Angel Studios' historical film "Young Washington" opened at the US box office with $19.3 million, below the studio's initial $20.8 million projection but above industry expectations. Directed by Jon Erwin and starring William Franklyn-Miller as George Washington, the film follows Washington's early life. Its July 3, 2026, US theatrical release came just ahead of the July 4 holiday, during the country's 250th anniversary year. The opening was Angel Studios' second-best three-day debut, behind "Sound of Freedom" and "David".
Ticket sales slowed on Sunday, reaching $4.1 million instead of the anticipated $5.6 million, but "Young Washington" still beat the $15 million forecast from industry analysts. The film's strongest results came from the Mountain, Midwest, Southcentral, and South regions of the United States, which together accounted for 67% of weekend revenue. It drew those results without premium large-format screens, with screenings concentrated in standard cinemas.
Megaplex 18 Thanksgiving Point in Utah was the top-grossing venue, collecting $111,000 to date. On July 4, "Young Washington" ranked second at the domestic box office, earning $7.6 million behind "Minions & Monsters". Viewers over 55 made up 47% of attendees. Audience feedback was positive: the film earned an A grade from CinemaScore and an 81% definite-recommend rate on Screen Engine/Rentrak's PostTrak.
Erwin, who also co-wrote and produced the film, announced a sequel titled "1776" that will focus on the Revolutionary War period. Brandon Purdie, Angel Studios' executive vice president of theatrical distribution, acknowledged the film's reception during the United States' 250th anniversary celebrations and credited production partners Wonder Project and 2521 Entertainment.
"Young Washington" follows Angel Studios' previous release "Sound of Freedom", which opened to $19.6 million over three days and reached $184.1 million in total US box office revenue. Angel Studios has described audience participation as part of its project-selection model. Media Play News reported that “Titles like Young Washington and Runner cleared the voting process before ever reaching theaters.” The film's July 2026 release aligned Washington's early-life story with the anniversary year, while the announced sequel turns to the Revolutionary War period.
Angel Studios has built a theatrical slate around stories aimed at audiences seeking values-based content. The turnout among older viewers and the film's regional performance show how audience demographics and local market results shaped its opening weekend. As the US marks 250 years since independence, the film's historical subject and planned sequel place the studio's releases within a broader anniversary-year focus on the nation's founding era.
