Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther

In Theaters This Week (2/16/2018): Black Panther, Early Man

Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther

Each Thursday we look at what is going to be coming out in theaters this weekend, show you the trailers for the big releases, predict the box office winner and just generally give you enough of a carrot to pull you through the rest of the work week.   2018’s first blockbuster arrives in theaters this week and kicks off a run of big films that will last through March.

Eddie Redmayne in Early Man
The MCU is already, by far, the most profitable film franchise of all-time, but what’s more impressive is that the quality keeps improving.  Film #18, Black Panther, hasn’t just gotten good reviews, it’s gotten transcendent reviews.  It’s currently at 97% on RT at time of writing, which would make it the highest rated MCU film.  It’s also become a cultural phenomenon with its featuring of a black superhero and a mostly black cast, featuring one of the best, most well-rounded characters Marvel has to offer.  I knew Chadwick Boseman was going to be a huge star the first time I saw him in 42, and after Black Panther made the cover of Time Magazine this week, after this weekend, I think he’ll be on his way to being as iconic as any member of the MCU.  This film is going to be enormous.

I’ve never been a fan of the Wallace & Grommit animation style or humor (yes, even Chicken Run), but Early Man has also gotten very good reviews if you have kids you’re taking to Black Panther and find out that its sold out when you get there (which it may well be).


Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, PG-13, 2hr 15min)

 

 

Early Man (Eddie Redmayne, Maisie Williams, PG, 1hr 40min)

 



How Did We Do Last Week? 
KT picked Fifty Shades Freed to continue the franchise’s diminishing hold over the box office, but still win in the face of little competition and the Winter Olympics.  The final film in the trilogy pulled in $38.8 million, outpacing the film that calls itself Peter Rabbit (NOT PETER RABBIT!), which finished second with $25.1 million.  Our undefeated streak in 2018 rolls along (and it’s not like we’re going to get this week wrong).

Star Wars: The Last Jedi looks like it’s going to fall just short of cracking the all-time top five.  The ninth Star Wars film has made $617.1 million domestic and $1.325 billion globally.  All-time, it remains the #6 highest grossing film domestically, and it needs just over $6 million more to pass The Avengers at $623 and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get there.  Internationally, it is the #9 film.  It needs another $15.6 million worldwide to pass Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 for the #8 slot, but it looks like the box office gross for the film is pretty much done.  Unless it passes either, this is the last update on Episode VIII.
(2018 Prediction Record: 6-0; Lifetime prediction record 91-10).

Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson in Fifty Shades Freed

WHO WILL WIN THE WEEKEND?
Black Panther will make it 18 wins in a row for the MCU and shatter Deadpool’s Presidents Day Weekend record in the process.  By far.
Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther

5 thoughts on “In Theaters This Week (2/16/2018): Black Panther, Early Man”

  1. The Wrong Trousers is one of the best films ever made. Not one of the best animated films, not one of the best short films, but one of the best. Films. Ever. That is all.


    (The other Wallace and Gromit films fail to live up to it tho. But Chicken Run is priceless.)

    Liked by 1 person

      1. I think you are on the wrong side of history. Early Man made something like 3.5 million dollars over the four day weekend in the United States, which means it only trailed Black Panther by about two hundred and thirty nine million dollars.


        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yes, despite my perfect record this year and over 90% lifetime record in picking box office winners, my failure on Early Man has caused me to deeply re-evaluate everything I know about the business of film.

        Liked by 1 person

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