Angel Studios
An American independent entertainment company that develops, finances, distributes, and streams values-based film and television content through audience participation and community-driven programming. American video filtering service provider.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Angel Studios is an American independent entertainment company based in Provo, Utah. It operates as a film distributor and streaming-platform business, while also supporting the development and financing of selected films and television projects. The company is best known for combining audience participation, crowdfunding, membership revenue, theatrical distribution, and direct-to-consumer streaming rather than relying exclusively on conventional studio commissioning and licensing models. The business originated in 2013 as VidAngel, founded by brothers Neal, Daniel, Jeffrey, and Jordan Harmon and their cousin Benton Crane. VidAngel initially provided a service that allowed customers to filter selected elements from films and television programs, including profanity, nudity, sexual material, and graphic violence. The service became involved in copyright litigation with major Hollywood studios, eventually leading to an injunction, a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding, reorganization, and a settlement. After the filtering assets were separated and sold, the remaining content-focused business was renamed Angel Studios in March 2021. Following the reorganization, Angel shifted toward original and acquired entertainment supported by equity crowdfunding and audience communities. Early projects included Dry Bar Comedy, a series of clean stand-up performances, and The Chosen, a television series created by Dallas Jenkins about the life of Jesus and his disciples. Angel provided consulting, technology, marketing, public-relations, and distribution services connected with The Chosen’s crowdfunding and early distribution. The relationship later ended following arbitration, and Angel’s distribution rights were terminated in 2024; a settlement and mutual release followed in 2025. Angel’s programming is marketed as values-based entertainment. Its catalogue includes faith-oriented productions, family programming, children’s animation, historical and biblical stories, clean comedy, and projects aimed at audiences seeking particular cultural or religious values. The company is not formally described as a Christian company, although faith-based titles represent an important part of its public identity. Better-known associated productions include The Chosen, Tuttle Twins, The Wingfeather Saga, His Only Son, The King of Kings, and Sound of Freedom. The Angel Guild, launched as a paid membership program in 2023, is central to the company’s current model. Members review and vote on submitted projects. A sufficiently strong response can lead Angel to conduct further diligence and pursue licensing, financing, marketing, or distribution arrangements. Membership fees also support future programming, while members may receive early access and other benefits. Angel has described the Guild as a mechanism for giving audiences a direct role in deciding which projects receive support. Angel operates a streaming service under the Angel brand and distributes films through cinemas and international partners. Some programming may be available without charge, while much of the platform’s catalogue and member benefits require Guild membership. The company launched a theatrical distribution division in 2023, acquiring North American rights to films such as Sound of Freedom and releasing its own theatrical projects. In September 2025, Angel completed a business combination with Southport Acquisition Corporation. The transaction was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, and the combined company’s Class A shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under ANGX on September 11, 2025. Angel’s distinguishing position is the integration of community selection, audience financing, values-oriented programming, theatrical release, and direct digital distribution. Its role can vary by project: it may be a distributor, platform operator, producer, financing participant, marketing partner, or rights holder. Accordingly, titles appearing on Angel’s platform or promoted by the company are not necessarily wholly produced or owned by Angel Studios. Project-specific rights, financing arrangements, and production entities differ and should be evaluated separately. Angel’s distinctive positioning lies in combining community selection, audience financing, values-oriented programming, theatrical distribution, and direct digital distribution. Its role varies by project: it may be a distributor, platform operator, producer, financing participant, marketing partner, or rights holder. As a result, works appearing on the Angel platform or…
History
Angel Studios traces its corporate origins to VidAngel, a company founded in 2013 by Neal, Daniel, Jeffrey, and Jordan Harmon and their cousin Benton Crane. VidAngel launched its filtering service in 2014. Customers could identify and skip or mute selected material in films and television programs, including profanity, nudity, sexual content, and graphic violence. In June 2016, Disney Enterprises, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox, and Warner Bros. sued VidAngel. The studios alleged that VidAngel copied DVDs and Blu-ray discs and streamed filtered versions without authorization. VidAngel argued that its practices were protected by the Family Movie Act of 2005. In August 2017, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction, concluding that the studios were likely to prevail on their copyright claims. VidAngel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October 2017, completed reorganization in 2020, and reached a settlement with the studios that restricted unauthorized decryption, copying, streaming, and distribution. While the litigation was pending, VidAngel began developing a financing and production model based on audience participation. In October 2016, it launched a Regulation A securities offering for Class B nonvoting common stock. The company reported raising approximately $10.1 million from more than 7,500 investors. In December 2016, it announced VidAngel Studios, an original-content division. Its first project was Dry Bar Comedy, a series of clean stand-up performances filmed in Utah; the first special was recorded in January 2017. VidAngel also became involved with The Chosen, a television series created by Dallas Jenkins. Beginning in late 2017, VidAngel supplied consulting, technology, marketing, public-relations, and coordination services for the project’s equity-crowdfunding campaign and early distribution. The series raised more than $10 million for its first season and became a prominent example of crowdfunded television. The Chosen’s production company and rights structure remained distinct from VidAngel and Angel Studios. After the filtering assets were sold to a separate company, VidAngel’s remaining content business was renamed Angel Studios in March 2021. The new company concentrated on original and acquired content funded or supported through equity crowdfunding, audience commitments, community promotion, and direct distribution. Early projects included Tuttle Twins and The Wingfeather Saga. The latter reached a $5 million crowdfunding goal in 2021. Angel also developed a streaming platform, an audience-facing funding model, and a theatrical distribution operation. The company’s visibility increased through Sound of Freedom, a 2023 film for which Angel acquired North American distribution rights. Its audience-led marketing and theatrical-release strategy helped the film achieve substantial box-office attention, while its subject matter, political associations reported by some media outlets, and scrutiny surrounding Tim Ballard generated controversy. Angel subsequently expanded its film slate, releasing projects including His Only Son, The Shift, and The King of Kings. In 2023, Angel launched the paid Angel Guild. Guild members review and vote on proposed projects, and strong audience responses may lead to further diligence and licensing or distribution agreements. This structure made the audience community a formal part of the company’s project-selection process. Angel has continued combining theatrical releases with streaming and international distribution partnerships. The company’s corporate status changed in September 2025, when it completed a business combination with Southport Acquisition Corporation. Although Southport was the legal acquirer, the transaction was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization with Angel treated as the accounting acquirer. The combined company’s Class A shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under ANGX. Angel has also pursued rights and distribution transactions involving properties such as David, Tuttle Twins, and The Wingfeather Saga. Across its history, the company has occupied several roles—platform operator, distributor, producer, marketing partner, and financing participant—so ownership and production responsibility must be determined title by title.
- 2025
Angel becomes publicly traded
[1]Angel completed its combination with Southport Acquisition Corporation and began NYSE trading under ANGX.
- 2023
Angel Guild and theatrical division launch
[1]Angel launched its paid Guild membership program and expanded its theatrical distribution operations.
- 2021
The company becomes Angel Studios
[1]After divesting its filtering assets, the company adopted the Angel Studios name and focused on crowdfunded and audience-supported entertainment.
- 2020
Bankruptcy reorganization is completed
[1]VidAngel completed reorganization and settled its dispute with major studios.
- 2017
VidAngel enters Chapter 11 and launches original-content activity
[1]VidAngel filed for bankruptcy protection and announced VidAngel Studios, whose first project was Dry Bar Comedy.
- 2016
Major studios sue VidAngel
[1]Disney, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox, and Warner Bros. filed copyright claims against VidAngel.
- 2014
VidAngel filtering service launches
[1]VidAngel began offering a service that allowed viewers to filter selected content from films and television programs.
- 2013
VidAngel is founded
[1]Neal, Daniel, Jeffrey, and Jordan Harmon and Benton Crane founded the business that later became Angel Studios.
Products and positioning
A community-driven entertainment company focused on values-based, family, faith-oriented, and audience-supported film and television, with integrated streaming and theatrical distribution.
Television series · 2017
The Chosen
A multi-season historical faith-based series created by Dallas Jenkins about the life of Jesus and his disciples. Angel’s involvement centered on consulting, crowdfunding technology, marketing, public relations, and early distribution rather than sole production ownership. Angel’s distribution rights were later terminated through arbitration, and the parties settled their remaining claims in 2025.
Comedy specials · 2017
Dry Bar Comedy
A collection of clean stand-up comedy performances recorded before live audiences. It was the first original-content project launched by VidAngel Studios and became a substantial library distributed through Angel-related channels and social platforms.
Animated children’s series · 2021
Tuttle Twins
An animated educational series based on the Tuttle Twins children’s books. Siblings Ethan and Emily encounter stories introducing economics, civics, history, individual liberty, and personal responsibility. The series premiered on Angel in 2021 and reflects the company’s family-oriented and values-based programming strategy.
Animated fantasy series · 2022
The Wingfeather Saga
An animated adaptation of Andrew Peterson’s fantasy novels, produced by Shining Isle Productions and distributed through Angel. Its first season was supported through equity crowdfunding and reached a reported $5 million funding goal in 2021.
Feature film · 2023
His Only Son
A biblical drama produced by RockBridge Productions that retells the story of Abraham and Isaac. It was among the early films supported through Angel Guild voting and was distributed theatrically by Angel.
Feature film · 2023
Sound of Freedom
A drama directed by Alejandro Monteverde and starring Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino, and Bill Camp. Angel acquired North American distribution rights and released the film theatrically in the United States in July 2023, using a community-oriented promotion and ticketing strategy.
Feature film · 2023
The Shift
A science-fiction thriller and Angel’s first original theatrical feature release. It formed part of the company’s expansion from platform and distribution activity into a broader theatrical film slate.
Animated feature film · 2025
The King of Kings
An animated biblical feature film released theatrically by Angel in 2025. Its opening in the United States and Canada was described as Angel’s largest opening weekend at that time.
Animated musical feature film · 2025
David
An animated musical based on the biblical account of David. Angel and 2521 Entertainment acquired the associated film and television franchise in 2025 after a distribution dispute with Slingshot USA was resolved.
Feature film · 2026
Solo Mio
A romantic comedy starring Kevin James, released by Angel Studios in February 2026 as part of its continuing theatrical distribution slate.
Controversies
2023
Controversy surrounding Sound of Freedom
Sound of Freedom attracted scrutiny because of media coverage linking its star and some supporters with the QAnon conspiracy theory, as well as public examination of Tim Ballard, whose activities inspired the story. Director Alejandro Monteverde disputed characterizations of the film as a QAnon project.
2016
VidAngel copyright litigation
Major film studios sued VidAngel, alleging unauthorized copying and streaming of filtered versions of copyrighted films. Courts issued an injunction, and the dispute contributed to VidAngel’s Chapter 11 filing and later settlement.
Marketing campaigns
- 2023Sound of Freedom audience release campaign
United States · International
Angel used audience-led promotion, advance ticket purchasing, and community mobilization in connection with the theatrical release of Sound of Freedom. The film became Angel’s highest-profile release and generated substantial box-office attention as well as controversy.
Outcome. The film became Angel’s highest-profile release and generated substantial box-office attention as well as controversy.
- 2021The Wingfeather Saga crowdfunding campaign
United States
The creators used equity crowdfunding to finance the animated adaptation of Andrew Peterson’s fantasy novels. The project raised $1 million in its first 48 hours and reached a reported $5 million goal in June 2021.
Outcome. The project raised $1 million in its first 48 hours and reached a reported $5 million goal in June 2021.
- 2017The Chosen crowdfunding campaign
United States
VidAngel supplied technology, consulting, marketing, public-relations, and coordination services for The Chosen’s equity-crowdfunding campaign. The campaign raised more than $10 million for the first season and helped create a large direct-to-audience support network.
Outcome. The campaign raised more than $10 million for the first season and helped create a large direct-to-audience support network.
- 2016VidAngel Regulation A offering
United States
VidAngel offered Class B nonvoting common stock while its copyright litigation was pending. The company reported that the offering raised approximately $10.1 million from more than 7,500 investors. The funds supported legal expenses, research and development, advertising, promotion, and working capital; the model established an early precedent for audience-linked financing.
Outcome. The funds supported legal expenses, research and development, advertising, promotion, and working capital; the model established an early precedent for audience-linked financing.
Brand decisions
2025
Business combination with Southport Acquisition CorporationM&ABackground
Angel pursued a transaction that would provide access to public equity markets.
Action taken
Angel combined with Southport; the transaction was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization and Angel was treated as the accounting acquirer.
Aftermath
Class A shares of the combined company began trading on the NYSE under ANGX on September 11, 2025.
2023
Launch of the Angel GuildStrategyBackground
Angel sought a formal mechanism for audiences to influence which projects received further company attention and support.
Action taken
The company introduced paid memberships whose participants review and vote on submitted film and television projects.
Aftermath
Guild voting became a central element of Angel’s project-selection, membership, and financing model.
2023
Expansion into theatrical distributionProduct launchBackground
Angel had primarily been associated with streaming, audience financing, and television distribution before expanding its film operations.
Action taken
The company launched a theatrical distribution division and acquired rights to films including Sound of Freedom.
Aftermath
Theatrical releases became a major visibility and revenue channel for the company.
2021
Shift from filtering service to audience-supported entertainmentStrategyBackground
After litigation, bankruptcy reorganization, and separation of the filtering assets, the company redirected its business toward original content, crowdfunding, streaming, and distribution.
Action taken
VidAngel’s content business was renamed Angel Studios and developed a community-centered entertainment model.
Aftermath
Angel expanded into film financing, television distribution, theatrical releases, and audience membership.
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