Given its record-breaking pre-sales, and the fact that tracking from box office analysts was increasing by the day for the past few weeks, there was a lot of expectation that Marvel’s latest superhero blockbuster Black Panther would open big. However, I don’t think anyone really expected it to open quite so big…
On Sunday, it was revealed that the Chadwick Boseman-headlined solo movie had set a pre-summer record three-day weekend of $201.7 million in North America (blitzing the previous record of $132.4 million set by Deadpool in 2016).
However, the Presidents Day Monday numbers are now in, and Black Panther has surpassed December’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi to claim the second-biggest four-day weekend in history, its $242 million beaten only by Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ $288 million (The Force Awakens actually grossed $248 million in its first three days). Throw into that the biggest Monday gross ever of $40.2 million, edging out The Force Awakens’ previous record of $40.1 million.
As already pointed out by Samuel Brace, Black Panther has grossed more in North American in just four days than Warner Bros.’ Justice League managed during its entire run (all 91 days).
SEE ALSO: Kevin Feige says Black Panther is the best movie Marvel has ever made
Globally, Black Panther has amassed $426.6 million by close of play on Monday, meaning it should hit the $500 million mark at some point on Wednesday.
After the events of Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa returnsohome to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje, Wakandan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.
Black Panther sees Ryan Coogler (Creed) directing Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa alongside Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Winston Duke as M’Baku, Forest Whitaker as Zuri, Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi, Angela Bassett as Ramonda, Florence Kasumba as Ayo, Martin Freeman as Everett Ross, Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Sterling K. Brown as N’Jobu, John Kani as King T’Chaka and Nabiyah Be as Linda.
Originally published February 20, 2018. Updated February 21, 2018.
