King of Kings is a Korean animated film based on the life of Jesus. It is currently playing in theaters and competing with the box office smash Sinners, the video game-based hit A Minecraft Movie, and the rerelease of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. However, despite stiff competition, King of Kings is managing to hold its own at the box office.
King of Kings is the Highest Grossing Korean Film in the US
The film debuted to an opening weekend gross of $19 million and has made $54.7 million in its run so far, making it the highest-grossing Korean movie in US history. Previously, that record was held by the Oscar-winning thriller, Parasite. In addition, the film “broke the record for the highest-grossing opening for a faith-based animated film, beating out the previous record holder, The Prince of Egypt.” However, it should be noted that The Prince of Egypt came out in 1998, meaning inflation has affected movie prices since then.
The Reasons Behind the Unexpected Success
What is attracting people to King of Kings? Part of it could be the star power. In the English dub, Jesus is voiced by Oscar Isaac of Star Wars fame. Other big names in the film’s credits include fellow Star Wars star Mark Hamill, Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman, Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, and Forest Whitaker. In addition, the film has seasonal appeal, having been released around Easter. The film also has a 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating that positive word of mouth is spreading around.
Other Possible Reasons
Some families with children might be rushing to see A Minecraft Movie, but King of Kings has the advantage of being animated, and there is currently no competition in the animated movie market. Some parents might automatically gravitate towards animated movies for their children. In addition, with the current political climate being charged and hostile, some people might be seeking out the movie for comfort. They might want a reminder that God loves them and will take care of everything.
Conclusion
Whatever the reasons behind its success, King of Kings might be destined to become a classic Easter film that people pull out and watch every year. Perhaps with the future looking more uncertain every day, Jesus’ message that we should love one another can bring people hope.
