The animated musical David is poised to break several box office records in its debut weekend. The film, which narrates the well-known biblical tale of David and Goliath, is a production of Angel Studios, the faith-oriented studio known for the 2023 hit Sound of Freedom.
David, crafted under the direction and writing of Brent Dawes and Phil Cunningham, premiered on December 19. This release date coincides with James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, the sequel to some of the top-grossing films in cinema history, which itself is expected to open at No. 1 with over $80 million in domestic sales.
According to Angel Studios, by Sunday morning, David is anticipated to amass $22 million over three days at domestic box offices by the weekend’s close. Although these figures don’t allow it to directly compete with Avatar 3, they represent record-breaking achievements nonetheless.
Significantly, this debut weekend has become Angel Studios’ highest-grossing launch ever, surpassing Sound of Freedom‘s first weekend earnings of $19.7 million (which eventually grossed $250.6 million globally).
David also set a new record for the largest opening weekend for a faith-based animated film, outperforming Angel Studios’ earlier 2025 feature The King of Kings, starring Oscar Isaac as Jesus Christ. The King of Kings had previously beaten The Prince of Egypt, which held the record with $14.5 million for 27 years.
Furthermore, David outperformed other non-Avatar releases during a competitive weekend, securing the second spot in box office earnings behind Cameron’s blockbuster. It surpassed both Nickelodeon’s The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants and the thriller The Housemaid, based on the bestselling novel of the same name.
It’s important to note that the box office figures reported by Angel Studios should be approached cautiously. The studio appears to have a strong connection with its core audience, especially around Christian holiday periods (David was released just before Christmas, while The King of Kings was a pre-Easter release).
Moreover, David received an impressive 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating positive reception from viewers. However, there have been claims that Angel’s revenue figures might be exaggerated.
Like the 2023’s Sound of Freedom and other releases from Angel Studios, David benefits from a “Pay it Forward” program that encourages audiences to purchase additional tickets purportedly to be given to others later. Yet, it remains unclear if these tickets are indeed distributed and used.
Ava Thornton is an entertainment journalist with a keen eye for the latest in Hollywood, indie films, and streaming trends.
Her work blends insider knowledge with a deep appreciation for storytelling.
