At CinemaCon, exhibitors and theater owners have one priority: getting people into their theaters. Which films, projectors, seats, technology, and concessions will make audience members buy tickets? Undeniably, niche programming has found surprising success at the movies over the last few years. This success brings Angel Studios to CinemaCon for the second year, not with a flashy presentation in the Caesars Palace Colosseum like the major studios, but with a breakfast seminar presenting their upcoming slate of films.
Distribution Chief Jared Geesey opens the presentation by thanking exhibitors for making Angel Studios one of the top ten highest-grossing studios in the U.S. for the past two years. “We’re just getting started,” he says, promising global expansion. “These films aren’t just for middle America. Audiences all over crave values-driven entertainment.” He cites the Angel Guild as prioritizing what audiences want. The Guild votes to greenlight every project with Angel Studios and receives tickets to the upcoming releases. He says this drives engagement in the filmmaking process, which ensures bigger audiences at theaters.
Brandon Purdie, Head of Theatrical Distribution, makes a strong case for the diversification of theatrical offerings, arguing that when audiences only have the choice of one or two blockbusters taking up every screen, they may opt to stay home if there’s nothing in which they’re interested. More mid-budget films and niche offerings, he says, benefit studios and theaters alike. Interestingly, though, Angel Studios hasn’t replicated their first success, 2023’s “Sound of Freedom.” They still tout that film’s box office at this presentation while largely glossing over their 2024 releases, none of which came close to “Sound of Freedom” numbers. Purdie highlights the critical success of 2024’s “Cabrini,” but doesn’t mention a word about its less-than-stellar box office.
Next, Purdie and Co. turn their attention to Angel Studios’ upcoming slate. First up is a look at “Zero A.D.,” from “Sound of Freedom” and “Cabrini” director Alejandro Monteverde. Starring Jim Caviezel, Ben Mendelsohn, Gael Garcia Bernal, Sam Worthington, and more, this is a dark and gritty take on the birth of Jesus. In describing the film, they say it’s “an epic that demands to be experienced on the big screen” and promises the “untold story.” They describe it more like a fantasy story than a biblical epic. However, it’s hard to say what is “untold” about one of the most well-known stories on the planet.
Film Sales Manager Shelley Schulz introduces a look at “Sketch,” which they bought after its premiere at TIFF. She says this movie is a step in a new genre direction for Angel Studios, saying that “films that amplify light can take many forms.” The trailer looks like a lot of fun, with Tony Hale and D’Arcy Carden battling monsters emerging from a young girl’s creepy drawings. Our Owner & Editor In Chief, Matt Neglia, was a big fan of the film when he saw it in Toronto. It seems like a family-friendly thriller.
They showcase brief looks at the rest of their 2025 films, which will be released soon. The animated Jesus and Charles Dickens story “The King of Kings” comes out April 11th, and they tout an original end credits song by Kristen Chenoweth called “Live Like That.” Then comes “The Last Rodeo,” in which Neal McDonough stars as an aging rodeo legend who needs to compete in one final championship to pay for surgery for his child. Finally, there’s “Truth & Treason,” a true story of German soldiers who subvert the Nazis during World War II.
Finally, they tease films that will arrive in 2026, though no footage or casting information is available yet. The best-selling children’s fantasy series “Fablehaven” will receive a big-screen adaptation next year. “Young Washington” will showcase the early life of George Washington and will be released on July 4th, 2026. Similarly, “Fellowship” will depict the friendship of writers J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.
The primary thing missing from Angel Studios’ presentation is a discussion about money. While they have highlighted their status as one of the top ten highest-grossing studios in the U.S., they haven’t described recent films that found much success. Exhibitors responded well to the upcoming films, especially “The King of Kings,” but Angel Studios needs to continue to prove that they can make hits, not just Christian movies.
What was your favorite announcement out of Angel Studios’s presentation? Which of their films are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Twitter account.
