The King of Kings Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.0

The King of Kings Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 28, 2025

Angel Studios has emerged as a major player on the cinema (and TV) scene with releases that, for the most part, intersect faith and family values with content suitable for all ages (something like Sound of Freedom being an exception). Perhaps in no other title the studio has released has that intersection between faith and family been so clearly evident as it is in The King of Kings, a wholesome, if not occasionally dark and also Biblically truthful, animated film about the story of Jesus as seen through the eyes of a young boy in 1800s England. The film is brisk and satisfying, allowing the boy, and the audience, to experience the story of Jesus through a core narrative picture that journeys through the gospels, from cradle to Calvary.

Charles Dickens (voiced by Kenneth Branagh) is desperately trying to make his production of A Christmas Carol go off without a hitch, but his son Walter (voiced by Roman Griffin Davis) proves a disruptive force backstage as he plays out scenes from King Arthur. A frustrated Dickens turns to his storytelling prowess to interest his son is a tale just as riveting, but far more meaningful, than that of the fabled King Arthur: the story of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings. Dickens and Walter sit down and together experience the story of Jesus Christ (voiced by Oscar Isaac). As the story unfolds, Walter finds himself drawn into the story, experiencing the life of Jesus with a front-row seat to history, from the Messiah's birth to His death on the cross.

What makes The King of Kings play so well is in how well it personalizes the story of Jesus. In the film, Walter is an observer to the story, injected into the gospel narrative by way of his hearing the story through the pitch-perfect retelling of His father. He finds himself, essentially, a firsthand witness to the unfolding story of Jesus, witnessing a number of events, including the birth, the teachings, the miracles, the betrayal, and the death. Eventually, Walter finds himself ever more deeply drawn not only into the life of Jesus, but into the message of Jesus. The film expertly presents the gospel as both a narrative to follow and a message to believe. Walter is literally the audience. In the film, he is an audience of one, but his experiences translate to the larger viewing audience that gradually becomes pulled into the emotional ebbs and flows of Jesus' life, to the point that, in one memorable scene, Walter is loudly and passionately screaming for Jesus to be freed from the pending death on the cross, even though it is just that for which He came.

The King of Kings may not achieve a level of modern spectacle that current animation trends and techniques could have provided, but I think that was intentional on the part of the filmmakers. Rather than a near photorealistic, Pixar-esque style, the filmmakers have opted for something a little chunkier, bulkier, less lifelike. I think that plays to an important need for the film: it keeps the focus on the story and not the visuals. Certainly, a Pixar film (generally) achieves both: breathtaking visuals and a riveting story. But with a film like The King of Kings, the intent is obviously to keep the viewer firmly thinking about and engaged in the story. It also plays nicely within the film's setting, which is something of a hybrid of historically accurate and imaginatively rendered at the same time. Because Walter is not actually in the story of Jesus but rather plays the part of observer through his father's words and his own imagination, the world is seen through something of a less realistic, and more imaginative, structure. Again, though, I think the film's focus on narrative first is commendable, and even if the animation might not have all of the bells and whistles available in 2025, it looks plenty good as a frame for The Greatest Story Ever Told.

The King of Kings Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The 1080p picture presentation is solid. I can't describe it as "perfect," and I can't describe it as "middling" or "poor." "Solid" captures it well. It looks good, with some drawbacks. Generally speaking, the picture delivers a fine 1080p image, capturing the fine points of the animation with excellent clarity, ranging from human facial details to cat fur and including all sorts of sharp, accurate imagery in nonliving elements as well, like the wooden stage in the opening moments and the wood that makes up the cross towards the end. While not the richest or sharpest content on Blu-ray, the imagery here sufficiently captures the detail inherent to the animation, albeit with some softer elements in view throughout. Color are not overtly brilliant; this can often be a fairly drab film, with some excellent bursts of color (the opening shot showing Adam and Eve). But for the most part, the scenes during Jesus' life are predominantly earthen, albeit with good variation and accuracy, especially soaked in daylight. Rich blue skies, deep blue waters, and some lush natural greens are probably the standout colors (see around the 32-minute mark foe a great example of all three). However, there are some drawbacks. Compression issues are in evidence. Snowy noise permeates the film. Small examples of aliasing are visible from time to time. These are distracting, but even still the image looks "solid" on the whole.

The King of Kings Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As seems to be the norm for Angel Studios Blu-ray releases, The King of Kings arrives on 1080p disc with a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. It's disappointing that a new film, released in 2025, cannot at least receive a lossless 5.1 track, but the good news is that the lossy 5.1 listen is in all ways more than adequate. In fact, it has some standout moments. Listeners will hear a nice crackle of thunder to start, presenting with good clarity, immersion, and depth. These characteristics hold for several key scenes in the film that call for more elevated audio, such as a fierce storm that the disciples experience partway through and in some swirling elements during Jesus' temptation, and the eerily immersive voice of Satan surrounding the stage. For the most part, the track is otherwise comprised of light score with pleasing spacing and world environmental support. Dialogue is clear, centered, and well prioritized for the duration.

The King of Kings Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Unfortunately, this Blu-ray release of The King of Kings contains only a small assortment of bonus features. A DVD copy is included with purchase, but a digital code is not. This release does not ship with a slipcover.

• Trailers (1080p): Trailers for The King of Kings, Sketch, The Wingfeather Saga, and Tuttle Twins. An Angel Promo is also included.
• Behind the Scenes (1080p, 1:52): A brief look at visuals progression, including motion capture, concept art, unfinished animation, and finished animation. Set to music.

The King of Kings Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The King of Kings is a wonderfully imaginative telling of the ministry and mission of Jesus, seen through the eyes of a small child who is at first riveted by the narrative but soon captured by the power of the gospel. The film is a wonderful family treat, nicely voiced, and pleasantly animated. Angel Studios' Blu-ray could stand to be better. Solid but imperfect video, 5.1 lossy audio, and next to no supplements hardly make a Blu-ray worthy of the film. Here's hoping a special edition with better video and audio and more extras appears in the future. Recommended on the strength of the film.