Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the first marvel movie released in China after three years. The film opened on Tuesday and grossed $3.47 million, according to the Maoyan ticket sales agency. This equates to a 17% market share and a third place behind China-made top-grossing box office hits The Wandering Earth II and the historical action drama Full River Red.
Based on social media activity, ticket purchases, and pre-sales over the next few days, Maoyan has announced a projection that the film will enjoy a lifetime revenue of RMB118 million (US$17.3 million) in China. Early in a film’s career, projections can change significantly and be revised upwards or downwards.
The projected career looks poor compared to the original Black Panther movie score, which opened in China in March 2018 and grossed $105 million at the box office. However, given the two-month hiatus from the film’s release in the rest of the world, the short marketing timeframe for the film in China, and the unusual Tuesday release, the figure could be considered satisfactory.
Chinese officials have not formally declared why the ban on Marvel occurred. It has been mixed with restrictions due to the novel coronavirus and the ongoing Cold War with the United States, which has already reduced imports of Hollywood and US independent films.
The next marvel film that will be opening next month is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
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