Black Panther

Weekend Box Office: Fat Cat

The cat is out of the bag. February has a new highest-grossing domestic debut.

The $132.4 million record previously held by ‘Deadpool’ is null and void thanks to Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Panther‘. The character was introduced in ‘Captain America: Civil War’, but this is his first solo outing and standalone feature. Grossing $201.7 million over the three-day weekend, the film became only the fifth movie to open north of $200 million. Over the four-day weekend, it collected $235 million. With $169 million from 48 international markets, ‘Black Panther’ has a four-day worldwide opening of $404 million.

Peter Rabbit‘ took a very light 30% drop over its second week and retained its second place standing. The kids’ movie hopped right along with $17.6 million over the three-day weekend and $23.1 million over the four-day holiday. The $50 million film hasn’t come out of its hole overseas, but its ten-day domestic earnings are up to $54 million.

The domestic performance of the third and final ‘Fifty Shades’ entry isn’t so hot and steamy. Falling 55% in attendance, ‘Fifty Shades Freed‘ slipped from first place to third with $17.3 million over the three-day weekend. The four-day $19.4 million gives the racy $55 million drama a $76.5 million domestic total. At this point, the first ‘Fifty Shades’ had $129.1 in the bank and the second one had $88.9 million. Overseas, though, ‘Freed’ is earning Universal heaps of dirty money. With $190.8 million at the foreign box office, its worldwide total is up to $269.4 million.

After nine weeks, ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle‘ is still unstoppable. Holding tight at #4, it dropped a light 21% with $7.9 million over the three-day weekend and $10 million over the four-day holiday. With $379.6 million at the domestic box office, it’s not impossible for the sequel to bow with $400 million. With $527 million at the foreign box office, the $90 million action-comedy is up to $906.6 million worldwide, more than ten times its budget.

In its second week, ‘The 15:17 to Paris‘ rounded out the Top 5 by falling a light 39%. It earned $7.6 million over the three-day weekend and $9.1 million over the four days. After 11 days, the true story drama has made $26.8 million domestically and $10.7 million overseas, giving it a worldwide $37.5 million.

While ‘Black Panther’ performed exceptionally well, the week’s other two new wide releases flopped terribly. Aardman Animations’ ‘Early Man‘ could only muster a #7 opening with a $3.1 million three-day weekend and a $4.2 million four-day total. Purely British content like this isn’t exactly the cup of tea that North American moviegoers drink up, so the movie’s pending international performance is likely to be stronger.

Pureflix’s new biblical drama ‘Samson‘ didn’t have the strength of its title character. With a $1.9 million three-day total and a $2.2 million four-day total, it couldn’t even crack the weekend’s Top 10. On both charts, it landed at #11.

Top 10 (Three-Day):

1. ‘Black Panther’ (Buena Vista) – $201,797,000

2. ‘Peter Rabbit’ (Sony) – $17,600,000

3. ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ (Universal) – $17,320,000

4. ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ (Sony) – $7,925,000

5. ‘The 15:17 to Paris’ (Warner Bros.) – $7,620,000

6. ‘The Greatest Showman’ (Fox) – $5,070,000

7. ‘Early Man’ (Lionsgate) – $3,183,000

8. ‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure’ (Fox) – $2,605,000

9. ‘Winchester’ (Lionsgate) – $2,195,000

10. ‘The Post’ (Fox) – $2,000,000

Top 10 (Four-Day):

1. ‘Black Panther’ (Buena Vista) – $235,000,000

2. ‘Peter Rabbit’ (Sony) – $23,100,000

3. ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ (Universal) – $19,435,000

4. ‘Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle’ (Sony) – $10,000,000

5. ‘The 15:17 to Paris’ (Warner Bros.) – $9,140,000

6. ‘The Greatest Showman’ (Fox) – $6,250,000

7. ‘Early Man’ (Lionsgate) – $4,200,000

8. ‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure’ (Fox) – $3,165,000

9. ‘Winchester’ (Lionsgate) – $2,615,000

10. ‘The Post’ (Fox) – $2,460,000

4 comments

  1. I was one of those who saw ‘Black Panther’ opening weekend. I’m glad I did, I think it was a better story than Ragnarok.

    I don’t think I would have gone to theaters to see it if not for my intention to see ‘Infinity War’ in theaters, expecting that ‘Black Panther’ won’t it home release before ‘Infinity War’s opening weekend.

  2. theHDphantom

    “The $132.4 million record previously held by ‘Deadpool’ is null and void….”

    By a numbers standpoint, yes, this is true. BUT, you have to remember that Deadpool was rated R so the target audience would be a little smaller.

    • On one hand I’d think this wouldn’t make much difference…but…there were many Facebook posts on my feed this weekend of friends taking their whole family to Black Panther.

      • William Henley

        I agree, Black Panther seemed to hit well with families, especially during the matinees. Both still have impressive numbers – Black Panther’s numbers for a February release blows everything else away, and shows that a blockbuster can do well at pretty much any time during the year, but Deadpool’s numbers for an R rated movie shouldn’t be overlooked.

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