First Reviews Drop for DAVID

As DAVID opens in cinemas worldwide, an initial set of reviews has been published across a range of outlets, including mainstream newspapers, international film publications, and faith-oriented media.12

The early coverage spans several segments of the critical landscape. Reviews come from Rotten Tomatoes–listed critics, regional daily newspapers, independent film sites, and specialist cultural publications.34 Together, they provide an early indication of how the film is being received at launch.

A Broadly Positive Early Response

During the opening review window, DAVID received largely favourable notices, many of them accompanied by numerical or letter grades:

  • Asian Movie Pulse published an international review by Panos Kotzathanasis, praising the film’s execution and direction.1
  • CCM Magazine described DAVID as “a timely and necessary animated epic.”2
  • The Peach Review awarded the film a 9/10, calling it “the latest animated epic from Angel Studios.”5
  • The Dark Herald issued a 4.7/5 recommendation via Substack.6
  • The Weekend Warrior, written by Edward Douglas, scored the film 8/10, highlighting its strengths as a theatrical animated release.7

While individual assessments vary, the overall tone of these early reviews is positive.

Mainstream and Certified Critics

Several mainstream publications included DAVID in their regular film coverage:

  • The Houston Chronicle, in a review by Danny Minton, gave the film a B grade, discussing it alongside other holiday releases.3
  • Salt Lake City Weekly, reviewed by Scott Renshaw, awarded the film three stars in its weekly roundup.8
  • Our Quad Cities, in a review by Linda Cook, described DAVID as “a Bible-based musical with gorgeous tunes [and] lovely storytelling.”9

These outlets typically focus on wide theatrical releases, placing DAVID within the same review context as other mainstream films.

Response from Film and Genre Sites

Film-focused websites also weighed in:

  • JoBlo graded the film 6/10, referring to it as “a solid animated tale.”4
  • Movies With Milan awarded DAVID a B+, noting its accessibility and broad family appeal.10

Some critics point to familiar narrative structure, though these comments are generally paired with acknowledgements of the film’s production values and craft.

Early Takeaway

From the first group of published reviews:

  • DAVID has opened with a generally positive critical response
  • Multiple outlets have issued strong numerical or letter grades
  • Coverage includes Rotten Tomatoes–listed critics and regional newspapers
  • Reviews span international, mainstream, and specialist publications

As more reviews are published, the early reception suggests that DAVID has achieved broad visibility across the critical spectrum during its opening period.

Footnotes

  1. Asian Movie Pulse, “David (2025) by Phil Cunningham and Brent Dawes – Animation Review,” Dec 17, 2025. https://asianmoviepulse.com/2025/12/david-2025/ ↩ ↩2

  2. CCM Magazine, “David: A Timely and Necessary Animated Epic,” Dec 17, 2025. https://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/david-a-timely-and-necessary-animated-epic/ ↩ ↩2

  3. Houston Chronicle, Danny Minton, Dec 17, 2025. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/moco/events/article/cameron-s-avatar-fire-ash-pushes-boundaries-21248332.php ↩ ↩2

  4. JoBlo, Steve Seigh, “David Review: A Solid Animated Tale,” Dec 17, 2025. https://www.joblo.com/david-review-angel-studios/ ↩ ↩2

  5. The Peach Review, Jon Jones, Dec 17, 2025. https://thepeachreview.com/2025/12/17/david-is-the-latest-animated-epic-from-angel-studios/ ↩

  6. The Dark Herald via Substack, Dec 17, 2025. https://arkhaven.substack.com/p/the-dark-herald-recommends-david ↩

  7. The Weekend Warrior via Substack, Edward Douglas, Dec 17, 2025. https://edwarddouglas.substack.com/p/david-review ↩

  8. Salt Lake City Weekly, Scott Renshaw, Dec 17, 2025. https://www.cityweekly.net/film/movie-reviews-avatar-fire-and-ash-david-the-housemaid-ee7935e1 ↩

  9. Our Quad Cities, Linda Cook, Dec 17, 2025. https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/local-news/cook-review-david-is-a-bible-based-musical-with-gorgeous-tunes-lovely-story-telling/ ↩

  10. Movies With Milan, Milan Paurich, Dec 16, 2025. https://movieswithmilanmix989.com/12%2F19%2F25-reviews ↩