LOS ANGELES 鈥� Wakanda鈥檚 reign shows no signs of waning. 鈥淏lack Panther鈥� is king of the box office for the third straight weekend.
The release from Marvel and Disney brought in $65.7 million domestically this weekend, easily outpacing new releases 鈥淩ed Sparrow鈥� and 鈥淒eath Wish,鈥� according to studio estimates Sunday.
鈥淏lack Panther鈥� has now grossed $500 million domestically after three weeks of release. It鈥檚 the third fastest film to reach the $500 million plateau.
鈥淒isney is clearly on a roll with 鈥橞lack Panther鈥� showing incredible strength as it posts the third biggest third-weekend gross of all time,鈥� said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for comScore, 鈥渁nd most notably becomes the 10th highest grossing movie of all time in North America after just 17 days in theatres.鈥�
Fox鈥檚 鈥淩ed Sparrow,鈥� featuring Jennifer Lawrence as a Russian ballerina-turned-super-spy, earned $17 million in its first weekend.
Another new release, 鈥淒eath Wish,鈥� MGM鈥檚 reboot of the Charles Bronson action franchise starring Bruce Willis, was third with $13 million.
鈥淏oth newcomers performed to expectations but had to compete in a marketplace totally dominated by 鈥橞lack Panther,鈥濃�� Dergarabedian said.
The totals come on a weekend when all industry eyes are on the Academy Awards, which will be handed out in Hollywood later Sunday.
None of the major nominees remain in the box office top 10, though some continue to bring in receipts. 鈥淭hree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri鈥� reached $52 million domestically through Sunday, and 鈥淭he Shape of Water鈥� passed $57 million.
鈥淏lack Panther,鈥� directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan, has become a groundbreaking cinematic phenomenon, giving unprecedented representation for a film of its kind to Africans and African-Americans while winning over every corner of the culture. It should soon shoot past the billion-dollar mark worldwide.
Wakanda鈥檚 king may finally be knocked from his box-office throne next weekend with the release of director Ava DuVernay鈥檚 鈥淎 Wrinkle in Time,鈥� another Disney film that gives groundbreaking representation to African-Americans on both sides of the camera.
鈥淒isney wins no matter how you slice it with that film expected to have a strong debut as 鈥橞lack Panther鈥� continues to draw big crowds,鈥� Dergarabedian said.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers also are included. Final three-day domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. 鈥淏lack Panther,鈥� $65.7 million.
2. 鈥淩ed Sparrow,鈥� $17 million.
3. 鈥淒eath Wish,鈥� $13 million.
4. 鈥淕ame Night,鈥� $10.7 million.
5. 鈥淧eter Rabbit,鈥� $10 million.
6. 鈥淎nnihilation,鈥� $5.6 million.
7. 鈥淛umanji: Welcome to the Jungle,鈥� $4.5 million.
8. 鈥淔ifty Shades Freed,鈥� $3.3 million.
9. 鈥淭he Greatest Showman,鈥� $2.6 million.
10. 鈥淓very Day,鈥� $1.5 million.
