We knew the much-anticipated sequel to Black Panther would do well, but the opening weekend for Wakanda Forever proves this franchise is a global force.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever brought in significant numbers, shaking up a sleeping box office that desperately needed a hit. Domestically, the film opened to $180 million, making it the biggest November opening of all time. The previous record-holder was The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which opened with $158 million. It does not have the honor of the biggest opening weekend of 2022 though, which went to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness at $187.4 million.
The overseas numbers looked to reach around $150 million, bringing the worldwide total to $330 million in just one weekend. For comparison, that’s more than Black Adam made in its first three weeks. The Doctor Strange sequel also bested its 2022 worldwide first weekend, as that brought in $450 million from its worldwide opening back in May.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever also didn’t match the massive opening weekend of the first film but performed over projections, which had the film opening in the $175 million range. It also performed well with CinemaScore, coming in with an A from the audience poll.
Speaking of audiences, the turnout for Wakanda Forever was incredibly diverse. Black moviegoers led the turnout with 34 percent, Caucasians at 31 percent, Latinos at 21 percent, and Asian/Other at 14 percent, according to PostTrak. Those types of numbers are what studios dream about these days, being able to hit so many different markets and finding love from everyone who sees it. The film currently has a 95% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
SEE ALSO: Black Panther producer teases multiple Wakanda series
With the positive word-of-mouth and can’t-miss Marvel moments, look for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to have some legs going forward. Let’s see if the sequel can do something Doctor Strange 2 didn’t do and make it to a billion dollars.
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In Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke),Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba), fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.\
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever reunites Ryan Coogler with his Black Panther stars Danai Gurira (Okoye), Letitia Wright (Shuri), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), Florence Kasumba (Ayo), Angela Bassett (Ramonda) and Martin Freeman (Everett Ross), while new additions include Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams/Ironheart, Tenoch Huerta as Namor, Michaela Coel as Aneka, Mabel Cadena as Namora and Alex Livanalli as Attuma.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is currently playing in cinemas.
