Movie

The Ryan Coogler-directed sequel blasts to No. 1 at the domestic chart with a big $180 million opening, scoring the biggest November opening ever and the second-highest debut of 2022.

• Nov 14, 2022

AceShowbiz - "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" rules box office on its debut weekend. The highly-anticipated Marvel movie blew its competition out of the water with a massive $180 million opening domestically.

While it failed to repeat its predecessor's $200 million opening in 2018, the latest superhero film set in MCU lore has become the second-highest debut for 2022 so far, only behind another Marvel title, "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness", which opened to $185 million back in May.

The second "Black Panther" film also has also set a new record for the highest November opening of all time, surpassing the first "The Hunger Games" sequel and three "Twilight" sequels. Internationally, it has brought in an additional $150 million for a current worldwide total of $330 million.

Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore's senior media analyst, weighs in on the movie's domestic opening, "Some may have hoped for $200 million like the first film, but this is solid. This is the type of movie that theaters really need to drive audiences."

"Wakanda Forever", which did not recast the role of T'Challa in the wake of Chadwick Boseman's passing, earned majorly positive reviews from critics, with an approval rating of 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, fans were divided over how it addresses the king's death.

Some fans, who still felt a hole without a new lead hero in the sequel, are asking Marvel to recast T'Challa. "Look #RecastTChalla is still trending because folks are feeling what we have said all along. We LOVE Shuri and yet #WakandaForever still had a T'Challa sized-hole in it that only #RecastTChalla can fill," read a tweet from one critic.

Back to this week's box office, "Black Adam" drops to the second place after placing first for its first three weeks. It adds an estimated $8.6 million to its domestic cume, bringing it to $151.1 million domestically and $352.2 million worldwide.

"Ticket to Paradise" holds on to the third place with approximately $6.1 million. "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" rises two spots to No. 4 with an estimated $3.2 million, only dropping 5% from last week. "Smile" follows behind at No. 5 with approximately $2.3 million.

Top 10 of North America Box Office (Nov. 11-13, 2022):

1. "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" - $180 million
2. "Black Adam" - $8.6 million
3. "Ticket to Paradise" - $6.1 million
4. "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" - $3.2 million
5. "Smile" - $2.3 million
6. "Prey for the Devil" - $2 million
7. "The Banshees of Inisherin" - $1.7 million
8. "One Piece Film: Red" - $1.4 million
9. "Till" - $618,254
10. "Armageddon Time" - $352,000