A South African animated film has broken new ground in North America, signaling a rare theatrical breakthrough for African cinema. The film David, which premiered on December 19, 2025, opened on more than 3,000 screens across the US and Canada and grossed over $75 million in its first four weeks. This success marks the largest North American opening for a South African production since 2009. Directed by Cape Town–based filmmakers Phil Cunningham and Brent Dawes, the film showcased South Africa’s growing strength as an animation hub, with production led by Sunrise Productions and contributions from artists in 32 countries. Despite fierce competition from major studio releases, David debuted at number two at the US box office. Its unprecedented performance provides a powerful new blueprint for African creative content to reach and resonate with international theatrical audiences.
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