Black Panther: Wakanda Forever sequel rakes in $330 million at global theaters in its debut weekend

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever earned $330 million in ticket sales worldwide its opening weekend, it was estimated by Walt Disney Co on Sunday.

The distributor also said the film set a box office November record in the United States and Canada, according to Reuters.

From Thursday night through Sunday, the Ryan Coogler-directed feature pulled in $180M domestically.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever earned $330 million in ticket sales worldwide its opening weekend, it was estimated by Walt Disney Co on Sunday” class=”blkBorder img-share”&gt;

Monumental! Black Panther: Wakanda Forever earned $330 million in ticket sales worldwide its opening weekend, it was estimated by Walt Disney Co on Sunday

It beat out 2013’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which opened with $158.1 million.

Internationally, the sequel earned $150 million between Wednesday and Sunday, making it the top-grossing Hollywood release in all markets.

Wakanda Forever – which stars Angela Bassett, Leticia Wright, and Lupita Nyong’o, and more – was highly anticipated before its November 11 release.

The film, which follows 2018’s original, earned $84 million opening day, including $28 million from Thursday previews.

Smashing the precedent: Walt Disney Co said the film set a box office November record in the United States and Canada, according to Reuters” class=”blkBorder img-share”>

Smashing the precedent: Walt Disney Co said the film set a box office November record in the United States and Canada

The first film opened to $202 million in February 2018 and went on to gross over $1.4 billion worldwide.

It became one of the highest grossing films of all time and cultural phenomenon, but audiences were crushed when its star, Chadwick Boseman, died unexpectedly in 2020.

As for other films over the weekend, Black Adam drew 8.6 million and Ticket to Paradise came in third (in weekend four), while Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile and Smile rounded out the top five respectively.

Wakanda Forever cost a reported $250 million to make, not accounting for marketing and promotion.

Weeks before the premiere, it was announced that Rihanna would contribute two songs to the soundtrack. Lift Me Up came out on October 28, with Born Again following weeks later on November 11, the same day the project hit theaters.

From Thursday night through Sunday, the Ryan Coogler-directed feature pulled in $180M domestically

During a press tour Lupita appeared on Good Morning America, where she discussed the death of her late costar.

Remembering Boseman, who played T’Challa in the first movie, she said: ‘When someone like that passes away, it has an effect on everyone around them, uh, and so we see how different characters are dealing in different ways.

The Mexican-born actress described being on set without Chadwick as ‘hollow.’

She noted, ‘It was very evident that he was missing, and we were all feeling it but also, we had each other.’

Where Black Panther 2 Leaves Wakanda and the MCU

“Potentially,” says Moore when asked if that could be the case. “And also the position Wakanda now sits within the world. I think that’s the other interesting thing about this movie—the notion that by opening up its borders a bit and by trading vibranium a bit, all of a sudden Wakanda finds itself in a different position on the world stage. I think there’s going to be ramifications for that decision.”

Also, while we did not broach the prospect with Moore, we feel like it would be almost inevitable for Shuri and/or Wakanda to eventually have a public reaction about how the new Captain America collaborated with the freed Zemo (Daniel Brühl), who was liberated from prison after murdering Shuri’s father and the former King of Wakanda. While there were some hints at the conclusion of Falcon and the Winter Soldier about Wakanda’s awareness, this is a thread that seems just waiting to be pulled, particularly since rumors swirl that Zemo will show up again in Thunderbolts (these are unconfirmed). Given the new Black Panther’s wariness toward the outside world, this does not seem like an issue that can just be skirted over.

Where is Doom and What’s Next?

One world player we won’t see quite so soon, however, is the other hidden nation of Latveria. Despite a certain contingent of fans doing their best to will it into existence, Wakanda Forever does not satisfy the rumors flying around the internet of an end credits scene featuring that country or its famous ruler, Doctor Victor von Doom, although Moore admits he has read the rumors.

“I think sometimes the notion of trying to give fans exactly what they say they want is not a great one,” he says with a laugh. “You want to tell the story as the story sits. I will say, I did read that rumor. I think it’s a great rumor. But I want to disabuse people: It’s not going to happen. Not because we don’t love that idea, but because this movie, holistically, we had a story to tell with a beginning, middle, and end. Quite frankly, to have a tag of another thing at the end of it felt disingenuous to the tone of the movie.”

The next movie that Moore himself is producing is Captain America: New World Order, which, by its title alone, hints at all kinds of world realignments and conflicts that will confront the new Captain America (Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson). Whether Wakanda or Talokan will be involved no doubt remains to seen, but there’s already going to be plenty for Sam to deal with.

“We’re in pre-production now,” says Moore. “We start production next year. We couldn’t be more excited. Obviously Anthony Mackie taking over the mantle of Captain America, bringing Harrison Ford into our universe, bringing Tim Blake Nelson back into our orbit, meeting the new Falcon, more stories with Isaiah Bradley… there’s such a big story to be told there. That’s going to be pretty great.”

Out now! Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is officially out in theaters across the nation