When early tracking debuted for Marvel's
Black Panther in January, analysts had the Ryan Coogler-directed pic opening for a $100 million dollar opening weekend.
A few days later, Fandango revealed that ticket sales for Marvel's preeminent black superhero were outpacing advance ticket sales for
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - a film that set numerous opening weekend box office record before a sharp dropoff in subsequent weeks.
Now, analysts have revised that early $100 million dollars domestic opening prediction, increasing it to $150 million. The film could be on pace to eclipse the February opening weekend record of $152 million, held by Ryan Reynold's
Deadpool.
Black Panther opens in North America and India on February 16. It opens in China on March 9.
Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.