Black Panther: Wakanda Forever takes #5 in Deadline’s 2022 Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament

Deadline’s Most Valuable Blockbuster tournament took a break during the pandemic, when theaters were closed for most of 2020-2021 and theatrical titles became more common on both the big screen and studios’ respective streaming platforms. Returning from that side, studios have largely returned to their theatrical release models and the downstream monetization they can bring. Not to mention their strength in launching IPs around the world with huge global marketing campaigns. When it comes to evaluating the financial performance of top films, it’s not about how much a film costs at the box office. The true story is told as production budgets, P&A, talent royalties and other costs collide with box office and ancillary revenue from VOD to DVD and TV. To get closer to that mysterious end of the equation, Deadline is recapping our Most Valuable Blockbuster tournament for 2022, using data from experienced and trusted sources.

THE MOVIE

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Disney/Marvel Studios

The first Black Panther was a box office revolution, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time ($1.3 billion) starring black actors. A sequel was always in the works, especially with the return of director Ryan Coogler, and it was the first film to gross more than $476 million, with three Academy Awards and Marvel’s first Best Picture nomination. But during pre-production in August 2020, disaster struck with the sudden death of 43-year-old star Chadwick Boseman (who plays superhero T’Challa) from colon cancer. Producer Nate Moore told Deadline there was a hit when Marvel asked if there would even be a sequel, but given the world’s reaction to Boseman’s death, those involved felt it best to memorialize him. A new design by Coogler and Joe Robert Cole reflects the death of T’Challa and his little sister, tech genius Shuri (Letitia Wright), who takes on the mask as she mourns and her sense of power in the world as her African- nation find of Wakanda. is under siege by an unstoppable nemesis Namor, leader of the underwater kingdom of Talokan. After a series of Marvel films failed to impress fans enough during Covid (eg black widow with a B CinemaScore, eternal with B, Doctor Strange in the multiverse of madness with a B+ and Thor: Love and Thunder with B+), Wakanda forever restored wonder in the eyes of moviegoers with an A, as well as the critics (84% fresh testified). Disney pushed the emotionally gripping sequel for Oscars, earning five nominations (including one for Angela Bassett, who plays T’Challa’s mother, Ramonda) and a win for costume design (Ruth E. Carter’s second Oscar for the franchise). However, AMPAS did not recognize this Wakanda forever with a Best Picture nomination.

THE BOX SCORE

IT COMES AFTER

Wakanda forever posted the second-best opening of 2022 at the domestic box office with $181.3 million, trailing Doctor Strange in the multiverse of madness$187.4 million. Worldwide, Wakanda forever had the fourth-best debut for an MPA title, with $331.6 million. At the end of the day, it closed at $454 million domestically and $859 million worldwide. Some have attributed this shortcoming to the film’s long running time (2 hours and 41 minutes), nearly half an hour longer than the original. The global transport of the sequel also missed Russia; the first film earned $32 million there. Self Wakanda forever was one of two Marvel titles to return to China since 2019, arriving three months after its global release in November and grossing just $15.5 million (Black Panther made $105 million in the area). Until then, piracy of Wakanda forever in China it took its toll on box office prospects. Disney, which now embraces a long cinema window for its blockbuster titles, is making moves Wakanda forever on Disney+ on February 1st, 83 days after it hit theaters, and by then had earned nearly 100% of its domestic gross. The $170 million worldwide streaming/TV revenue includes what Disney itself paid to release the film on Disney+. Self Wakanda foreverThe worldwide gross of was down 36% from the original film, while the sequel still earned $259 million.