Angel's DAVID Sets Milestones with $22 Million Domestic Box Office Opening: Highest-Grossing Faith-Based Animated Theatrical Opening of All Time
Rhea-AI Summary
Angel (NYSE: ANGX) announced that its animated musical DAVID opened to a $22 million domestic weekend box office, the company’s best theatrical opening and the highest-grossing faith-based animated theatrical opening of all time.
Key milestones: DAVID surpassed Angel’s prior openings and competitors, delivered the company’s best 3-day opening, and joins The King of Kings among Angel’s two top-ten animated domestic releases of 2025; international release begins in more than 42 markets.
Positive
- $22 million domestic opening weekend
- Highest-grossing faith-based animated opening ever (surpassed $19.4M)
- Best 3-day theatrical opening in company history (surpassed $19.6M)
- Two top-ten animated domestic releases in 2025 (DAVID and The King of Kings at $61M)
- Acquired DAVID franchise and IP including a five-part animated TV series
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction 22 Alerts
On the day this news was published, ANGX declined 7.98%, reflecting a notable negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -14.0% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 22 alerts that day, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility. This price movement removed approximately $79M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $909M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
No peers from the motion picture & video production sector appeared in the momentum or headline datasets, suggesting the trading setup was driven by company-specific factors rather than a broad sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 09 | Conference participation | Positive | +3.9% | Management highlighted at two investor conferences, boosting visibility. |
| Nov 26 | International rollout | Positive | +1.7% | DAVID rollout to 43 international markets with strong domestic pre-sales. |
| Nov 14 | Franchise acquisitions | Positive | +13.9% | Acquisition of three high-performing franchises to deepen content ownership. |
| Nov 13 | DAVID presales update | Positive | -2.0% | Record DAVID presales near $3M but shares fell modestly afterward. |
| Nov 13 | Q3 2025 earnings | Neutral | -2.0% | Strong revenue growth offset by higher net loss and spending levels. |
News linked to DAVID and franchise expansion has often coincided with positive price reactions, though there was at least one divergence on upbeat presales.
Over the past few months, Angel reported strong growth with $76.5 million in Q3 2025 revenue and $211.6 million for the first nine months, alongside a larger net loss of $38.6 million. The company expanded its IP base with three franchise acquisitions totaling about $89 million and closed a $100 million credit facility. Multiple releases highlighted momentum for the animated musical DAVID, including presales near $3 million and an accelerated rollout across 43 international markets. The current record-setting $22 million opening extends this trajectory of DAVID-focused milestones.
Regulatory & Risk Context
An effective Form S-3 shelf filed on November 13, 2025 enables Angel Studios to issue up to $400,000,000 of securities over time for general corporate purposes, providing flexibility to finance content, marketing, or other initiatives that may be connected to successes like DAVID’s box office performance.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock moved -8.0% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite record box office results would fit a pattern where strong operational headlines sometimes met skepticism, as seen when DAVID presales strength coincided with a modest decline. The company’s growth strategy involves significant content investment and access to up to $400,000,000 under its shelf, which could keep financing and dilution concerns in focus even when films outperformed. Historical reactions suggest that news strength alone has not guaranteed upside.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Company has Released Two of the Top Ten Highest-Grossing Animated Domestic Theatrical Releases of 2025
Below are milestones achieved by DAVID over the weekend:
- Highest-grossing faith-based animated theatrical opening of all-time (surpassing Angel's own The King of Kings
$19.4 Egypt ) - Best 3-day theatrical opening in Angel history (surpassing Sound of Freedom's
$19.6 million - Angel has now released two of the top ten highest-grossing animated domestic theatrical releases of 2025 (DAVID and The Kings of Kings, with
$61 million
DAVID, featuring music by multi-platinum artist Phil Wickham, has an impressive A CinemaScore and
"Families are searching for values-driven films that honor hope, and our Angel Guild members embraced DAVID from the very beginning," said Brandon Purdie, Head of Theatrical at Angel. "We greatly value the support of our outstanding exhibitors and look forward to a robust, extended theatrical run as this popular animated musical continues to warm hearts and inspire families this Christmas."
Earlier this year, Angel announced that it acquired the DAVID franchise and intellectual property in partnership with 2521 Entertainment. This included the animated musical film and accompanying five-part animated television series. The DAVID intellectual property is a long-term strategic asset for the company.
"King David – one of the greatest stories ever told – is powerfully reimagined for the big screen with this epic family musical," said David L. Hunt, Co-Founder and Chief Creative and Content Officer at 2521 Entertainment. "Kids will grow up fondly remembering how their parents took them to the theater to experience this film. Moments like these become family memories that can last a lifetime."
From the songs of his mother's heart to the whispers of a faithful God, David's story begins in quiet devotion. When the giant Goliath rises to terrorize a nation, a young shepherd armed with only a sling, a few stones, and unshakable faith steps forward. Pursued by power and driven by purpose, his journey tests the limits of loyalty, love, and courage – culminating in a battle not just for a crown, but for the soul of a kingdom.
In addition to DAVID, Angel's upcoming theatrical slate showcases a diverse range of stories and genres. Highlights include I Was A Stranger, a powerful tale of resilience and hope set against the backdrop of the Syrian Civil War and featured in more than 50 film festivals worldwide; Solo Mio, a heartwarming romantic comedy starring Kevin James, Kim Coates, Alyson Hannigan and Jonathan Roumie; and Young
About Angel: Angel (NYSE: ANGX) is a media and technology company guided by 1.6 million grassroots Angel Guild paying members championing values-driven stories. Clearly expressing the kind of programming they crave, members of the Angel Guild act as virtual co-producers, greenlighting what films and television series get produced and distributed in theaters and on the Angel app. Propelled by this audience-first momentum, Angel has released more than 40 films and 20 television series that amplify light, including Sound of Freedom, which earned more than
About 2521 Entertainment: Founded in 2023, 2521 Entertainment is a film production and finance company that is not just creating good art and entertainment; we are changing the culture through art and entertainment with stories that matter. Our credits include The King of Kings (Angel), the highest-grossing faith-based animated opening ever; Sound of Freedom (Angel), a
About Sunrise Animation Studios: Sunrise Animation Studios is a
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on current expectations and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "may," "should," "will," "would," "could," "estimate," or similar terms.
These statements include comments about the Company's strategy, business plans and future performance and are subject to risks described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements, except as required by law.
Contact: press@angel.com
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SOURCE Angel Studios, Inc.
FAQ
How much did ANGX's DAVID earn in its opening weekend on December 22, 2025?
What record did ANGX's DAVID set for faith-based animated films?
Does ANGX now have multiple top-ten animated releases in 2025?
When will ANGX release DAVID internationally and in how many markets?
What intellectual property did ANGX acquire related to DAVID?
