YOUNG WASHINGTON Sequel 1776 Already in the Works After Angel Studios Scores Record $20.8M Live-Action Opening

Angel Studios has another major hit on its hands, and it isn't wasting any time building on that momentum. Following the impressive theatrical debut of Young Washington, director, producer, and co-writer Jon Erwin has confirmed that a sequel titled 1776 is already in development.

The historical drama delivered a huge $20.8 million opening weekend, blowing past its projected $15 million debut and setting a new live-action opening weekend record for Angel Studios.

Among all of the studio's releases, it now ranks as its second biggest domestic opening ever, sitting just behind last December's animated film David, which launched with $22 million.

That performance also tops the studio's previous live-action high set by Sound of Freedom, which opened to $19.6 million over three days in 2023 before eventually becoming one of the biggest surprise box office success stories in recent memory with $184.1 million domestically.

Erwin took to social media after the film's strong opening to reveal that audiences can expect George Washington's story to continue with 1776, signaling that this could become the beginning of a larger historical franchise.

Released during America's 250th anniversary celebration, Young Washington found its biggest audiences throughout the Mountain, Midwest, South Central, and Southern regions, which accounted for 67% of the movie's opening weekend business. Interestingly, the film accomplished all of that without the help of premium large format screens.

Even more surprising, the highest-grossing theater wasn't located in Los Angeles or New York. That honor went to Utah's Megaplex 18 Thanksgiving Point, which brought in $111,000 through the holiday weekend.

On Independence Day itself, Young Washington claimed the No. 2 spot at the domestic box office with $7.6 million, finishing just behind Minions & Monsters, which earned $9.4 million.

The audience turnout also featured a demographic that's been slower to return to theaters in recent years. Moviegoers over the age of 55 made up an impressive 47% of ticket buyers.

The film also earned an A CinemaScore along with an excellent 81% "definite recommend" score from Screen Engine/PostTrak, suggesting strong word-of-mouth could keep it performing well in the weeks ahead.

The film stars William Franklyn-Miller as the future first president of the United States alongside an impressive supporting cast that includes Ben Kingsley, Andy Serkis, Mary-Louise Parker, and Kelsey Grammer.

One unexpected celebrity endorsement came from Chris Pratt, who encouraged his followers to head to theaters after attending a screening.

He wrote: "Get off your ass and run to the movie theater, I’ve just seen Young Washington…it’s like The Revenant, it’s like Pride and Prejudice, it’s like Braveheart…"

Angel Studios executive vice president of theatrical Brandon Purdie celebrated the milestone in an official statement, saying:

“Seeing audiences across the country embrace Young Washington during our nation’s 250th anniversary celebration has been incredibly meaningful.

“This milestone is a testament to the power of great storytelling and to our outstanding partners at Wonder Project and 2521 Entertainment, who helped bring this remarkable film to life.

“We’re grateful to exhibitors nationwide, to every Angel Guild member, and to every moviegoer who chose to experience Young Washington together in theaters this holiday weekend.”

Erwin also reflected on what the film means to him and why he believes Washington's story continues to resonate.

“The American experiment is one of the greatest origin stories in history, and George Washington’s journey through failure, perseverance, and sacrifice forged the leader who would help shape a nation.

“To share that journey with audiences alongside Angel as our nation marks its 250th anniversary has been one of the greatest honors of my career. My hope is that this is the beginning of many extraordinary American stories told through film and television.”

The success of Young Washington also continues a tradition of Revolutionary War era stories finding an audience over the July 4th holiday. Back in 2000, Roland Emmerich's The Patriot, starring Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger, opened to $22.4 million over three days and reached $44.5 million during its first seven days before finishing its North American run with $113.3 million.

Whether Young Washington can match the long-term staying power of Sound of Freedom or The Patriot remains to be seen, but audiences are showing up for historical epics when they're given a compelling story, and Angel Studios is ready to continue that journey with 1776.