A wave of feverish anticipation, fawning critical acclaim and groundbreaking cultural meaning pushed 91裸聊视频淏lack Panther91裸聊视频� to a record-setting $192 million debut in U.S. and Canada theatres, firmly establishing the superhero sensation as a box-office landmark.

The Marvel film from the Walt Disney Co. blew past expectations to become the fifth-highest-grossing debut ever, not adjusting for inflation, following only 91裸聊视频淪tar Wars: The Force Awakens,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频漇tar Wars: The Last Jedi,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频滼urassic World91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淭he Avengers.91裸聊视频�

In estimates Sunday, Disney predicted a four-day holiday weekend of $218 million domestically and a global debut of $361 million.

Though the film91裸聊视频檚 international footprint doesn91裸聊视频檛 include several of the largest markets 91裸聊视频� China, Russia and Japan 91裸聊视频� it still ranks among the top 15 global debuts ever. It91裸聊视频檚 also the highest-grossing February opening weekend.

91裸聊视频淎ll hail the King of Wakanda!91裸聊视频� Disney declared, referring to the movie91裸聊视频檚 mythical and highly advanced African nation.

Ryan Coogler91裸聊视频檚 film, which cost about $200 million to make, is the most expensive movie with a largely black ensemble and among the few to be centred on a black superhero. The strong opening suggests 91裸聊视频淏lack Panther91裸聊视频� will easily set a box-office record for films directed by a black filmmaker.

The previous best is Sidney Poitier91裸聊视频檚 1980 comedy 91裸聊视频淪tir Crazy,91裸聊视频� which took in $322 million domestically, when inflation is calculated.

91裸聊视频淏lack Panther91裸聊视频� set pre-sale records and saw lines around theatres over the weekend, including some who came costumed for the event.

91裸聊视频淭his is the very definition of a blockbuster: People lining up around the block to see a great movie,91裸聊视频� said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for comScore. 91裸聊视频淎 movie like 91裸聊视频楤lack Panther91裸聊视频� is a cultural event that nothing on the small screen can really match in that way.91裸聊视频�

RELATED: The Movie Guy: What91裸聊视频檚 coming to theatres in 2018

Chadwick Boseman stars as T91裸聊视频機halla/Black Panther in the first stand-alone film for the superhero created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1966. The cast also features Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong91裸聊视频檕, Daniel Kaluuya and Letitia Wright.

The movie has been hugely acclaimed, with a 97 per cent fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences agreed, giving it an A-plus CinemaScore. The film especially resonated among African-Americans, who made up 37 per cent of moviegoers, according to comScore.

Dave Hollis, distribution chief for Disney, called the film91裸聊视频檚 success 91裸聊视频渁 real source of pride91裸聊视频� for Disney.

91裸聊视频淚nclusion and representation matters,91裸聊视频� Hollis said. 91裸聊视频淲e know that great stories can come from anywhere, and our goal is to make films that reflect the wonderful diversity of our world and resonate with audiences everywhere 91裸聊视频� no matter who they are, no matter where they come from.91裸聊视频�

Coming at one of the slower periods of the year, 91裸聊视频淏lack Panther91裸聊视频� benefited from little competition, and it can be expected to dominate the marketplace for weeks.

Last week91裸聊视频檚 top film, the erotic romance sequel 91裸聊视频淔ifty Shades Freed,91裸聊视频� slid to third place, with $16.9 million in its second week for Universal. Sony91裸聊视频檚 children91裸聊视频檚 book adaptation 91裸聊视频淧eter Rabbit91裸聊视频� held much stronger, taking the No. 2 spot with $17.3 million in its second week.

But moviegoers 91裸聊视频� and Hollywood 91裸聊视频� were focused on 91裸聊视频淏lack Panther,91裸聊视频� including how it would fare overseas. Though considered by most to be an outdated myth, some have claimed that foreign audiences have less appetite for films with largely black casts.

91裸聊视频淏lack Panther91裸聊视频� vanquished those notions with $169 million in ticket sales. It was No. 1 in most international markets, though 91裸聊视频淔ifty Shades Freed91裸聊视频� bested it in Germany.

Its release in China will come later. This weekend, the Chinese New Year holiday, local productions led by 91裸聊视频淒etective Chinatown 291裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淢onster Hunt 291裸聊视频� dominated Chinese theatres, with more than $140 million in ticket sales each.

91裸聊视频淏lack Panther91裸聊视频� also performed especially well on large-format screens. Imax reported $30 million in ticket sales for the three-day weekend.

91裸聊视频淭here was a groundswell of wanting this movie to work, and then when it actually did as a film, itself, it just kicked it up a notch to a level no one could have ever predicted,91裸聊视频� said Greg Foster, Imax Entertainment91裸聊视频檚 chief executive. 91裸聊视频淭hat makes me feel really good about the movie business.91裸聊视频�

star Chadwick Boseman appears on our cover. Here's how he and Ryan Coogler created the most radical superhero movie of all time

91裸聊视频� Rolling Stone (@RollingStone)

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday also are included. Final four-day domestic figures will be released Tuesday.

1. 91裸聊视频淏lack Panther,91裸聊视频� $192 million ($169 million international).

2. 91裸聊视频淧eter Rabbit,91裸聊视频� $17.3 million.

3. 91裸聊视频淔ifty Shades Freed,91裸聊视频� $16.9 million ($47.7 million international).

4. 91裸聊视频淛umanji Welcome to the Jungle,91裸聊视频� $7.9 million ($4.8 million international).

5. 91裸聊视频淭he 15:17 to Paris,91裸聊视频� $7.7 million ($2.8 million international).

6. 91裸聊视频淭he Greatest Showman,91裸聊视频� $5.1 million ($9.6 million international).

7. 91裸聊视频淓arly Man,91裸聊视频� $3.2 million ($3.7 million international).

8. 91裸聊视频淢aze Runner: The Death Cure,91裸聊视频� $2.5 million ($11 million international).

9. 91裸聊视频淲inchester,91裸聊视频� $2.2 million.

10. 91裸聊视频淪amson,91裸聊视频� $2 million.

___

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theatres (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to comScore:

1. 91裸聊视频淏lack Panther,91裸聊视频� $169 million.

2. 91裸聊视频淒etective Chinatown 2,91裸聊视频� $155 million.

3. 91裸聊视频淢onster Hunt 2,91裸聊视频� $141 million.

4. 91裸聊视频淥peration Red Sea,91裸聊视频� $70.3 million.

5. 91裸聊视频淭he Monkey King 3: Kingdom of Women,91裸聊视频� $52.3 million.

6. 91裸聊视频淔ifty Shades Freed,91裸聊视频� $47.7 million.

7. 91裸聊视频淏oonie Bears: The Big Shrink,91裸聊视频� $32.6 million.

8. 91裸聊视频淭he Shape of Water,91裸聊视频� $12.3 million.

9. 91裸聊视频淢aze Runner: The Death Cure,91裸聊视频� $11 million.

10. 91裸聊视频淭he Greatest Showman,91裸聊视频� $9.6 million.

___

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press

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