Marvel kicked off the 2018 superhero season this weekend with the release of Black Panther, and the film has shattered records on its way to a whopping $192 million three-day domestic weekend, and $387 million worldwide.
In the US, Black Panther has shattered the previous three-day record February record of $132.4 million set by Deadpool in 2016, as well as its four-day record of $152.1 million. Not only that but it has also surpassed Beauty and the Beast’s three and four-day openings ($174.7 million and $188.2 million) for the biggest pre-summer opening ever.
Estimates for Black Panther’s four-day weekend put it at between $218 and $222 million, which would put it ahead of Avengers: Age of Ultron for the fifth biggest opening of all time behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Jurassic World and The Avengers. Should it manage to go a little further, it could potentially top The Avengers’ $226.3 million, to give Marvel its best ever domestic opening.
Internationally, Black Panther has added a further $169 million, for a worldwide debut of $387 million (which doesn’t include China, Japan or Russia).
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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 Nightshade.
