Numbers have begun pouring in for the Thursday preview of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with the highly anticipated sequel taking in $28 million from showings beginning at 3:30pm yesterday (I know that, because that’s what time I saw it in IMAX 3D).
Is anyone reading this old enough to remember the days when you would have to wait around in line to get the best seat for the midnight showing of an anticipated release?! I remember getting to the theater two hours before showtime for the midnight release of The Dark Knight in 2008. You kids with your reserved seating and Thursday previews don’t know how good you have it. I’m old!
These numbers aren’t all that earth shattering when you consider Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness pulled in $36 million in its Thursday previews while Thor: Love and Thunder was able to grab $29 million. Of course both of those releases were in the summer with many people on vacation. These numbers are slightly better than the original Black Panther which pulled in $25.2 million back in February 2018.
Nothing to worry about here though, as the film, which I must say is pretty damn good (while our own JimmyO goes one better and calls it: Perfecto-mundo) is still on pace to meet our predictions and net close to $200 million (tracking has it in the $175-$200 million range).
We will have a better idea where the opening weekend of this epic film is heading when we give our Saturday update, until then, let us know what you thought of Wakanda Forever in the comments section.