Update as of 3/16/18 PM EST -
Disney-Marvel’s “Black Panther” has just busted past projected sales AGAIN, by surpassing the $1 billion mark at the global box office in just 26 days.
The makes Black Panther only the 33rd movie to gross $1 billion. It’s the 16th Disney film to reach this milestone, and the fifth Marvel film to do so — joining the ranks of “The Avengers,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Iron Man 3,” and “Captain America: Civil War.”
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It has also been awarded the 7th highest grossing film of all time.
As well as the most tweeted about movie, ever. That's ever, ever (in my Andre' 3000 Outkast voice).
“Black Panther” has grossed $521 million domestically, making it the ninth-highest release of all time. In its fourth weekend, “Black Panther” is heading for a $40 million-plus weekend, which would make it the No. 2 superhero release of all time over “The Dark Knight’s” $535 million.
It's initial weekend ended with an whopping $218 million debut over the four-day President’s Day weekend at 4,020 North American locations, estimates showed Sunday.
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That number actually doubled its original tracking in less than a month. The film was projected to bring in between $100 and $120 million when first estimates emerged on Jan. 25. Since then, “Black Panther” has become a must-see movie for many moviegoers, underlined when Thursday previews brought in $25.2 million, the largest Thursday night preview gross for a February opener and the second-largest preview gross for a Marvel film.
The film’s estimated three-day gross of $192 million is the highest debut ever for a February film and the fifth highest of all time. Combined with an estimated international debut of $169 million from 69% of the international market, the estimated global debut stands at $361 million through Sunday.
“Black Panther” also kicked the record for the largest Presidents Day weekend, blowing past “Deadpool’s” 2016 mark of $152 million.
=================Original article Below================
Writer and director Ryan Coogler’s vision for the 1960s comic book hero Black Panther has come to life officially landing in theaters today. The movie, starring Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o and Michael B. Jordan, has turned into a cultural event. It has literally lit up social media with videos, fashion-inspired watch parties, GoFundMe accounts just to get kids to go see the movie--it's huge.
"...A predominantly black-cast movie is getting this kind of traction finally shows what we all intuitively know: Make great art and people will respond,” said the actor and musician Common. The hashtag #representationMatters has been aslo trending side by side with posts about the movie on social media.
Marvel Studios is one of the most successful brands in Hollywood. The Disney subsidiary has broken box office records, brought in more than $13.5 billion worldwide, and had each of its 17 films opened at No. 1. Yet, not many of its films have enjoyed the same level of buzz generated by "Black Panther.
The movie is projected by tracking services to gross $175 million at the domestic box office over the four-day holiday weekend and even has a chance to top $166 million for the Friday-Sunday period — which would put it in the top 10 openings of all time. Over coming weeks, the action-adventure is expected to sail past $350 million domestically and could well surpass $400 million. Marvel gave Coogler a budget of $200 million, nearly unheard of for a black director.
The movie has already surpassed Fandango pre-sell records for ANY Marvel movie. It was previously held by "Captain America: Civil War" but the story of Wakanda pushed passed it.
"Black Panther" could easily become the biggest February opening in history, toppling "Deadpool," the R-rated superhero film from 20th Century Fox that brought in $132 million when it opened in 2016.("Deadpool" also holds the four day President's Day opening record at $152 million).
"Black Panther's" three day projections would also put it in the top openings for a Marvel Studios film and in the top ten opening for the superhero genre overall.
It has already become the biggest seller of advance tickets of any other Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Imax Entertainment CEO Greg Foster doesn't see that momentum stopping before the film hits theaters.
These staggering numbers are a reflection of the film's popularity and the buzz that started months before "Black Panther" even premiered. Earlier this week, Twitter announced that "Black Panther" is the most tweeted movie of the year, amassing more than 5 million tweets ahead of its February 15 opening day.
The impressions of the film are also immensely positive. Black Panther currently holds a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, and...
...that's not to mention all of the money charities and celebrities have raised to send children from low-income neighborhoods to go see it in the theaters.
Black Panther currently holds a 4.18 out of 5 on ComicBook.com's Anticipation Rankings, holding the #2 spot.
“Black Panther” is also a draw overseas, where it has grossed $47 million since it began rolling out on Tuesday. It is now showing in several major markets — a group that includes the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Taiwan, France, and Australia. On Friday, “Black Panther” opens in Spain, Mexico, Finland, India, and South Africa.
