It may lose out on top spot at the North American box office this weekend to A Wrinkle in Time, but Disney and Marvel are celebrating a box office milestone for Black Panther today with the film crossing the $1 billion mark worldwide.
Domestically, Black Panther has grossed $530 million and will surpass The Dark Knight’s $535 million haul this weekend to become the second-highest grossing superhero movie in the States behind The Avengers ($623.4 million). It is also looking at a $60 million plus opening weekend in China, which will push its international haul beyond $500 million.
Black Panther is the fifth Marvel movie to reach the $1 billion mark after The Avengers, Iron Man 3, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War.
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After the events of Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa returnsohome to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje, Wakandan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.
Black Panther sees Ryan Coogler (Creed) directing Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa alongside Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Winston Duke as M’Baku, Forest Whitaker as Zuri, Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi, Angela Bassett as Ramonda, Florence Kasumba as Ayo, Martin Freeman as Everett Ross, Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Sterling K. Brown as N’Jobu, John Kani as King T’Chaka and Nabiyah Be as Linda.