The King of Kings (2025): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
The King of Kings is a 2025 animated family film directed by Seongho Jang, starring James Arnold Taylor as Melchior, Matthew, Thomas, Phillip, Young Jesus, Uma Thurman and Roman Griffin Davis. It is partly based on The Life of Our Lord by Charles Dickens. It runs 1 hour 44 minutes and earned $83.6 million worldwide on a $25.2 million budget. Critics gave it 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and 42 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 44m (104 min)
- Director
- Seongho Jang
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Mofac Studios
- Budget
- $25.2M
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is The King of Kings About?
The premise of The King of Kings without spoilers, adapted from The Life of Our Lord by Charles Dickens. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A father shares the story of Jesus with his son, intending it as a bedtime tale. However, the narrative evolves into a profound and transformative experience as the boy imaginatively joins Jesus, witnessing His miracles and trials. The film explores themes of hope and love through this immersive journey, culminating in an understanding of Jesus's sacrifice.
The King of Kings Themes & Keywords
· 35 tags- cg animation
- charles dickens character
- epic history
- ebenezer scrooge character
- scene during end credits
- book
- jesus christ character
- biblical
- israel
- joseph of nazareth character
- the virgin mary character
- title spoken in dialogue
+23 more Show fewer
- cat
- pontius pilate character
- highlight reel during end credits
- nailed to a cross
- kiss on the cheek
- reference to king arthur
- bethlehem
- walking on water
- back whipped
- reference to a christmas carol
- judas iscariot character
- reference to camelot
- 33 year old man
- john the baptist character
- 30 year old man
- god character
- baptized
- manuscript
- reference to moses
- passover
- do not disturb sign
- title spoken by character
- qr code
The King of Kings Cast & Characters
James Arnold Taylor leads the cast as Melchior, Matthew, Thomas, Phillip, Young Jesus, with Uma Thurman as Catherine Dickens and Roman Griffin Davis as Walter Dickens. Directed by Seongho Jang; 17 actors are credited in all.
- Director Seongho Jang
-
James Arnold Taylor as Melchior, Matthew, Thomas, Phillip, Young Jesus -
Uma Thurman as Catherine Dickens - Roman Griffin Davis as Walter Dickens
- Ava Sanger as Mary Dickens
Also Starring in The King of Kings
· 13 more- Oscar Isaac Jesus Christ
- Mark Hamill King Herod
- Vanessa Marshall Mary of Bethany, Adulteress
- Jim Cummings James the Greater, Pharisee Hillel
- Dee Bradley Baker Willa the Cat
- Fred Tatasciore Pharisee Eleazar
- Ben Kingsley High Priest Caiaphas
- Forest Whitaker Peter
- Pierce Brosnan Pontius Pilate
- Frank Todaro Gestas
- Mick Wingert Gaspar, Pharisee Mahaliell
- Imari Williams Balthazar, Bartholomew
- Millicent Miereanu Martha
The King of Kings Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The King of Kings 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and 42 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 72/100, strongest in character & emotion (80) and weakest in story & flow (65).
The King of Kings Echo Score Breakdown
In its retelling of the life of Jesus, The King of Kings blends approachable animation with a faith-driven narrative but falls short of full cinematic depth. The film’s visual design draws praise for its vibrant color palette and technical care, though critics describe it as uninspired and overly didactic. Emotional resonance emerges through key sequences, yet pacing and the inclusion of ancillary characters sometimes fragment the flow. Family viewers report meaningful discussions and repeat watchings, offset by moments of distraction. Overall, the movie offers a modestly engaging experience with uneven execution.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 68
Visual craftsmanship in The King of Kings achieves moments of vibrant detail but lacks consistent inspiration. Critics commonly note an uninspired approach to production design and direction, while family audiences praise the film’s bright color palette and streamlined compositions. Technically sound editing and clear scene transitions support the narrative, resulting in a moderately appealing visual experience.
- Character & Emotion 80
In terms of character depth, the film offers a sincere portrayal of Christ’s compassion but relies on familiar archetypes. User feedback highlights the emotional impact of central sequences, and voice performances contribute warmth and clarity. However, peripheral figures—particularly a boy-and-cat duo—are often seen as distracting. The net effect is an emotionally resonant yet uneven character presentation.
- Story & Flow 65
When it comes to story and flow, the narrative presents a straightforward retelling of the Easter account with occasional whimsical Dickensian elements. Several critics find the plot overly familiar, and some viewers note rushed segments and omitted episodes. Child audiences generally remain engaged by key miracles and moral teachings. Overall, pacing inconsistencies yield a mixed storyline impact.
- Sensory Experience 75
In terms of sensory experience, the film’s visual style stands out with polished 3D animation and a cohesive color scheme. Sound design and musical score receive less attention but maintain clarity and support emotional beats. While the soundtrack lacks memorable themes, the overall combination of visuals and audio delivers a serviceable and comfortable viewing environment.
- Rewatch Factor 70
When considering rewatch factor, The King of Kings offers moments that families cite for repeat viewing, particularly its emotional centerpiece scenes and inspirational messages. Some viewers appreciate revisiting the dialogue and visual flourishes, while others find ancillary comic relief elements less compelling on subsequent watches. Altogether, the film yields moderate replay value for target audiences.
-
IMDb 6.8 /10
8746 votes
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 60% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 97%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 42 Metascore
User score 6.7
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 83% User score
See on TMDB
The King of Kings Plot Summary
What happens in The King of Kings from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Charles Dickens, a renowned storyteller, has captivated audiences with his narratives for many years. However, this prolific writer paid a price for his dedication to his craft, which sometimes kept him at a distance from his own family. A significant challenge in his personal life was his relationship with his youngest son, Walter, a five-year-old full of imagination and dreams. Walter, who is inseparable from his beloved friend, Willa the cat, views the world through a unique lens, often lost in his own thoughts.
Full summary
The whole story of The King of Kings, scene by scene
The King of Kings Box Office & Budget
The King of Kings grossed $83.6 million worldwide on a $25.2 million budget, 3.3 times what it cost. $60.3 million came from the US and Canada and $23.3 million (28%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$83.6M
3.3× its budget
- US & Canada
- $60.3M
- International
- $23.3M
- Budget
- $25.2M
The King of Kings Trailers & Videos
5 videos: 2 trailers, 1 teaser and 2 featurettes.
- Trailer Final Trailer
- Teaser Official Teaser
- Featurette Premiere - Behind the Scenes!
- Featurette LIVE with Jim Cummings and James Arnold Taylor
How Well Do You Know The King of Kings?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the main character who struggles to connect with his son?
Seen The King of Kings?
Movies Like The King of Kings
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The King is Born, The King of Kings and Jesus, the Son of God.
The King of Kings FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and post-credit scenes of The King of Kings, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The King of Kings?
The King of Kings runs 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes).
When was The King of Kings released?
The King of Kings was released on April 11, 2025.
Who directed The King of Kings?
The King of Kings was directed by Seongho Jang.
Who is in the cast of The King of Kings?
The King of Kings stars James Arnold Taylor as Melchior, Matthew, Thomas, Phillip, Young Jesus, Uma Thurman as Catherine Dickens and Roman Griffin Davis as Walter Dickens, among 17 credited actors.
How much did The King of Kings make at the box office?
The King of Kings grossed $83.6 million worldwide ($60.3 million domestic, $23.3 million international) on a budget of $25.2 million.
How is The King of Kings rated?
The King of Kings has 6.8/10 on IMDb, 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, 42 on Metacritic and 83% on TMDB.
Is The King of Kings based on a book?
Yes. The King of Kings is partly adapted from The Life of Our Lord by Charles Dickens.
Does The King of Kings have a post-credit scene?
Yes. The King of Kings has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
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