Many predicted ‘Black Panther’ was going to be huge, but the film is now officially record-breaking.
The superhero movie, which is the first from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to feature an almost entirely black cast, has broken three records in less than a week, and is on course to break more.
Having already pulled in $192 million (£138 million) in the US alone since Thursday (15 February) night, it’s now been revealed ‘Black Panther’ had the biggest opening for a film with a black director (Ryan Coogler) ever - a record previously held by F. Gary Gray’s ‘Furious 7’, the first film with a black director to break the $100 million mark.
‘Black Panther’ has also achieved the biggest February opening of all time, overtaking ‘Deadpool’, which made $152m in 2016.
The only films with higher domestic opening weekend figures are ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’, ‘Jurassic World’ and ‘The Avengers’.
‘Black Panther’ is also the best-scoring superhero movie ever on Rotten Tomatoes, with 97%.
Meanwhile, the film also ranked as the second-highest opening in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, just behind ‘The Avengers’, which took home $207.4 million in its first three days.
You can check out our HuffPost Verdict on ‘Black Panther’ here.
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Michaela Coel attends the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: John Boyega attends the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at the Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Lupita Nyong'o attends the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)
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Director Ryan Coogler and his wife Zinzi Evans attending The Black Panther European Premiere at The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Vick Hope attends the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
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Letitia Wright attending The Black Panther European Premiere at The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Professor Green attends the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
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Lemar and Charmaine Powell attending The Black Panther European Premiere at The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
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Kat Shoob attending The Black Panther European Premiere at The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: (R-L) Lorraine Ashbourne, Andy Serkis and family attend the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at the Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage)
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Naughty Boy attending The Black Panther European Premiere at The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
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Divian Ladwa attending The Black Panther European Premiere at The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Clarisse Juliette attends the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
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Chadwick Boseman attending The Black Panther European Premiere at The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
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Pete Bucknell and Carrie Hope Fletcher attending The Black Panther European Premiere at The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
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Krept and Konan attending The Black Panther European Premiere at The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Danai Gurira attends the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at the Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Alex Beresford attends the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at the Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Clara Amfo attends the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at the Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Nate Moore (R) and guest attend the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at the Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage)
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Joanna Jarjue attending The Black Panther European Premiere at The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Emma Conybeare attends the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Michael B. Jordan attends the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Daniel Kaluuya attends the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at the Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Leona Lewis attends the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 08: Jordan Stephens attends the European Premiere of 'Black Panther' at the Eventim Apollo on February 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage)
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Stormzy attending The Black Panther European Premiere at The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
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Becca Dudley attending The Black Panther European Premiere at The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
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Martin Freeman attending The Black Panther European Premiere at The Eventim Apollo Hammersmith London. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)