Thescreescore – In a stunning display of box office prowess, Angel Studios’ latest animated musical, David, has not only debuted but also shattered multiple records during its opening weekend. This biblical epic, retelling the iconic tale of David and Goliath, launched on December 19, directly challenging James Cameron’s highly anticipated Avatar: Fire and Ash. While Avatar 3, a sequel to two of history’s highest-grossing films, was projected to dominate with an $80 million-plus domestic opening, David carved out an extraordinary niche, asserting itself as a formidable contender in a crowded holiday cinematic landscape.
The animated feature, co-written and co-directed by Brent Dawes and Phil Cunningham, is estimated to have grossed an impressive $22 million domestically over its initial three days. This figure, while not directly rivaling Avatar 3‘s colossal debut, represents an unprecedented triumph for Angel Studios. It marks their highest-grossing opening weekend to date, eclipsing the $19.7 million achieved by their much-discussed 2023 hit, Sound of Freedom, which went on to earn over $250 million globally. Furthermore, David has claimed the title for the biggest opening weekend ever for a faith-based animated film, surpassing Angel Studios’ own 2025 feature The King of Kings, which had previously dethroned DreamWorks’ classic The Prince of Egypt (1998) after a 27-year reign.
In a testament to its broad appeal, David secured the coveted number two spot at the domestic box office, trailing only the James Cameron behemoth. This positions it as the dominant new release outside of the Avatar universe, outperforming other significant newcomers such as Nickelodeon’s The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants and the Sydney Sweeney-led thriller The Housemaid, an adaptation of the popular novel.
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While David‘s box office performance is undeniably impressive, it’s customary to consider Angel Studios’ unique distribution model. The studio has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to connect with its dedicated faith-based audience, particularly by strategically timing releases around major Christian holidays, as seen with David‘s pre-Christmas debut and The King of Kings‘ pre-Easter launch. This engagement is further reflected in David‘s stellar 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling overwhelming positive viewer reception. However, discussions around Angel Studios’ reported grosses often include their "Pay it Forward" initiative. This program allows patrons to purchase additional tickets for others, a strategy that has previously drawn scrutiny regarding the transparency of how many of these pre-purchased tickets are ultimately redeemed and utilized.
Produced by a team including Tim Tebow, Phil Cunningham, and Jacqui Cunningham, David offers a compelling 115-minute cinematic experience across genres of animation, family, drama, music, and history. Its success underscores the growing influence and commercial viability of faith-based entertainment in the mainstream market, proving that compelling storytelling, even against a titan like Avatar, can resonate deeply with audiences. For more in-depth analysis and predictions on the latest box office trends, visit thescreescore.com.
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