The Gospel is owed great filmmaking — The King of Kings delivers

What’s more important in faith-based filmmaking: the message or the delivery? If a movie celebrates and upholds the biblical account, does it matter if it’s any good? Of course, the answer needn’t be so binary, but for the casual viewer, a lot of Christian productions seem to sacrifice artistic quality in favour of hammering home the message.

That’s a critique you can’t level at the new animated feature King of Kings — an ambitious and exhausting film packed to the rafters with talent.

A star-studded lineup

Directed by Seong-ho Jang, King of Kings draws inspiration from Charles Dickens’ lesser-known work, The Life of Our Lord, a book about Jesus’ life that the author originally wrote for his children.

The film kicks off in Victorian era Britain, with a bereft Dickens struggling to captivate an audience during a reading of A Christmas Carol. Backstage, his imaginative son, Walter, is causing chaos and eventually disrupts the whole performance.

Frustrated by their growing disconnect — and nudged by his wife—Dickens offers to share the story of the King of Kings with Walter. Knowing his son’s love for wizards, mythicism, and sword fights, he hopes the epic nature of the gospel will spark Walter’s imagination and, in turn, help bring them closer. At its heart, this is a film about connection with your father, both earthly and heavenly, through scripture and storytelling.

Angel Studios, the team behind The Chosen, are clearly flexing their financial muscles here, because this production is absolutely stacked with A-listers, including Kenneth Branagh as Charles Dickens, Pierce Brosnan on Pontius Pilate, and Oscar Isaac as Jesus. With a cast this star-studded, there’s a real chance of grabbing the attention of viewers outside the Church.

Oscar Isaac balances the “lion and the lamb” nature of Jesus delicately, and there’s a scene-stealing turn from Mark Hamill (voice acting royalty) as the obnoxious and power-hungry King Herod. The real standout however is Roman Griffin Francis as Walter — the endlessly curious, wide-eyed boy who drives the emotional core of the film.

The greatest story told…not the easiest to tell

At its best, King of Kings is a vibrant reminder that the accounts in just four books of the Bible outshine any fairytale or fantasy you’ll find elsewhere. The gospel is, after all, The Greatest Story Ever Told — and this film genuinely believes that.

That said, even the greatest story needs to be told well. So, how does King of Kings stack up?

For starters, it races along at breakneck speed.

The opening half feels rushed, with Branagh’s Dickens speeding through the nativity and into Jesus’ ministry like he’s trying to get through the Bible-in-a-year by February. Of course, scripture needs context — and maybe that’s why some heavier exposition feels necessary. But cramming the entire gospel into 90 minutes is a big ask. As a result, key moments lose some of their emotional weight and nuance. The first half often feels more like a feature-length trailer than a fully fleshed-out film.

King of Kings is a vibrant reminder that the accounts in just four books of the Bible outshine any fairytale or fantasy you’ll find elsewhere.

Thankfully, things slow down and breathe as the story builds toward its climax. The resurrection scene is particularly powerful — unflinching in its depiction of the crucifixion’s darkness but equally bold in capturing the hope of the empty tomb.

Visually, the animation holds its own, though some might question the decision to portray Jesus once again as a white man with flowing brown locks. While there’s no need to wade into the culture war debates about representation (see Disney’s Snow White for that kind of drama), historical accuracy does matter — especially in a film aimed at kids exploring the Bible. Jesus was a Jewish, Middle Eastern man with darker skin, and it feels like a missed opportunity to reflect that reality.

There are other missed opportunities. The best animated films tend to include clever nods for older viewers, giving parents something to enjoy alongside their kids. But King of Kings feels firmly geared towards a younger audience, missing those opportunities for cross-generational appeal. As an adult, I’ve laughed harder and cried more at stories about lost fish, misunderstood ogres, and imaginary friends.

The gospel opportunity

Still, King of Kings offers something far more enduring than just entertainment — it offers truth. If you’re watching with children, its real impact will likely show up in the conversations that follow. What did they learn about Jesus? Has it changed how they see him? Do they feel inspired to open their Bibles?

If their answers reflect genuine curiosity or a deeper connection to the gospel, then any flaws in pacing or entertainment value are easily forgiven. After all, this isn’t just another movie — it’s The Greatest Story Ever Told.