Kennedy Center to Screen Christian Movie ‘King of Kings’ in Sign of Cultural Realignment
The nation’s foremost performing arts venue, the Kennedy Center, will soon host a screening of the year’s top Christian movie in a sign of the conservative transformation in D.C. The Kennedy Center will host a free screening on June 1 of The King of Kings, the new Angel Studios movie about the life of Christ that has taken in $60 million domestically and is the highest-grossing biblical animated film of all time. The most recent Jesus-centric production at the center was 2022’s Jesus Christ Superstar, a rock opera that was controversial when it debuted in the 1970s for its unorthodox themes. Unlike Jesus Christ Superstar, The King of Kings has been widely applauded by conservative Christians.
The Kennedy Center is a symbol of American culture and the arts, known for hosting world-class performances by legends such as Leonard Bernstein, Aretha Franklin, Itzhak Perlman and Mikhail Baryshnikov, as well as major events like the Kennedy Center Honors.
The center’s new president said more films like King of Kings are coming to the venue.
“When I saw the advertising campaign for King of Kings, I immediately knew we needed to have it come to the Kennedy Center,” said Richard Grenell, president of The Kennedy Center. “And then, coincidentally, I was asked to be on a panel with the CEO of Angel Studios, so I cornered him. This is family-friendly programming that we will be doing more of in the future.”
The King of Kings tells the story of Christ through the eyes of Charles Dickens, who as a devoted father brings scenes from Scripture to life with wonder and imagination as his young son, Walter, listens intently by a warm fireplace. The film is loosely based on Dickens’ book The Life of Our Lord.
It stars the voices of Oscar Isaac (Star Wars sequel trilogy) as Jesus, Kenneth Branagh (Murder on the Orient Express, Dunkirk) as Charles Dickens, Uma Thurman (Kill Bill franchise) as Catherine Dickens, Pierce Brosnan (James Bond films) as Pontius Pilate, Mark Hamill (Star Wars franchise) as Herod, Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland) as Peter and Ben Kingsley (Gandhi) as High Priest Caiaphas.
The Kennedy Center website describes the film as an “epic cinematic journey through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
“This powerful retelling brings His story to life in a way you’ve never seen before, with breathtaking visuals and an unforgettable cast,” the website says.
The free screening will take place at 3 p.m. local time.
It’s not the only faith-centric film at the Kennedy Center this summer. On June 4, the center will host a premiere of The American Miracle, a new documentary that tells the story of the nation’s founding and claims it could have only happened through divine intervention.
Photo Credit: ©Angel Studios
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published May 19, 2025.
