I still remember the first time I watched Parasite back in 2019—it was at a small indie theater in my city, and I’d dragged my best friend along because I’d heard it was a must-see. We were both floored by the end, whispering about that insane twist with the basement for days. So when I read that a new South Korean animated film, The King of Kings, just surpassed Parasite to become the highest-grossing Korean movie in the U.S., I was stunned. As of April 29, 2025, The King of Kings has raked in $54.7 million, beating Parasite’s record of $53.8 million, according to Box Office Mojo. I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nostalgia as I dug into this story, because this milestone feels so personal to me—it’s a reminder of how much Korean cinema has shaped my love for movies over the years.
A New Chapter for Korean Storytelling
The King of Kings is a 3D animated film by Mofac Studios, a South Korean company, and it tells the story of Jesus Christ’s life—from his birth to his resurrection. It’s based on Charles Dickens’ The Life of Our Lord, which I thought was such a beautiful touch. The director, Jang Seong-ho, who also happens to be Mofac’s CEO, poured his heart into this project, and it shows. The movie hit U.S. theaters on April 11, right before Good Friday and Easter, which brought back memories of my childhood Easters—my family always watched a biblical movie after church, and I can imagine The King of Kings fitting right into that tradition. According to Variety, that timing really helped the film connect with families and faith-based audiences.
The box office numbers are wild: it opened with $19.1 million over its first weekend across 3,200 theaters in North America, landing at No. 2 behind the Minecraft Movie (the one with Jack Black and Jason Momoa), per Deadline. It even broke a record for the biggest opening weekend for an animated biblical film, beating The Prince of Egypt’s $14.5 million debut from 1998, as reported by The Numbers. I loved The Prince of Egypt growing up—those songs still give me chills—so hearing this news made me smile. With pre-sales at $14.6 million, The King of Kings kept climbing, hitting $54.7 million in the U.S. and $59.1 million worldwide, with $4.4 million from international markets, according to Box Office Mojo. I can’t help but feel proud of how far this film has come in just three weeks.
A Cast That Took Me Back
One thing that really got me excited about The King of Kings was the voice cast. They’ve got Oscar Isaac as Jesus, alongside Pierce Brosnan, Kenneth Branagh, Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, Forest Whitaker, and Ben Kingsley, per IMDb. Hearing Mark Hamill’s name brought me right back to my Star Wars-obsessed teenage years—I used to watch The Empire Strikes Back on repeat, dreaming of being a Jedi. Seeing him in a project like this feels so full-circle. The animation itself is stunning too—Mofac Studios has a background in visual effects, and you can tell they put everything into making this film look breathtaking. Audiences agree, giving it an A+ CinemaScore and a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, though critics were a bit less impressed at 63%, according to Rotten Tomatoes. Honestly, I trust the audience on this one—I’ve learned that sometimes the movies I love most don’t always win over the critics.
Reflecting on Parasite’s Legacy
Now, let’s talk about Parasite. That movie was a cultural earthquake for me. I remember how it felt like a secret club—everyone who’d seen it was buzzing about that peach scene or the flooding sequence. It won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film at the Oscars—the first non-English film to take Best Picture, per The Academy. It made $53.8 million in the U.S., which was huge back then, according to Box Office Mojo. I’d never seen a Korean film get that kind of attention before, and it opened my eyes to how powerful international cinema can be. I even started seeking out more Korean movies after that, like Oldboy and The Handmaiden, which became some of my all-time favorites.
So when The King of Kings beat that record, I had mixed feelings. On one hand, I was thrilled—Korean cinema is killing it! But on the other hand, I felt a little protective of Parasite’s legacy. These are such different films: Parasite is a dark, adult thriller about class inequality, while The King of Kings is a family-friendly animated story about faith. They’re speaking to totally different audiences, and I think that’s what makes this milestone so special.
The King of Kings tapped into a whole new crowd, especially with its Easter release, as The Hollywood Reporter pointed out. Still, I can’t help but think about how Parasite had to break so many barriers in 2019, back when Korean movies weren’t as mainstream in the U.S. Plus, ticket prices have gone up since then, which might give The King of Kings a bit of an edge in raw numbers, as Forbes mentioned. Either way, I’m just happy to see Korean films thriving.
Korean Animation Hits the Big Time
This win for The King of Kings also feels personal because it’s shining a spotlight on Korean animation, which I’ve always thought deserved more love. Mofac Studios usually does visual effects, but they went all out with this feature film, and I’m so impressed by their ambition. Jang Seong-ho decided to keep the whole production in South Korea, even though he could’ve taken U.S. funding. He told Cartoon Brew, “I could’ve gotten U.S. money easily, but I would’ve lost control over the vision and ownership of the work.” That resonates with me—I’ve always admired artists who stick to their vision, even when it’s the harder path. I once tried to make a short film for a college project, and I remember how tempting it was to compromise on my ideas just to get it done faster. Seeing Jang stay true to his roots inspires me.
The film’s budget was about $25 million (36 billion won), and they’ve already more than doubled that at the box office, per Variety. Big streaming platforms like Netflix, Apple, Amazon, and Hulu are apparently circling for distribution rights, according to The Wrap, which makes me think of how I’ve been binge-watching K-dramas on Netflix lately—maybe I’ll get to watch The King of Kings there soon! It’s set to release in South Korea in July 2025, and I can’t wait to hear what Korean audiences think, especially after its U.S. success.
Looking Ahead with Hope
What really gets me emotional about this whole thing is how it shows the incredible range of Korean storytelling. Parasite gave me a raw, thought-provoking look at class divides that I still think about whenever I see wealth inequality in the news. The King of Kings, on the other hand, feels like a warm hug—a story that reminds me of the Sunday school lessons I grew up with, reimagined in a way that’s fresh and beautiful. It makes me so hopeful for the future of Korean cinema. Maybe we’ll get more animated films like this, or even something totally different, like a Korean animated sci-fi or fantasy epic. I’d be first in line for that!
At the same time, I don’t think we should forget what Parasite did for Korean movies. It opened doors that The King of Kings is now walking through, and I’m so grateful for both of these films. Jang Seong-ho put it perfectly in his Cartoon Brew interview: “Animation hasn’t really been a part of global K-content, but I’m proud that this film has made a meaningful mark.” I feel that pride too—it’s like I’m rooting for a team I’ve loved for years, and they just keep winning.
Wrapping Up with a Full Heart
So, yeah, The King of Kings is now the highest-grossing Korean film in the U.S. at $54.7 million, per Box Office Mojo, and I couldn’t be happier about it. It’s a huge win for Mofac Studios, for Korean animation, and for the global reach of Korean cinema. This milestone feels like a full-circle moment for me, from falling in love with Parasite to now celebrating The King of Kings. It reminds me why I love movies so much—they can take you anywhere, teach you anything, and make you feel so connected to the world. I’m already looking forward to the next Korean film that’ll steal my heart. What about you—have any Korean movies or animations touched you like this? I’d love to hear your stories!
