DAVID Opens to $22M as Opening Weekend Coverage Expands

Following its wide theatrical release, DAVID opened to a domestic box office total of $22,000,555 across 3,118 theatres during its opening weekend.1 The debut places the film within a highly competitive holiday marketplace, releasing alongside several major studio titles.

The opening weekend coincided with expanded national coverage across box office reporting, interviews, and additional reviews.

Box Office and Industry Coverage

In the days surrounding release, DAVID appeared in multiple industry and box office articles examining the crowded December release corridor. Coverage positioned the film within broader reporting focused on franchise-led releases dominating the holiday frame.234

Additional coverage identified DAVID among a group of films seeking audience attention alongside major studio tentpoles, particularly within the family and faith-adjacent space.5

Press Day and Interview Activity

Press-day coverage generated several interviews focused on the film’s creative process and development:

  • A recorded interview with Brandon Engman and Brian Stivale ran across film-focused podcast and review platforms, discussing the project’s origins and its transition to a wide theatrical release.67
  • Director Brent Dawes participated in a long-form interview exploring the creative influences, visual approach, and thematic goals behind DAVID.8

These interviews expanded coverage beyond reviews, offering audiences insight into the film’s creative intent.

Additional Reviews

As the film reached audiences, a broader set of critics published reviews that added further context to the initial response.

Positive Reviews

Several outlets issued clearly positive assessments, highlighting animation quality, scale, and musical elements:

  • Escribiendo Cine published a 7/10 review describing the film as an animated adventure rooted in biblical storytelling.9
  • KGET-TV awarded the film a B+, praising Angel Studios’ continued work in animation.10

Mixed to Mixed-Positive Reviews

Other critics offered more measured responses, acknowledging the film’s technical execution while noting familiar narrative structure:

  • Christianity Today published a mixed-positive review engaging with both the film’s strengths and limitations.11
  • The Film Yap rated the film 3/5, citing craftsmanship alongside conventional storytelling choices.12
  • Mark Reviews Movies issued a 2.5/4 assessment.13
  • The New York Times published a mixed-positive review framing the film as particularly resonant for audiences already familiar with its subject matter.14

General Audience Coverage

Beyond reviews and trade reporting, DAVID also received consumer-facing coverage addressing audience questions around theatrical availability and future streaming options.15

Opening Weekend Snapshot

By the conclusion of its opening weekend:

  • DAVID debuted with $22 million domestically
  • The film played in over 3,100 theatres
  • Coverage expanded across box office reporting, interviews, and reviews
  • Critical response continued to range from positive to mixed-positive

As the theatrical run continues, the opening weekend performance and breadth of coverage establish DAVID as an active participant in the 2025 holiday box office season, supported by sustained press and audience attention.

Footnotes

  1. Opening weekend domestic box office figures provided by studio reporting; theatre count reflects wide release footprint. ↩

  2. Boxoffice Pro, “Weekend Preview: Avatar: Fire and Ash Looking at $100M+ Opening,” Dec 17, 2025. https://www.boxofficepro.com/weekend-preview-avatar-fire-and-ash-looking-at-100m-opening/ ↩

  3. The Hollywood Reporter, Pamela McClintock, “‘Avatar’ Box Office Preview: ‘Fire and Ash’ Vies to Join Brethren on All-Time Chart,” Dec 17, 2025. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/avatar-box-office-preview-fire-and-ash-1236452670/ ↩

  4. Screen Rant, Brian Gallagher, “Box Office Predictions: Avatar: Fire & Ash Leads The Way With $115 Million As 2025 Winds Down,” Dec 17, 2025. https://screenrant.com/box-office-predictions-avatar-fire-ash-leads-the-way-with-115-million-as-2025-winds-down/ ↩

  5. The Wrap, Jeremy Fuster, “Meet the Movies Searching for Sleeper Hit Status in the Shadow of ‘Avatar’,” Dec 18, 2025. https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/the-housemaid-david-spongebob-box-office-tracking/ ↩

  6. The Drive-In Podcast Network, “David Interview Brandon Engman and Brian Stivale Talk Angel Studios Animated Film,” YouTube, Dec 18, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxvBU_2Nytg

    ↩

  7. Music City Drive-In, “David Interview Brandon Engman and Brian Stivale Talk Angel Studios Animated Film,” Dec 18, 2025. https://musiccitydrivein.com/2025/12/18/david-interview-brandon-engman-and-brian-stivale-talk-angel-studios-animated-film/

    ↩

  8. Joseph Curtis YouTube, “Interview with Director Brent Dawes Shares Inspirations Behind DAVID Movie,” Dec 18, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo9SVtkqMYw

    ↩

  9. Escribiendo Cine, Emiliano Basile, “Review of ‘David’: Animated adventures with the biblical character,” Dec 18, 2025. https://www.escribiendocine.com/noticias/2025/12/18/21162-critica-de-david-aventuras-animadas-con-el-personaje-biblico ↩

  10. KGET-TV, Rick Bentley, “Angel Studios does more heavenly work with ‘David’,” Dec 18, 2025. https://www.kget.com/community/ricks-reviews/angel-studios-does-more-heavenly-work-with-david/ ↩

  11. Christianity Today, Peter T. Chattaway, “Review: Angel Studios’ ‘David’,” Dec 17, 2025. https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/12/review-angel-studios-david/ ↩

  12. The Film Yap, Christopher Lloyd, “David,” Substack, Dec 17, 2025. https://filmyap.substack.com/p/david ↩

  13. Mark Reviews Movies, Mark Dujsik, “David,” Dec 18, 2025. https://www.markreviewsmovies.com/reviews/D/david-2025.htm ↩

  14. The New York Times, Calum Marsh, “‘David’ Review: Preaching to the Choir,” Dec 18, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/movies/david-review.html ↩

  15. Decider, Anna Menta, “Is the 2025 ‘David’ Movie Streaming on Netflix or Disney+?” Dec 18, 2025. https://decider.com/2025/12/18/watch-david-movie-streaming-netflix-amazon-prime-video/ ↩