‘Black Panther’ has dominated at the box office from the moment it was released. Marvel’s newest super hero flick has passed the $1 Billion mark world-wide less than a month after hitting theaters.
The studio said Saturday that the milestone is based on Disney’s estimate of ticket sales. The announcement comes on the 26th day of release for the blockbuster. Signs of the film’s success were good from the start – Black Panther more than doubled the amount it was predicted to take in the US and Canada over its opening weekend.
It is the fifth Marvel film to hit $1 Billion world-wide joining “The Avengers,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Iron Man 3,” and “Captain America: Civil War” and it is also the 16th Disney film to do it as well.
“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.
‘Black Panther’ follows T’Challa who, after the events of “Captain America: Civil War,” returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to take his place as King. However, when an old enemy reappears on the radar, T’Challa’s mettle as King and Black Panther is tested when he is drawn into a conflict that puts the entire fate of Wakanda and the world at risk.
The film is directed by Ryan Coogler and stars Chadwick Boseman as the titular hero, and Michael B. Jordan as lead villain.