According to data released on Sunday by trade group Exhibitor Relations, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” the follow-up to the Afro-futuristic Marvel movie that tanked in 2018, mostly dominated the North American box office in its debut weekend in theatres.
According to Box-Office Mojo, the Marvel movie earned an estimated $180 million between Friday and Sunday in the United States and Canada, making it the 13th highest-grossing movie ever. The movie made an additional $150 million abroad.
“It’s a sensational release,” said David Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research, “especially for a mid-November release.
“Wakanda Forever” was widely anticipated by audiences and exhibitors, who have been in a box office downturn since the end of the summer season and the decline in the number of high-budget blockbusters.
The movie opened to a healthy $84 million, including $28 million from Thursday previews, somewhat more than the original movie’s opening day total.
“Some people may have been hoping for $200 million like the first film, but it’s solid,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore. “This is the type of movie that theaters really need to attract audiences.”
“Wakanda Forever” pays a heartfelt tribute to Chadwick Boseman, the star of the original “Black Panther,” who died in 2020 of colon cancer at age 43.
