In its opening weekend,Size Does Not Matter (2025) Hindi Web Series Black Pantherbroke records. But in its second weekend, Marvel's latest showed us it's here to stay.
Black Panther's estimated three-day box office total in the United States for Friday-Saturday-Sunday comes out to $108 million. After 10 days in theaters, its domestic box office total (i.e. only here in the U.S.) is $400 million.
SEE ALSO: 5 reasons why ‘Black Panther’ scored big with fans and criticsThat climb ranks alongside Jurassic World as the second-fastest box office ascent in Hollywood history. Both of them fall behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which got to $400 million even faster. Among Marvel Cinematic Universe releases, however, Black Pantheris #1. The Avengersneeded 14 days to log the same achievement.
$108 million also makes Black Pantherthe fourth movie in history to earn more than $100 million in its second weekend, which is also Hollywood's second-highest to date. No big deal.
Behind all the stats there lies an immutable fact: Black Pantheris the MCU's best kickoff to date. Even after future releases come along to knock it from its perch -- something that could happen as soon as May 4, when The Avengers: Infinity Wararrives -- it holds a unique place in the Marvel movies pantheon.
Just look at its record-setting contemporaries. The Force Awakensand Jurassic Worldboth revived beloved Hollywood brands with audience-thrilling stories. The Avengersdelivered similar thrills in bringing a superhero team of household names together on the big screen for the first time.
Black Pantherhas done the same, but without the mainstream cachet of iconic Hollywood stories or world-renowned characters to propel its success. To many non-comics readers, King T'Challa of Wakanda is a lesser-known figure at best. Black Panther's record-setting success comes about as organically as is possible for a Hollywood blockbuster in this day and age.
Yes, Captain America: Civil Warintroduced the character to the moviegoing world in grand fashion. And Black Panther's comic book reinvention in the late '90s -- not to mention the stories that followed -- did much to establish the character as a critical figure within the Marvel Comics universe.
But Black Panther, the movie, is a juggernaut the likes of which Marvel hasn't seen before. And it's that way exactly because it isn't the sort of thing that can be repackaged and mass-produced.
Director Ryan Coogler made the movie with seemingly few creative constraints. His recreation of Wakanda's Afrofuturistic metropolis is thoughtful and unburdened by ties to the wider MCU. His top-tier performers are all perfectly cast, to the point that supporting players often overshadow leading man Chadwick Boseman.
Most of all, Coogler's script -- co-written with Joe Robert Cole and delivering layers of subtext, character development, and world-building that have no equal in the MCU -- raises the bar for the entire brand. As crucial as their story is for the wider series, this is a script that has something to say.
Black Pantherstill has many more box office hurdles ahead on the road to blockbuster success. But its record-breaking second weekend sets the pace. We should all hope Marvel is paying attention. More like this, please.
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Topics Film Marvel