A number of individuals might still not know about the South African animated film, David. However, it’s rapidly becoming the quintessential feel-good story from South Africa for 2026. The exciting news is that it continues to screen at Ster Kinekor and Nu Metro theaters nationwide. Nonetheless, it’s in the United States, far from home, that this South African animated feature is generating significant buzz.
In a true David-vs-Goliath fashion, it’s currently holding the second spot at the weekend Hollywood box office, trailing only Avatar: Fire and Ash. To date, it has accumulated $75 million (approximately R1.23 billion) across 3,000 screens in North America since its Christmas launch. This achievement positions it ahead of another leading animated studio film, The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants.
SOUTH AFRICAN ANIMATED MOVIE – DAVID
Even more impressively, the South African animated feature shattered multiple historic records in its inaugural week at the box office, according to reports from NovaNews.
- Achieved the highest three-day opening for Angel Studios, overtaking Sound of Freedom.
- Set a record for the top-grossing opening weekend ever in the U.S. for a faith-based animated movie.
- Claimed the best North American debut for a South African film since District 9 back in 2009.
Furthermore, four weeks post-launch, the South African animated film continues to be among the Top 10 US box office hits. This is particularly impressive given that its Christmas premiere was amidst a fierce competitive landscape, squaring off against two of the biggest franchises in film history – Avatar and SpongeBob.
MADE IN NOORDHOEK, CAPE TOWN
This South African animated film was co-directed by two talented filmmakers based in Cape Town, Phil Cunningham and Brent Dawes. They spearheaded a team consisting of over 400 local and global animators and artists across 32 nations, from the Sunrise studio in Noordhoek.
“After three decades filled with dreaming, planning, effort, setbacks, and resilience, it’s remarkable to see the film finally released. We are thrilled to hear so many stories of how the film is truly encouraging and inspiring audiences,” comments Cunningham.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR SOUTH AFRICAN ANIMATED MOVIE
In addition to its financial triumph, there has been extensive industry accolade for the South African animated film:
- New York Times described it as ‘surprisingly magnificent.’
- Rotten Tomatoes commended the film’s ‘gorgeously animated backgrounds.’
- Variety recognized it as a ‘spectacular testament to the technical prowess of South African animation.’
Similarly, audiences have reacted positively, awarding it a CinemaScore of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. Grammy nominee Phil Wickham lends his voice to the adult David, while the musical score is crafted by The Greatest Showman’s Joseph Trapanese.
What’s your take? Are you proud of a South African animated film achieving such international success? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below …
