Black Panther is box-office king for third straight week

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wakanda’s reign shows no signs of waning. Black Panther is king of the box office for the third straight weekend.

The release from Marvel and Disney brought in $65.7 million domestically this weekend, easily outpacing new releases  Red Sparrow and  Death Wish,” according to studio estimates Sunday.

Black Panther has now grossed $500 million domestically after three weeks of release. It’s the third fastest film to reach the $500 million plateau.

“Disney is clearly on a roll with Black Panther showing incredible strength as it posts the third biggest third-weekend gross of all time,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for comScore, “and most notably becomes the 10th highest grossing movie of all time in North America after just 17 days in theaters.”

Fox’s Red Sparrow featuring Jennifer Lawrence as a Russian ballerina-turned-super-spy, earned $17 million in its first weekend.

Another new release, Death Wish, MGM’s reboot of the Charles Bronson action franchise starring Bruce Willis, was third with $13 million.

“Both newcomers performed to expectations but had to compete in a marketplace totally dominated by ‘Black Panther,'” Dergarabedian said.

The totals come on a weekend when all industry eyes are on the Academy Awards, which will be handed out in Hollywood later Sunday.

None of the major nominees remain in the box office top 10, though some continue to bring in receipts. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri reached $52 million domestically through Sunday, and The Shape of Water passed $57 million.

Black Panther, directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan, has become a groundbreaking cinematic phenomenon, giving unprecedented representation for a film of its kind to Africans and African-Americans while winning over every corner of the culture. It should soon shoot past the billion-dollar mark worldwide.

Wakanda’s king may finally be knocked from his box-office throne next weekend with the release of director Ava DuVernay’s, A Wrinkle in Time, another Disney film that gives groundbreaking representation to African-Americans on both sides of the camera.

“Disney wins no matter how you slice it with that film expected to have a strong debut as ‘Black Panther’ continues to draw big crowds,” Dergarabedian said.

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

1. “Black Panther,” $65.7 million.
2. “Red Sparrow,” $17 million.
3. “Death Wish,” $13 million.
4. “Game Night,” $10.7 million.
5. “Peter Rabbit,” $10 million.
6. “Annihilation,” $5.6 million.
7. “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle,” $4.5 million.
8. “Fifty Shades Freed,” $3.3 million.
9. “The Greatest Showman,” $2.6 million.
10. “Every Day,” $1.5 million.
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