Angel Premieres New Film in Nashville

For all the talk about Netflix dominance and declining movie attendance this fall, the scene at AMC Thoroughbred 20 in Franklin last Sunday seemed like a return to the halcyon days of 90s holiday moviegoing.

As invitees amassed in the lobby for the Nashville premiere of Angel Studios new animated musical David, the theater resembled a Christmas theme park. Families decorated holiday cookies featuring characters from the movie and frequented the hot cocoa and coffee bar before taking a break for balloon animals.

In place of red carpet hijinks, the studio partnered with nonprofit initiative Give A Little Christmas for a toy drive. Music industry locals who worked on the film’s soundtrack mingled with Christian artists and local church leaders.

While movie premieres often reek of social climbing and pomposity, the attendees awaiting this early screening of David just seemed excited to be taking it all in. But, as Utah-based Angel has proven over the last three years, it's dedicated to approaching the movie business with a populist sheen–one that has much in common with Nashville’s own creative ethos.