Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, roared into cinemas across the continent this past weekend and lit up the box office. Cinemas across the continent played host to guests dressing up, dancing and singing as the next chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe played out with a distinctly celebratory African story.
The film, which has become a cultural phenomenon both at home and across the globe, raked in over R16.8 million at the South African Box Office with nearly 200k attendances for the 3-day opening weekend 16-18 February. This debut ranks as the third biggest industry opening weekend ever in Mzansi (and the second biggest industry opening weekend ever, excluding previews) as well as the biggest opening for a Marvel Studios film ever in South Africa.
Black Panther has also lit up the rest of the continent and has become the biggest industry opening weekend of all time in both East and West Africa.
This past Friday, Johannesburg welcomed a toatal of 700 guests among them international stars sucha as Lupita Nypong’o (Nakia), Danai Gurira (Okoye), as well as local veteran actors Dr. John Kani (King T-Chaka) and Connie Chiume (Mining Tribe Elder) from the film among many other Mzansi personalities and celebrities for the Official South African Premiere of the film.
Black Panther follows T’Challa, portrayed by Chadwick Boseman, returning home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to become king.
Other stars of the film are, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Mzansi’s own DR John Kani, his son Athandwa Kani, and Connie Chuene.
Black Panther is now available in Cinemas everywhere.
