Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which debuted in Nigeria in November 2022, broke a box office record by becoming the first movie to earn N1 billion there.

The Walt Disney Company Africa and FilmOne, Nigeria’s top blockbuster movie distributors, made this information public in a statement issued on Sunday.

The co-founders of FilmOne, Moses Babatope and Kene Okwuosa, declared:

We are ecstatic about the incredible response that Marvel Studios ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ has received at the box office.

The follow-up to Ryan Coogler’s 2018 hit ‘Black Panther’ has proved a draw for cinemagoers, captivating audiences across Nigeria, and we are honoured to have played a role in its success.

The record-breaking performance of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ is proof that the cinema industry in West Africa is not only alive and well but thriving.

Recent celebrations of the movie’s release in Lagos attracted movie producers and the cast, making history as the first official African Marvel Studios premiere in Nigeria.

Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Tenoch Huerta Mejia, and local artists that appear in the movie attended the black-carpet premiere event on November 6, 2022, along with dignitaries and visitors.

The film has won praise from critics for its captivating plot, breathtaking special effects, and brilliant cast.

Babatope added;

Following on from the success of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’, we are excited and committed to bringing more blockbuster films to our West African audiences, whilst supporting the growth of the cinema industry in the region. This is only the beginning of greater things to come.

The success of the film is a testament to the power of narrative and the ongoing popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, according to Christine Service, Senior Vice President and General Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa.

The Walt Manager said;

We can’t wait to bring even more exciting and memorable films to audiences in West Africa and around the world.