
BLACK PANTHER Early Buzz Is Off The Charts, And The Box Office Looks To Be Unstoppable
We’re roughly two weeks away from Black Panther and the momentum for this film is stronger than ever. The first black superhero film from Marvel, and one that is helmed by a black director and featuring a predominantly black cast, has caught the attention of fans from all over blowing past pre-sale records. And now, the movie can add one more notch to its belt.
Theatre-chain Alamo Drafthouse recently released data showing that Black Panther is beating out every other film Marvel Studios and DC Films released last year in ticket pre-sales. In comparison, the next three films on the list are Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Wonder Woman, and Justice League which took in 72%, 59% and 58% of what Black Panther currently has, respectively.
There also seems to be no sign of slowing down prior to Black Panther‘s release on February 16th, as early screenings of the film have lucky viewers taking to it like catnip (Sorry, I had to). Much of the fervor surrounding the early screenings is Michael B. Jordan’s turn as villain Killmonger, with viewers touting him as the best villain in a Marvel film to date, due to some great scenes and character development. The film itself “has something to say” more so than the previous output of the MCU by some accounts.
Black Panther is the best MCU movie ever. I was blown away from start to finish and I’m not even being biased. This was by far the best marvel movie to date. Thank you, Ryan Coogler! #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/8Qh0hlOYAb
— Geeks of Color (@GeeksOfColor) January 30, 2018
The production design by Hannah Beachler is so lovely – and the cinematography by Rachel Morrison, whew! By far the best looking MCU film. #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/p1L0yEc4ZC
— ReBecca Theodore-Vachon (@FilmFatale_NYC) January 30, 2018
Black Panther looks, feels and sounds unlike any Marvel film to date. A visual feast. Wakanda is amazingly realized, the antagonist actually has an arc with emotional motivations. Marvels most political movie. So good. #BlackPanther
— Peter Sciretta (@slashfilm) January 30, 2018
BLACK PANTHER is not screwing around. By far the most political Marvel chapter, to the point I had to remind myself this is a Marvel movie. BLACK PANTHER is a movie with a lot to say.
Also, Michael B. Jordan … damn
— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) January 30, 2018
BLACK PANTHER feels like the actual start of a new phase for Marvel, not only because it exists so well on its own terms, but because it feels so new and timely, through both its storytelling and the very people the story is about (and those who get to tell it). Wonderful.
— Kate Erbland (@katerbland) January 30, 2018
BLACK PANTHER is incredible, kinetic, purposeful. A superhero movie about why representation & identity matters, and how tragic it is when those things are denied to people. The 1st MCU movie about something real; Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger had me weeping and he’s the VILLAIN
— jen yamato (@jenyamato) January 30, 2018
Black Panther is a new high for Marvel on so many levels: the richest exploration of identity and strength and privilege, the deepest bench of complex women, and I think the MCU’s most tragic villain. The atmosphere in the screening room was so charged.
— Emma Dibdin (@emmdib) January 30, 2018
By the looks of it, Black Panther is nothing to sleep on. The fact that it’s setting the bar so high for storytelling, diversity and representation and is getting this big of a boost from fans should send a nice message to Hollywood and Marvel.
We’ll see for ourselves on February 16th when Black Panther claws (Sorry, not sorry) its way into theatres.
I can’t wait for this one. The only danger is it may raise the bar for Marvel a bit too much. A deeper villain. Far more meaning in the plot and story – lots more depth. Infinity War might disappoint coming after a film that appears to change the game. It appears that they did a great job with the villain in Black Panther. Feige has promised that gets fixed in the first couple minutes of Infinity War as well, but I have a feeling they are going to make the villain feel heavy by killing off a big character quickly and to many it will feel contrived to make Thanos feel more threatening.
That theory is exactly what Brett was worried about on the last Revengers Podcast; That they’d have Thanos kill someone off just to “prove” in a very forced way how cruel he is.
If you read the comic he kills off half of earth straight a way with a snap of his fingers.
This is true, but we had a little more time to build him up to that point, and comics have the advantage over movies because they can tell longer form stories since they are not limited to a runtime. In the MCU we’ve had a couple of post-credit shots of Thanos grinning in a chair and a few lines, so to then just have him show up, kill half the world or a major MCU hero I feel is sort of a weak way of giving him the title of “major threat.” It’s going to be tough and I don’t envy the Russo brothers, but maybe they figured it out!
Zero arguments here. I was merely stating said fact in relation to how evil/vicious he can be. And you’re completely right in regards to longer form stories i.e. before Infinity Gauntlet we had Thanos Quest which Starlin showed us the build up to Thanos’ obsession and acquisition of the stones.
I hope they handled well too. Being slavish to the original story would be a mistake. It’s tricky in my eyes, but I’m not a storyteller. My hopes remain high.
Oh sure! Yeah I didn’t mean it as an argument more just a talking point. And I agree, don’t be a slave to the story because some things that work in comics do not work in film.
Yes! 100% agree with you Jeff. I’m not drinking Feige’s Kool-Aid until I see the movie.