Black Panther Sequel Posts Big Opening

'Wakanda Forever' records strong first day
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 13, 2022 12:15 PM CST
Black Panther Sequel Posts Big Opening
This image released by Marvel Studios shows Danai Gurira, left, and Letitia Wright as Shuri in a scene from "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."   (Marvel Studios via AP)

The box office roared back to life over the weekend with the long-awaited release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The Marvel sequel earned $180 million in ticket sales from more than 4,396 theaters in the US and Canada, according to estimates from the Walt Disney Co. on Sunday, making it the second-biggest opening of the year behind Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Overseas, it brought in an additional $150 million from 50 territories, putting its worldwide total at $330 million, the AP reports. Wakanda Forever was eagerly anticipated by both audiences and exhibitors, who have weathered a slow spell since the summer movie season ended. The film got off to a mighty start, a bit stronger than even the first film, with an $84 million opening day, including $28 million from Thursday previews.

All told, the film, directed by Ryan Coogler, cost a reported $250 million to make, not accounting for marketing and promotion. AP Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote in his review that, "Wakanda Forever is overlong, a little unwieldy and somewhat mystifyingly steers toward a climax on a barge in the middle of the Atlantic. But Coogler's fluid command of mixing intimacy with spectacle remains gripping." It currently holds an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and, as is often the case with comic book films, the audience scores are even higher. Superhero films have fared well during the pandemic, but none yet has reached the heights of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which opened to $260.1 million in December 2021.

Below are estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at US and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

  1. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, $180 million.
  2. Black Adam, $8.6 million.
  3. Ticket to Paradise, $6.1 million.
  4. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, $3.2 million.
  5. Smile, $2.3 million.
  6. Prey for the Devil, $2 million.
  7. The Banshees of Inisherin, $1.7 million.
  8. One Piece Film Red, $1.4 million.
  9. Till, $618,000.
  10. Yashoda, $380,000.
(More box office stories.)

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