Black Panther is the first superhero movie to be nominated for the "Best Picture" Oscar and while Roma is the current favourite to walk away with the top prize, T'Challa is clearly #1 in the hearts and minds of regular moviegoers.
USA Today recently got Fandango to conduct a poll, and the Marvel Studios movie was the landslide winner with 24% of the vote based on a survey conducted with over 3000 frequent theater visitors. It beat the likes of A Star Is Born and Bohemian Rhapsody, and it's clear that the Wakandan Warrior's first solo adventure has struck a chord with people.
"It reminded them that entertainment could also be meaningful and change lives and change the world," Fandango Managing Editor Erik Davis said when asked about Black Panther's popularity.
The Academy is obviously a very different beast to the general movie watching public, but it's hard not to get excited about the prospect of the Ryan Coogler-helmed release walking away with the big one. Whether or not it will happen remains to be seen, but this is a big win for the genre either way.
Are you rooting for Black Panther? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below.