There’s a new king (or rather queen) of the box office! Early estimates haveAva DuVernay’sA Wrinkle in Timejust edging outBlack Pantherin its Friday debut with a domestic tally of $10.2 million to the Wakandan’s $10 million performance. However,Black Pantheris still estimated to win the weekend with $40+ million whileA Wrinkle in Timeis expected to earn $32-$35 million in its debut weekend. This is the first true test thatBlack Pantherhas faced at the box office, but whichever film ultimately comes out on top, Disney wins this weekend.
Outside of the top two, horror filmThe Strangers: Prey at Nightgrabs the Bronze with a Friday haul of about $4 million, on the way towards a $10 million weekend. Returning playersRed SparrowandGame Nightcame in fourth and fifth with $2.3 million and $2.2 million respectively. Other new releases in the Top 10 include Amazon Studios’Gringowith $977,000 in eighth place andThe Hurricane Heistfollowing up in ninth with $950,000; neither film is expected to top $3 million for the weekend and may miss the Top 10 entirely. (Box office info comes courtesy ofBox Office MojoandERCBoxOffice.)
Here’s a look at how the Top 5 stacked up from Friday’s box office:
A Wrinkle in Time
Black Panther
The Strangers: Prey at Night
Red Sparrow
Game Night
As for Thursday previews, Disney’sA Wrinkle in Timepulled in $1.3 million, which is on par withAlice Through the Looking Glass'$1.5 million in 2016. Aviron Pictures’The Strangers: Prey at Nightbrought in $610,000, topping bothKidnapandYou’re Next, and just behind the $735,000 brought in by47 Meters Downlast June. STX’s release of Amazon Studios’sGringobrought in $190,000 from Thursday night screenings.
Today also seesBlack Panthersurpass the $1 billion mark at the global box office on its 26th day of release. It’s the 16thWalt Disney Studios release to reach this significant milestone, and the fifth to do so in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – joiningThe Avengers,Avengers: Age of Ultron,Iron Man 3, andCaptain America: Civil War. Internationally,Black Pantherwill pass the $500 million mark this weekend, bolstered by an impressive debut in its final market, China, where it opened yesterday with a first day estimate of $22 million and early indications of a second day in the $27 million range. Expect ~$50 million all told from China alone.
For more of our recent box office coverage, either to keep track of trends or see howBlack Pantherhas been doing since it’s opening day, check out these recent write-ups:
