Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is proving to be the box office drought buster that movie theaters hoped for, earning an excellent $84 million opening day from 4,396 theaters — including $28 million in previews — and is in line to at least meet independent projections of a $175 million domestic opening weekend.
While that’s short of the most optimistic pre-release predictions heard from some rival distributors and analysts who believed the long-anticipated sequel could top the $202 million opening of its predecessor, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”It is currently aiming for the second highest opening weekend in 2022. The film may be closer to the $187.4million opening depending on how strong the walk-up traffic is on Saturday and Sunday. “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”In May, we will be back.
It is a great sign “Wakanda Forever”The film has broken the recent trend for lower audience acceptance for MCU films. In the last year, “Eternals,” “Multiverse of Madness”And “Thor: Love and Thunder”None of the polls received at least an A from CinemaScore, but “Wakanda Forever” has earned an A from opening night audiences along with an 83% overall positive rating on Comscore/Screen Engine’s PostTrak. Rotten TomatoesPositive numbers are also being seen at 84% critics, and 95% audience.
As expected, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”This weekend, 85% of domestic revenue was generated by the Internet. Totals surpassed $200 million for only the second time since the opening weekend. “Thor: Love and Thunder”In early July
All other films have posted weekend totals of under $10 million, led by Warner Bros.’ “Black Adam”An estimated fourth weekend total of $8 Million brought its domestic total up to $150 million. While “Black Adam”Join now “The Batman”And “Elvis” as the third Warner release to reach that $150 million mark, the film’s hopeful $67 million domestic opening has curdled into weaker-than-hoped holdover totals as chances for a Chinese release have dwindled.
With “Wakanda Forever”In theaters now “Black Adam”It will be difficult to raise $400 million globally, which is disappointing for a Dwayne John blockbuster with an estimated $195 million budget.
“Black Adam” is only doing slightly better than Universal’s “Ticket to Paradise,”It is currently in its fourth weekend, and is on pace for a $6million frame and a total of $56 million domestically. The budget is $60 million “Ticket to Paradise”The film is doing better than expected considering its weight and will reach $150 million globally. The George Clooney/Julia Roberts romantic comedy dropped only 26% from its last weekend, indicating that it is still a viable alternative to superhero movies for older audiences.
Universal is also opening Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans”This weekend, the film will be released in New York and Los Angeles as a platform release ahead of its wide release on Thanksgiving weekend. The semi-autobiographical drama based on Spielberg’s own childhood and teenage upbringing is an early Best Picture Oscar contender after winning the TIFF Audience Award in September and is being seen as a crucial trial balloon for mature fare at the box office. The film’s opening in four theaters will be covered by a reporter on Sunday.