On Friday 16 February 2018, Marvel’s latest box office hit, Black Panther, was released worldwide. Although the movie filters into the greater landscape of the Marvel Universe, what makes this movie different is that it championed African traditions, cultures, music and languages becoming the top-grossing film in history by a black director (Ryan Coogler) and featuring a largely black cast.
Black Panther secured the record for the highest debut ever for a February film, with an estimated three-day domestic gross of $192 million, said Disney, Marvel’s parent company. The movie secured the fifth-biggest domestic opening in the United States of America of all time and became the best launch of any superhero film behind fellow Marvel title The Avengers (2012). Global ticket sales are predicted to total an estimated $387 million by Monday.
Africans from across the continent flocked to theatres in their traditional attire over the weekend in order to see their very own languages and cultures depicted in a mainstream Hollywood film for arguably the first time ever.
Africans took to Twitter to express their views on a movie, which could see a paradigm shift in the movie industry.
Here are some of the best reactions:
https://twitter.com/NkanyeziKubheka/status/965384842773897216
AFRICANs are really beautiful ?????#BlackPanther
— J ® E Y. ?? (@Joey_MakG) February 16, 2018
Black men rock. ?? #BlackPanther #BlackPantherSA pic.twitter.com/zVUVOMBP8M
— Masechaba Ndlovu (@MasechabaNdlovu) February 18, 2018
I’m ready to move to Wakanda #BlackPanther pic.twitter.com/5q3VEa77D4
— Yamkela Mdaka (@AlekBlak) February 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/NkanyeziKubheka/status/965291200692486147
This here is South African actress Connie Chiume, Kenyan born Lupita Nyongo, Zimbabwean American Danai Gurira and South African legend John Kani, Stars of #BlackPanther which is approaching a $200 million 4 Day record at the box office. Africa your time is now ? pic.twitter.com/elSGwRGOg5
— Jay Badza (@jaybadza47) February 17, 2018
I posted our #BlackPanther photo on Facebook and my uncle commented 'Up the Bucs'. I'm so tired. pic.twitter.com/PaOL24sbYZ
— Tshepang Molisana (@TshepiMolisana) February 18, 2018
How i wish we supported black businesses the way we support Black Panther. #BlackPanther
— Azola Mlota (@mlota_azola) February 18, 2018
I'm still in my #BlackPanther High! #WakandaForever #TiffanyBMuzik pic.twitter.com/N1Mjir6cOJ
— TiffanyBMuzik (@TiffanyBMuzic) February 19, 2018
By Dean Workman
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