David movie released yesterday (December 19, 2025) in theaters—the $50 million crowdfunded animated biblical musical stars Phil Wickham and Lauren Daigle, projects $30-35M opening weekend, and became the largest audience-funded film in history. Angel Studios’ 115-minute epic about David and Goliath drew mixed New York Times review calling it “feel-good family” fare but criticized “preaching to the choir.”
Key Takeaways
- Released yesterday: December 19, 2025 in US theaters nationwide
- $50 million crowdfunded—largest audience-funded film project in history
- $30-35M opening weekend projected—presales exceeded $7M before donated tickets
- Phil Wickham voices adult David—Grammy-nominated Christian artist leads cast
- Lauren Daigle also stars—Grammy-winning singer joins voice cast
- 115-minute runtime (1 hour 55 minutes)
- New York Times review published Dec 18—praised animation, criticized “stodgy” storytelling
- Follow-up to 2023 TV series—”Young David” five-part miniseries preceded film
- Distribution lawsuit resolved—Angel Studios regained rights in October 2025 after termination dispute
David Movie Fast Facts
Breaking: Largest Crowdfunded Film in History
David Movie holds the record as the largest audience-funded film project of all time, raising nearly $50 million via crowdfunding.
How It Happened:
Angel Studios leveraged its Angel Guild—a million-member subscriber base—to greenlight and fund the project through a unique “pay it forward” model. Guild members assess concept videos (called “torches”) based on whether they “amplify the light,” a phrase rooted in the studio’s Christian values.
Neal Harmon, Angel Studios CEO, explained:
“We absolutely recognized it was going to be a success due to the guild’s feedback. We understood it was going to be very well received.”
Grassroots Momentum:
Between crowdfunding success and the 2023 TV prequel Young David, anticipation reached fever pitch for the Christmas-season release. Early presales exceeded $7 million—more than double Angel Studios’ previous release The King of Kings ($3.3M).
Box Office Projection: $30-35M Opening Weekend
Industry trackers project David will debut with $30-35 million domestically this weekend.
Historical Context:
Angel Studios’ previous animated biblical release, The King of Kings (Easter 2025), opened to $19 million despite lower presales. However, it experienced sharp front-loading typical of faith-based films, earning less than 25% of its total gross after Easter weekend.
Christmas Advantage:
Unlike King of Kings, David benefits from Christmas week positioning, which could extend its theatrical legs. Analysts remain cautious about holiday holds, noting faith-based films historically don’t sustain momentum beyond their core audience.
Competition:
David movie faces stiff competition from Avatar: Fire and Ash (also released December 19), which projects a $90-105M domestic opening. However, the films target vastly different demographics.
New York Times Review: “Preaching to the Choir”
Yesterday morning (December 18, 2025), The New York Times published its review with a headline summarizing the film’s limitation: “Preaching to the Choir”.
The Verdict:
“The story of David and Goliath is presented as a feel-good family epic in this animated musical released by the popular religious media company Angel Studios.”
The review acknowledges the film’s visual quality but questions its broader appeal beyond Christian audiences.
Wall Street Journal Review:
“Like some other faith-based films, this one is resolutely stodgy, with an earnest straightforwardness that is bound to strike some audiences as…”
RogerEbert.com (Positive):
“Produced by the South African computer animation studio Sunrise Productions and released by Angel Studios, ‘David’ has the highly detailed, brightly colored and screen-popping visuals of a DreamWorks or Disney film, a bounty of catchy tunes, and a storyline that manages to be faithful to the Books of Samuel.”
The Gospel Coalition:
“‘David movie’ Is the Best Animated Bible Movie Since ‘Prince of Egypt.'”
Phil Wickham & Lauren Daigle: The Voice Cast
The film features Grammy-nominated Christian music superstars in lead voice roles.
Main Cast:
- Phil Wickham as Adult David (also co-director)
- Brandon Engman as Young David
- Lauren Daigle (Grammy-winning singer, role undisclosed)
- Mark Jacobson as Jonathan
- Adam Gold as King Saul
- Miri Mesika as Nitzevet (David’s mother)
- Brian Stivale as Samuel
Why Phil Wickham?
Wickham, known for worship hits like “Living Hope” and “Hymn of Heaven,” was nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album at the 2024 Grammys. His involvement as both voice actor and co-director signals deep personal investment in the project.
The Plot
David movie follows the biblical story from 1 Samuel, tracing David’s journey from humble shepherd to Israel’s greatest king.
Official Synopsis:
“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.”
Key Story Beats:
- Young shepherd protecting flocks from lions and bears
- Anointed by Prophet Samuel to become Israel’s next king
- Defeats Goliath with sling and stones, becomes national hero
- Flees King Saul’s jealousy, lives as outlaw in caves
- Becomes King of Judah after Saul’s death
Animation Quality: “DreamWorks-Level” Visuals
Multiple reviewers praised David’s animation as comparable to major Hollywood studios.
RogerEbert.com:
“‘David movie’ has the highly detailed, brightly colored and screen-popping visuals of a DreamWorks or Disney film.”
Worth It or Woke (Conservative Review):
“The animation is excellent, and the design is a textural delight, with a crisp and clear depth of field that gives the cartoon world an enjoyable tactility and vitality that few others have achieved.”
JoBlo:
“To my shock, I enjoyed David far more than I thought I would. It’s a case of an inspiring story told well through a team of filmmakers determined to honor the tale with style and heart.”
Musical Numbers: Catchy but Divisive
As an animated musical, David features original songs performed by Phil Wickham, Lauren Daigle, and the cast.
The Soundtrack:
Available now on streaming platforms, the David soundtrack includes:
- Worship-style anthems
- Character-driven story songs
- Epic battle sequences with orchestral scoring
Fan Reactions:
Reddit user jojoavav noted:
“Musicals stand apart from traditional animation, as the music frequently provides added support. However, the songs in ‘David movie’ are quite catchy, so we’ll have to wait and see how that impacts its reception.”
Where to Watch Now
David is currently playing in theaters nationwide starting yesterday (December 19, 2025).
How to Get Tickets:
- Visit angel.com/david or thedavidmovie.com for showtimes
- Available in 3,000+ theaters across the US
- Standard theatrical pricing (Angel Studios doesn’t require paid memberships for theatrical releases)
Streaming:
No streaming date announced yet, but Angel Studios typically releases films on its platform 90-120 days after theatrical debut.
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