Angel Studios Explained

Angel Studios, Inc.
Type:Private
Num Employees:100-250
Predecessor:VidAngel
Hq Location City:Provo, Utah
Hq Location Country:U.S.
Key People:Neal Harmon (CEO)
Area Served:Worldwide
Industry:Entertainment
Products:Video on demand

Angel Studios, Inc. is an American independent media company and film distribution studio based in Provo, Utah.[1] It operates the over-the-top video on-demand service Angel Studios.[2] The streaming service is available worldwide and can be accessed via web browsers or via application software installed on smartphones, tablet computers, and smart TVs.[3]

Angel Studios emerged as the result of a bankruptcy reorganization from VidAngel,[4] using equity crowdfunding through Angel Funding[5] to finance its original productions by offering individual investors the opportunity to purchase shares in the company and its titles.[6] Content produced by Angel Studios is distributed for free on their own streaming service. Some titles are also available in other third-party streaming services as distribution deals.[7]

The studio has become known for its Christian-themed films. Notable titles that Angel Studios has produced include the film Sound of Freedom, and the television series The Chosen.[8] [9] [10]

History

Early years as VidAngel

See also: VidAngel. Angel Studios was originally founded as VidAngel in 2014 by Neal Harmon, Jeffrey Harmon, Daniel Harmon, Jordan Harmon, and Benton Crane. According to Neal Harmon, the brothers wanted to be able to show any movie to their children without worrying about explicit material.[11] VidAngel provided a filtering service that allowed viewers to skip or mute scenes they did not want to watch from streamed movies and TV shows, by allowing viewers to set customized filters on graphic violence, nudity, and profanity.[12]

In 2016, VidAngel was sued by several major Hollywood studios for copyright violations, accusing the service of streaming unlicensed content that was not created by VidAngel.[13] VidAngel fought the lawsuit for several years, asserting its method was legal under the Family Movie Act of 2005, and then eventually reached a settlement in 2020.[14]

As a result of the lawsuit, the Harmon brothers decided to sell the filtering service business and instead focus on producing original content through equity crowdfunding.[15] The previous VidAngel service was sold to VidAngel Entertainment, and the company was rebranded as Angel Studios in 2021.[16]

Equity crowdfunding

In December 2016, VidAngel was undergoing a lawsuit. To raise money for operations and lawsuit costs, the company conducted a Regulation A+ securities offering with a goal of $5 million in investment. It met its goal after 28 hours and had crowdfunded over $10 million after five days.[17]

In 2017, the company conducted another Regulation A+ securities offering to crowdfund Season 1 of The Chosen.[18] Neal Harmon and Jeff Harmon worked together with Dallas Jenkins and Derral Eves to produce and stream a multi-season television series about the life of Jesus and his disciples. After a pilot episode was developed, the company raised $13 million in equity crowdfunding to finance the first season, the largest amount ever crowdfunded for a TV show.[19]

Also in 2017, a third foray into equity crowdfunding came from the launch of Dry Bar Comedy, a series of 52 original stand-up comedy sets filmed in Utah that are generally clean and performed by lesser-known comedians. Much of its content went viral, with Dry Bar Comedy videos receiving over two billion views as of 2021.[20]

Launch of Angel Studios

The success of Dry Bar Comedy and The Chosen gave way to a new business model that would allow the company to produce and distribute original content. The founders decided to focus on developing original content using its equity crowdfunding model and rebrand as Angel Studios.[21]

Angel Studios was named after the "angel investors" that participate in the new model that uses equity crowdfunding to finance original productions. These productions are distributed via the Angel Studios streaming platform for free. The company relies on a pay what you want revenue model, coined "Pay It Forward", in which viewers can optionally pay for the content if they choose to support it.[22]

In early 2021, Angel Studios purchased the domain angel.com for $2 million.[23] Soon after, Angel Studios launched an investment portal called Angel Funding that offered investment opportunities through Regulation Crowdfunding securities offerings.[24]

Several productions were successfully funded through the investment portal after its launch in March 2021. Tuttle Twins, a show for children with educational themes on economic freedom raised $4.6 million in equity crowdfunding for its production.[25] The Wingfeather Saga, an animated series based on the award-winning book collection of the same name raised $1 million in the first 48 hours and $5 million in 20 days.[26]

In April 2021, The Chosen, which was originally distributed through the VidAngel platform, was made available on Angel Studios for the launch of Season 2. The show became a viral hit with renowned success worldwide.[27]

In 2022, Angel Studios raised $47 million in an investment round led by a Gigafund, a venture capital company.[28] In May 2022, the studio reported that it had $123 million in revenue, and that 50,000 people have invested over $100 million for production of new original content on its platform.[29]

As of 2022, Angel Studios had 50,000 individual investors and had over $100 million worth of original content, including 12 titles, in production.[30]

Production library

Films

Live-action

TitleRelease dateDirector(s)Screenwriter(s)Producer(s)Production partner(s)BudgetBox office
Testament: The Parables RetoldPaul SyrstadTBA
His Only SonDavid HellingDavid Helling, Roman Medjanov, & Mike Kaney IIRockBridge Productions$250,000[31] $13.8 million[32] [33]
Sound of FreedomAlejandro MonteverdeRod Barr & Alejandro MonteverdeEduardo VerásteguiSanta Fe Films$14.5 million[34] $250.6 million[35] [36]
After DeathStephen Gray & Chris RadtkeJason Pamer & Jens JacobSypher Studios
Theora Films
$11.7 million[37] [38]
The ShiftBrock HeasleyBrock Heasley & Ken CarpenterNook Lane Entertainment
Pinnacle Peak Pictures
Salt Shaker Media
$6.4 million[39] $12.2 million[40]
CabriniAlejandro MonteverdeAlejandro Monteverde & Rod BarrLeo Severino & Jonathan SangerFrancesca Film Production NY
Lupin Film
Lodigiano Film Development Inc.
$50 million[41] $19.7 million[42] [43]
SightAndrew HyattAndrew Hyatt, John Duigan & Buzz McLaughlinDarren Moorman, David Fischer & Vicki SotheranOpen River Entertainment
Reserve Entertainment
TBA$6 million[44]
Joshua WeigelJoshua Weigel & Rebekah WeigelLetitia Wright (executive producer)Peacetree Productions
DailyWire+
$8.5 million[45] $11.6 million
Upcoming
BonhoefferTodd KomarnickiFontana
In Plain Sight Group
Crow's Nest Productions
Guy Walks Into A Bar Productions
TBATBA
HomesteadBen SmallbonePhillip Abraham
Leah Bateman
Jason Ross
Ben Kasica
Andrea Royer
Ben Smallbone
TBATBATBA
The TelegramTBATBATBATBATBATBATBA
JacobTBADavid HellingTBATBATBATBA

Animation

Television

Animation

Content

TV series

The Chosen

See also: The Chosen (TV series). The Chosen, a streaming multi-season television series created by Dallas Jenkins and about the life of Jesus, was first produced under the VidAngel umbrella and later distributed by Angel Studios.[46] The series was supported by equity crowdfunding and raised over $13 million, the largest amount ever crowdfunded for a TV show.[46] Following the Season 3 finale in February 2023, The Chosen and Jenkins broke away from Angel Studios. The show is now handled by the Come and See Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation formed specifically to produce, license, and distribute The Chosen.[47]

Following months of legal arbitration between Angel Studios and The Chosen LLC, a decision by the arbitrator in favor of The Chosen was given in late May 2024. One day after Jenkins announced the ruling, Angel Studios' CEO Neal Harmon announced his company planned to appeal.[48] [49]

Dry Bar Comedy

Dry Bar Comedy was one of the preceding company's first forays into original content, launched in 2017. It began as a series of 52 original stand-up comedy sets filmed in Utah that are generally clean and performed by lesser-known comedians.[50] Dry Bar Comedy has attracted a large social media following, particularly on YouTube. As of 2021, Dry Bar Comedy videos have attracted over 2 billion views.

The Wingfeather Saga

See also: The Wingfeather Saga. Angel Studios produced an animated TV adaptation of The Wingfeather Saga, a fantasy book series for children and young adults written by Andrew Peterson. Investors contributed $5 million to produce the first season, which is currently streaming.

Feature films

, Angel's distributed feature films include His Only Son, a March 2023 live-action drama retelling the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac produced by RockBridge Productions,[51] [52] Sound of Freedom, produced by Santa Fe Films and released in July 2023, and The Shift, a sci-fi film[53] released in late 2023 starring Neal McDonough, Sean Astin, Kristoffer Polaha, and Emily Rose, which was Angel Studios's first original theatrical feature film.[54]

David, an animated film about the eponymous biblical hero is set to be released in 2025.[55]

Sound of Freedom

See also: Sound of Freedom (film). On July 3, 2023, Angel Studios released the film Sound of Freedom as its first international theatrical release.[56] [57] Directed by Alejandro Monteverde, the film stars Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino, and Bill Camp. The film was a box office success, earning over $250 million worldwide.[58] [59] However, the film also attracted controversy due to allegations of exaggerated ticket sales,[60] [61] [62] challenges to the credibility of its subject Tim Ballard,[63] and its ties to the QAnon conspiracy theory.[64] [65] [66] [67]

Notes and References

  1. News: 'The Chosen' Distributor Angel Studios Launches Theatrical Division . 24 March 2023.
  2. Web site: Angel Studios: Free, Wholesome Movies & Shows . 24 March 2023.
  3. Web site: Supported Devices - Angel Studios: Free, Wholesome Movies & Shows . 2023-01-26 . Angel Studios . en.
  4. Web site: Michael Balderston . 2021-03-23 . VidAngel Rebrands as Angel Studios for Crowdfunding Content . 2023-01-26 . TVTechnology . en.
  5. Klee . Miles . New Lawsuit Against Tim Ballard Also Targets 'Sound of Freedom' and Angel Studios . Rolling Stone . 2024-02-24 . 2024-02-26.
  6. Web site: Angel Funding - Invest in stories that amplify light . 2023-01-26 . Angel Funding . en.
  7. https://sec.report/Document/0001654954-22-005690/ Form 1-K Annual Report 2022 Angel Studios, Inc.
  8. News: Graham . Ruth . 2022-11-25 . Jesus Christ, Streaming Star . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-01-24 . 0362-4331.
  9. Web site: Parke . Caleb . 2019-01-07 . Story about life of Jesus emerges as largest crowdfunded entertainment project in history . 2023-01-26 . Fox News . en-US.
  10. News: A television show about Jesus Christ has become an unlikely hit . The Economist . 24 March 2023.
  11. Web site: VidAngel CEO Talks Filtering Content For Faith-Based Streaming And Creating "The Chosen" . Religion Unplugged . October 6, 2020 . 17 August 2023.
  12. News: Nothing Will Stop VidAngel from Exorcising Hollywood's Demons . 17 August 2023 . Vanity Fair.
  13. News: Hollywood studios win ruling over VidAngel family-friendly filters . 17 August 2023 . Reuters.
  14. News: VidAngel Set to Emerge from Bankruptcy After Settling Historic Copyright Battle with Disney and Other Studios . 17 August 2023 . AP News.
  15. News: The brothers who sold faith and 'Sound of Freedom' . 17 August 2023 . The Washington Post.
  16. Web site: Harmon . Neal . Angel Studios Form 1-K . US Securities and Exchange Commission . SEC . 28 July 2023.
  17. Web site: After Raising $10 Million using Reg A+, VidAngel Files for Chapter 11 . Crowdfund Insider . 17 August 2023.
  18. Web site: Crowdfunding on VidAngel Studios, the Chosen Claims to be #1 Crowdfunded Media Project Ever . Crowdfund Insider . 17 August 2023.
  19. News: 'The Chosen' $10M crowdfunded show out now: 'Experience Jesus in a way that's never been done before' . 17 August 2023 . Fox News.
  20. Web site: Knight . Robert . August 28, 2021 . Dry Bar Comedy delivers inoffensive humor in a compromised culture . 2023-01-26 . The Washington Times . en-US.
  21. News: VidAngel Rebrands as Angel Studios, Refocuses on Original Content . 17 August 2023 . Techbuzz.
  22. Web site: Pay It Forward - Angel Studios . Angel Studios . 17 August 2023.
  23. Web site: Allemann . Andrew . 2021-04-15 . Angel.com domain name sells for $2 million . 2023-01-26 . Domain Name Wire Domain Name News . en-US.
  24. Web site: Invest in Stories that Amplify Light . Angel Funding . 17 August 2023.
  25. News: 2022-07-27 . Libertarian Cartoons Promise to Turn Your Kids Into Little Ayn Rands . en . Bloomberg.com . 2023-01-26.
  26. Web site: Fowler . Megan . Andrew Peterson's Wingfeather Saga Raises $5M for TV Series . 2023-01-26 . News & Reporting . June 3, 2021 . en.
  27. Web site: Mendelson . Scott . Angel Studios Will Try To Replicate 'The Chosen's Box Office Miracle . 2023-01-26 . Forbes . en.
  28. Web site: Angel Studios, Streaming Platform Behind 'The Chosen', Raises $47 Million Investment Led by Gigafund to Give Hollywood a Remake . 2023-01-26 . markets.businessinsider.com . en.
  29. Web site: TechBuzz . Angel Studios Announces New 2022 Lineup, Representing over $100 Million in Original Content . 2023-01-26 . www.techbuzz.news . en.
  30. Web site: TechBuzz . Angel Studios Raises $47 Million in Venture Financing . 2023-01-26 . www.techbuzz.news . en.
  31. News: Angel Studios' latest film 'His Only Son' recounts the story of Abraham and Isaac. KSL. March 29, 2023. April 1, 2023. July 20, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230720020551/https://www.ksl.com/article/50604191/angel-studios-latest-film-his-only-son-recounts-the-story-of-abraham-and-isaac. live.
  32. His-Only-Son-(2023) . His Only Son (2023) . April 18, 2023 .
  33. 8277246 . His Only Son (2023) . April 18, 2023.
  34. Web site: A Child-Trafficking Thriller Is Taking on Hollywood. Who's Behind It?. The Wall Street Journal. John. Jurgensen. July 2, 2023. July 8, 2023. July 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230708164404/https://www.wsj.com/articles/sound-of-freedom-jim-caviezel-857639bf. live.
  35. Web site: Sound of Freedom (2023) . . January 22, 2024 . July 10, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230710032540/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl4254237441/ . live .
  36. Sound of Freedom (2023) - Financial Information. Sound-of-Freedom-(2023) . January 22, 2024.
  37. After Death — Financial Information . After-Death-(2023). November 26, 2023.
  38. Web site: After Death (2023) . Box Office Mojo . February 29, 2024.
  39. Web site: Whitten . Sarah . 2023-11-30 . Sound of Freedom studio looks to build on crowdfunding success with new film The Shift . 2023-12-02 . CNBC.
  40. Web site: The Shift (2023) . . February 29, 2024.
  41. Web site: DiStefano . Joseph N. . 2024-02-29 . A Main Line patriarch raised $50 million to make Cabrini, the new movie about a relentless Italian American nun . 2024-03-08 . The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  42. Web site: Cabrini— Financial Information . April 8, 2024 . The Numbers.
  43. Web site: Cabrini . April 8, 2024 . Box Office Mojo.
  44. Web site: Sight – Financial Information . The Numbers . June 2, 2024.
  45. Web site: Fabian . Liz . Casting call goes out for $8.5 million movie filming in Macon this fall . . . June 3, 2024.
  46. News: Bond . Paul . 2019-01-05 . Largest-Ever Crowdfunding Campaign for a TV Show Issues Equity to Investors . en-US . The Hollywood Reporter . 2023-01-26.
  47. Web site: Foundation Formed to Translate, License & Distribute 'The Chosen' . December 2022 .
  48. News: Hibberd . James . ‘The Chosen’ and Angel Studios Are in a Polite War Over Hit Show . June 3, 2024 . . May 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240531073040/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-chosen-angel-studios-legal-battle-1235912177/ . May 31, 2024. live.
  49. News: Schneider . Michael . The Battle Over ‘The Chosen’: Angel Studios Will Appeal the Ruling That Terminated Its Rights to the Hit Faith-Based Series . June 3, 2024 . . May 30, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240531062521/https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-chosen-angel-studios-ruling-dallas-jenkins-neal-harmon-1236020555/ . May 31, 2024. live.
  50. Web site: VidAngel switches its focus to 'Dry Bar Comedy' in wake of lawsuit. Court Mann Daily. Herald. Daily Herald.
  51. Web site: Invest in 'David' on Angel Funding .
  52. Web site: His Only Son | Angel Studios .
  53. Web site: February 23, 2023 . The Shift Makes Cast Announcement and Begins-Filming . 24 March 2023.
  54. Web site: Grobar . Matt . 2023-02-03 . Neal McDonough, Sean Astin Join 'The Shift'; Brainstorm Media Acquires 'Acidman' With Dianna Agron, Thomas Haden Church; Hope Runs High Takes BAFTA-Nominated Doc 'Rebellion' — Film Briefs . 2023-03-02 . Deadline . en-US.
  55. Web site: ((CCM News)) . 2023-03-27 . Angel Studios Announces DAVID Movie Surpasses “The Chosen” as #1 Crowd Funded Media Project in History . 2024-04-01 . CCM Magazine . en-US.
  56. Web site: X . You ask, we answer. "Sound of Freedom" is on its way around the world. . 2023-07-26 . www.X.com . en.
  57. Web site: The Numbers . The Numbers, Where Data and the Movie Business Meet . 2023-07-24 . www.the-numbers.com . en.
  58. Web site: Washington Examiner . Sound of Freedom exceeds expectations with $40 million box-office opening . 2023-07-09 . www.washingtonexaminer.com . en.
  59. Web site: Deadline . Jim Caviezel Anti-Child-Trafficking Thriller 'Sound Of Freedom' Notches $10M Presales Before July 4th Opening – Box Office Update . 2023-07-03 . www.deadline.com . July 3, 2023 . en.
  60. Web site: Who takes the front row? These bizarre seating charts at 'Sound of Freedom' screenings lend credence to claims fake ticket sales are boosting numbers . Daily Dot. Katherine. Huggins. July 17, 2023 . July 24, 2023.
  61. News: Sound of Freedom passed the $100m mark. Who's really watching the movie? . The Guardian. Adam. Gabbatt . July 23, 2023 . July 24, 2023.
  62. Web site: 'Sound of Freedom' Fans Shrug Off Arrest of Donor for Child Kidnapping. August 4, 2023 . Rolling Stone.
  63. Web site: The controversial child trafficking drama that's become summer's unlikely hit . The Independent. Jacob. Stolworthy . July 12, 2023 . July 11, 2023.
  64. Web site: Long . Katherine . 'Sound of Freedom,' this summer's surprise blockbuster, is fronted by a QAnon supporter and financed by a man who defrauded Medicare . Insider . 18 July 2023.
  65. Web site: Shannon Bond . Christian thriller 'Sound of Freedom' faces criticism for stoking conspiracy theories . . National Public Radio . 23 July 2023.
  66. News: 'Sound of Freedom' is a box office hit whose star embraces QAnon. Herb. Scribner. Will. Sommer. July 7, 2023. The Washington Post. July 8, 2023. July 9, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230709164402/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2023/07/07/sound-of-freedom-qanon-theories-jim-caviezel/. live.
  67. Web site: Bramesco . Charles . Sound of Freedom: the QAnon-adjacent thriller seducing America . July 6, 2023 . . July 8, 2023 . July 8, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230708032128/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jul/06/sound-of-freedom-movie-qanon-jim-caviezel .