS is geared for a young audience, the film is rated PG for thematic material, violent content, and some scary moments. Although at first I didn’t appreciate the Dickens family inserting themselves into the plot, I must admit they made for some welcome comic relief after some of those intense scenes!
The ending is kind of weird, in that it shows a drowning child. Jesus reaches his hand down into the water and says “Have faith in me, and you will be saved.” Then the child sees Jesus and walks away with Him. Just a caution that it may be triggering to some.
This film will make children curious about Jesus and inspire them to ask questions about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Watch this film together as a family or with your Sunday school group, and take the time to have meaningful discussions.
THE KING OF KINGS is designed to engage children between ages 5-11, but it isn’t a cheap kids show, it’s a high-quality feature film, so the rest of us can enjoy it too.
“While some artistic license has been taken, THE KING OF KINGS strives to remain faithful to the story of Jesus Christ to bring forth the passion of the Gospel, which has changed the lives of so many throughout history.”
How to Watch
THE KING OF KINGS is now streaming for Angel Guild members on Angel.com or download the Angel App on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, and other major streaming platforms.
About Angel
Angel is a values-based entertainment company that offers a growing slate of family-friendly movies and shows through theaters and Angel’s innovative streaming platform. Through the Angel Guild, over 1 million members from more than 170 different countries help decide what film and television projects the studio will market and distribute, and support the filmmakers who create stories that matter and amplify light. As a Guild member, you can also send out links to friends and loved ones so they can enjoy watching selected titles for free. For information on how to join, please click here.
Giveaway
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Disclosure
Many thanks to Angel for providing a one-month Angel Guild membership for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
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Count me in thanks for the chance.
Jamie Martin justalwaysmakeiteasy@gmail.com
This looks like a great family movie.
This sounds like an entertaining and informative family film!
Looks like an excellent streaming service, lots of great movies and programming. Thanks for the chance.
~Lisa Brown
lisa.brown24 (at) gmail (dot) com
I love programming like this that I can watch together with my children.
If I am lucky enough to win, I can provide my full name via email. I hope this is okay. Thank you.
Thanks for your detailed, great review. The animation looks really impressive and definitely appealing.
The winner of this giveaway was Eve Brown!