With the debut of “A Wrinkle in Time” on Friday, and a fourth consecutive top performance by “Black Panther,” Disney films were in firm control of the box office this weekend.
The two films reeled in $33.5 million and $41.1 million, respectively, across nearly 4,000 locations each, according to Variety.
“Black Panther” has won the No. 1 spot in the North American box office for the last four weekends straight, the first film to do so since “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” The film has now amassed $562 million, which made it the seventh-highest domestic grosser ever, Variety noted.
Globally, it has brought in a total of over $1 billion, Deadline Hollywood reported.
“A Wrinkle in Time” is filled with stars such as Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Storm Reid and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. Both films have put an emphasis on a diverse cast, as “Black Panther’s” director Ryan Coggler has made history as the first black director of a Marvel film and it starred a nearly all-black cast. “A Wrinkle in Time” was directed by Ava DeVurnay, who is African-American.
Many were quick to point out that the diversity in the two movies helped bring in historic success.
“Audiences respond to seeing themselves on the big screen and it’s good business for us,” Dave Hollis, the president of worldwide distribution for Disney, told Variety. “Representation and inclusion matter.” He also added that a family film, such as “A Wrinkle in Time” has much to look forward to as kids and families will flock to the movies for spring break throughout the next few weeks.
First of all, new estimates show #AWrinkleinTime raking $44-45M against $41-42M for #BlackPanther. That gives it the 2nd biggest opening weekend of 2018–after Black Panther. The top two openings of the year? Black directors. THAT’S your headline, @THR.https://t.co/dP2GCsCKKQ https://t.co/GbHKH8kA4h
— Jeff Yang 🫶 FOLLOW ME @ORIGINALSPIN ON THREADS/IG (@originalspin) March 10, 2018
History made.
Two black directors have the top two spots at the box office for the first time in history.
Congrats team #WrinkleInTime & #BlackPanther https://t.co/8XaSKPRZbK
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) March 11, 2018
Another way of framing this would be, “Weekend Box Office: For the first time in Hollywood history the top two movies in America were directed by a Black Man (#BlackPanther) and a Black Woman (#AWrinkleInTime)” https://t.co/AjuWXCZWPy
— L E F T, PhD ⚫️ (@LeftSentThis) March 10, 2018
The Monday after Black Panther opened, I felt more confident and capable as a black person. Today, the whole time watching @WrinkleInTime I felt broken pieces of my little girl self stitch themselves back together. And I wept under my 3D glasses the whole time. Thank you @ava
— Uncuffed & Unbothered (@CoachEbonySaid) March 11, 2018
I love @WrinkleInTime so much. It's a beautiful film that brims with hope and love. A much needed bit of goodness in today's world. Thank you @ava @Oprah @RWitherspoon @mindykaling https://t.co/gSkwQt4CuZ
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) March 11, 2018
*2 Black directors in the 1&2 spot. Both making history* Fixed it for you. https://t.co/dxMPH6jr2j
— Reagan Gomez (@ReaganGomez) March 10, 2018
