In North America, Black Panther is now the highest-grossing superhero movie ever.
The Marvel adaptation, which was directed by Ryan Coogler and bowed last month, wrested this title from Joss Whedon’s 2012 The Avengers.
This position is not adjusted for inflation, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which also announced that Black Panther is the sixth highest-grossing movie of any kind domestically.
Triumph: In North America, Black Panther is now the highest-grossing superhero movie ever
At the global box office, the film has collected more than $1.2 billion against a pre-marketing budget of $200 million.
Black Panther was also the first film since Avatar – the top-grossing movie ever – to lead the box office for five consecutive weekends, Forbes reports.
Further, it has earned more globally than any other superhero film than the two crossover features The Avengers and Avengers: Age Of Ultron.
Soaring to success: At the global box office, the film has collected more than $1.2 billion against a pre-marketing budget of $200 million
Chadwick Boseman stars as Black Panther’s title character, amid a cast that also includes Michael B. Jordan and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.
The Hobbit alumni Andy Serkis and Martin Freeman feature, as do Get Out Oscar nominee Daniel Kaluuya and The Walking Dead star Danai Gurira.
Angela Bassett and Forrest Whitaker add extra star power to the film, which currently enjoys a formidable Rotten Tomatoes rating of 97%.
Top company: This film was also the first since Avatar – the top-grossing movie ever – to lead the box office for five consecutive weekends, Forbes reports
Boseman’s Black Panther first appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, but the new film is his first stand-alone release in the current franchise.
He will also feature in next month’s crossover release Avengers: Infinity War, as well as its currently untitled sequel, which will be out next year.
The character himself was the brainchild of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and made his first comic book appearance 52 years ago in 1966 – the year the actual Black Panther Party formed in the United States.
Thundering ahead: Further, it has earned more globally than any other superhero film than the two crossover features The Avengers and Avengers: Age Of Ultron