'The King of Kings' review: A visually uneven retelling of Christ’s story

Courtesy of Angel Studios

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Perhaps the first question that arises in “The King of Kings,” a biblical retelling of Jesus Christ’s life, is why it begins by focusing on Charles Dickens and his son, Walter. While there is a real historical context behind this decision—Dickens did, in fact, write about Jesus for his children—it also feels like the film’s most significant stumbling block.

“The King of Kings” takes pride in its “Princess Bride”-esque, meta storytelling, placing Charles, Walter, and their cat Willa into the biblical past to explore themes of patience, forgiveness, and love. While I agree that this narrative device is used effectively—especially toward the end, when the film confronts sacrifice and savagery—I found myself more engaged when I didn’t think about the real-life context. I preferred to see them as an ambiguous father and son, rather than actual historical figures. That context only makes an unassuming audience more leery than invested. Plus, the opening scene does little to justify why the story needs to be framed this way at all, despite a comical (and admittedly typical) quarrel between parent and child.

The real heart of the film lies in the gospel world, where it mostly manages to strike a reasonable balance between poignant moral lessons and the kind of preachy exposition often found in virtue-heavy narratives. That said, the glaringly simplified summary of “Adam and Eve” feels out of place. I understand the focus is on Jesus, but reducing the concept of original sin to a 20-second monologue in a movie aimed at children is bound to raise more questions than it answers.

The film also doesn’t shy away from its darker elements. While the subject matter certainly warrants a solemn tone, the film seems to place more emphasis on the pain and sacrifice of Jesus than on the hope and gratitude of his ascension. Telling the entire story in one sitting makes it difficult to capture the full emotional arc. The film includes everything—Lazarus, the loaves and fishes, Mary Magdalene, the flipping of tables—every Sunday school staple gets a moment. But instead of enriching the narrative, the sheer volume of stories makes them feel rushed and segmented, as if there’s no time to let any of them truly resonate. The most prominent story, unsurprisingly, is the betrayal and crucifixion, which—while significant—is also the least optimistic, leading to a resurrection that doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves. If you’re looking for the gospel, you’ll find it—just without as much depth or context as you might expect.

This lack of context is compounded by one of my biggest concerns: the character design. It often feels inconsistent or stylized in ways that simply don’t work. I know that might sound harsh—especially since some of the most beloved Christian animations are composed entirely of vegetables—but the emotional expressiveness here is lacking. Jesus has a razor-thin neck and tiny eyes, while the disciples have disproportionately large features that look like they belong to entirely different films. Some characters clearly receive careful animation to convey emotion, while others feel like afterthoughts. This inconsistency dulls the emotional weight of the miracles depicted.

And then there’s the casting—which is, frankly, stellar. Oscar Isaac, Kenneth Branagh, Mark Hamill, Uma Thurman, Jim Cummings, Forest Whitaker, Pierce Brosnan—an absolutely stacked lineup. But instead of elevating the characters, these extraordinary voice performances only highlight the limitations of the animation. Surrounded by beautiful set pieces and atmospheric lighting, the characters' glassy eyes and stiff movements become impossible to ignore.

Let me be sincere: I don’t think “The King of Kings” is a bad movie. But for a film that reaches for spiritual gravitas, it feels more like a disciple than a prophet—despite the profit it’s bound to make.

Grade: C+ 

THE KING OF KINGS is now playing in theaters. 

About the Author:

Luke Durling has deep passion for all things animation, and is thrilled to have the chance to share his thoughts with you. If you enjoyed this review, feel free to explore his other work at calmandcultured.com.