We always knew that the latest installment in the Marvel Megaverse, the anticipated Black Panther sequel Wakanda Forever, would do well. But after a lackluster Fall Box Office, debates about how well have been strong. As our entertainment attorney on the ground, Brandon Blake of Blake & Wang P.A. predicted, however, it has shot to a jaw-dropping opening weekend.
$330M and Counting
Domestically, Wakanda Forever netted a strong $180M from Thursday to Sunday. This is also the highest total ever for a film with a November opening, displacing 2013’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which made $158.1M. A further $150M from the international market saw it rank as the top-grossing Hollywood release everywhere it opened. Its domestic total also takes it to the No. 13 movie debut of all time.
A Healthy Box Office
The original Black Panther ended with a $1.3B Box Office gross over its run, and also holds the dubious glory of being the only movie from the ‘superhero’ genre to get an Oscars’ Best Picture nomination. With the untimely death of star Chadwick Boseman, Wakanda Forever has also faced a major rework, opting to focus on the sister of his character (T’Challa) and other female-focused cast instead of recasting his iconic role.
To date, the film has had substantial critical praise, managing to walk the line between tribute and compelling plot fairly well. It also seems to be doing well with audiences, with most screenings opening to a packed crowd.
While there’s been a noted upturn in the Box Office this year, a slump due to lack of content in the last three months was near unavoidable. With this powerful start from a fan-favorite genre, and some other strong openings for eagerly anticipated year-end fare, hopefully we will see this downward trend reversed to end the year on a high note.
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