A wave of feverish anticipation, fawning critical acclaim and groundbreaking cultural meaning pushed 害羞草研究所淏lack Panther害羞草研究所� to a record-setting $192 million debut in U.S. and Canada theatres, firmly establishing the superhero sensation as a box-office landmark.

The Marvel film from the Walt Disney Co. blew past expectations to become the fifth-highest-grossing debut ever, not adjusting for inflation, following only 害羞草研究所淪tar Wars: The Force Awakens,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所漇tar Wars: The Last Jedi,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所滼urassic World害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淭he Avengers.害羞草研究所�

In estimates Sunday, Disney predicted a four-day holiday weekend of $218 million domestically and a global debut of $361 million.

Though the film害羞草研究所檚 international footprint doesn害羞草研究所檛 include several of the largest markets 害羞草研究所� China, Russia and Japan 害羞草研究所� it still ranks among the top 15 global debuts ever. It害羞草研究所檚 also the highest-grossing February opening weekend.

害羞草研究所淎ll hail the King of Wakanda!害羞草研究所� Disney declared, referring to the movie害羞草研究所檚 mythical and highly advanced African nation.

Ryan Coogler害羞草研究所檚 film, which cost about $200 million to make, is the most expensive movie with a largely black ensemble and among the few to be centred on a black superhero. The strong opening suggests 害羞草研究所淏lack Panther害羞草研究所� will easily set a box-office record for films directed by a black filmmaker.

The previous best is Sidney Poitier害羞草研究所檚 1980 comedy 害羞草研究所淪tir Crazy,害羞草研究所� which took in $322 million domestically, when inflation is calculated.

害羞草研究所淏lack Panther害羞草研究所� set pre-sale records and saw lines around theatres over the weekend, including some who came costumed for the event.

害羞草研究所淭his is the very definition of a blockbuster: People lining up around the block to see a great movie,害羞草研究所� said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for comScore. 害羞草研究所淎 movie like 害羞草研究所楤lack Panther害羞草研究所� is a cultural event that nothing on the small screen can really match in that way.害羞草研究所�

RELATED: The Movie Guy: What害羞草研究所檚 coming to theatres in 2018

Chadwick Boseman stars as T害羞草研究所機halla/Black Panther in the first stand-alone film for the superhero created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1966. The cast also features Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong害羞草研究所檕, Daniel Kaluuya and Letitia Wright.

The movie has been hugely acclaimed, with a 97 per cent fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences agreed, giving it an A-plus CinemaScore. The film especially resonated among African-Americans, who made up 37 per cent of moviegoers, according to comScore.

Dave Hollis, distribution chief for Disney, called the film害羞草研究所檚 success 害羞草研究所渁 real source of pride害羞草研究所� for Disney.

害羞草研究所淚nclusion and representation matters,害羞草研究所� Hollis said. 害羞草研究所淲e know that great stories can come from anywhere, and our goal is to make films that reflect the wonderful diversity of our world and resonate with audiences everywhere 害羞草研究所� no matter who they are, no matter where they come from.害羞草研究所�

Coming at one of the slower periods of the year, 害羞草研究所淏lack Panther害羞草研究所� benefited from little competition, and it can be expected to dominate the marketplace for weeks.

Last week害羞草研究所檚 top film, the erotic romance sequel 害羞草研究所淔ifty Shades Freed,害羞草研究所� slid to third place, with $16.9 million in its second week for Universal. Sony害羞草研究所檚 children害羞草研究所檚 book adaptation 害羞草研究所淧eter Rabbit害羞草研究所� held much stronger, taking the No. 2 spot with $17.3 million in its second week.

But moviegoers 害羞草研究所� and Hollywood 害羞草研究所� were focused on 害羞草研究所淏lack Panther,害羞草研究所� including how it would fare overseas. Though considered by most to be an outdated myth, some have claimed that foreign audiences have less appetite for films with largely black casts.

害羞草研究所淏lack Panther害羞草研究所� vanquished those notions with $169 million in ticket sales. It was No. 1 in most international markets, though 害羞草研究所淔ifty Shades Freed害羞草研究所� bested it in Germany.

Its release in China will come later. This weekend, the Chinese New Year holiday, local productions led by 害羞草研究所淒etective Chinatown 2害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淢onster Hunt 2害羞草研究所� dominated Chinese theatres, with more than $140 million in ticket sales each.

害羞草研究所淏lack Panther害羞草研究所� also performed especially well on large-format screens. Imax reported $30 million in ticket sales for the three-day weekend.

害羞草研究所淭here was a groundswell of wanting this movie to work, and then when it actually did as a film, itself, it just kicked it up a notch to a level no one could have ever predicted,害羞草研究所� said Greg Foster, Imax Entertainment害羞草研究所檚 chief executive. 害羞草研究所淭hat makes me feel really good about the movie business.害羞草研究所�

star Chadwick Boseman appears on our cover. Here's how he and Ryan Coogler created the most radical superhero movie of all time

害羞草研究所� Rolling Stone (@RollingStone)

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday also are included. Final four-day domestic figures will be released Tuesday.

1. 害羞草研究所淏lack Panther,害羞草研究所� $192 million ($169 million international).

2. 害羞草研究所淧eter Rabbit,害羞草研究所� $17.3 million.

3. 害羞草研究所淔ifty Shades Freed,害羞草研究所� $16.9 million ($47.7 million international).

4. 害羞草研究所淛umanji Welcome to the Jungle,害羞草研究所� $7.9 million ($4.8 million international).

5. 害羞草研究所淭he 15:17 to Paris,害羞草研究所� $7.7 million ($2.8 million international).

6. 害羞草研究所淭he Greatest Showman,害羞草研究所� $5.1 million ($9.6 million international).

7. 害羞草研究所淓arly Man,害羞草研究所� $3.2 million ($3.7 million international).

8. 害羞草研究所淢aze Runner: The Death Cure,害羞草研究所� $2.5 million ($11 million international).

9. 害羞草研究所淲inchester,害羞草研究所� $2.2 million.

10. 害羞草研究所淪amson,害羞草研究所� $2 million.

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Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at international theatres (excluding the U.S. and Canada), according to comScore:

1. 害羞草研究所淏lack Panther,害羞草研究所� $169 million.

2. 害羞草研究所淒etective Chinatown 2,害羞草研究所� $155 million.

3. 害羞草研究所淢onster Hunt 2,害羞草研究所� $141 million.

4. 害羞草研究所淥peration Red Sea,害羞草研究所� $70.3 million.

5. 害羞草研究所淭he Monkey King 3: Kingdom of Women,害羞草研究所� $52.3 million.

6. 害羞草研究所淔ifty Shades Freed,害羞草研究所� $47.7 million.

7. 害羞草研究所淏oonie Bears: The Big Shrink,害羞草研究所� $32.6 million.

8. 害羞草研究所淭he Shape of Water,害羞草研究所� $12.3 million.

9. 害羞草研究所淢aze Runner: The Death Cure,害羞草研究所� $11 million.

10. 害羞草研究所淭he Greatest Showman,害羞草研究所� $9.6 million.

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Jake Coyle, The Associated Press

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