HOLLYWOOD—I knew the flick would open big, but I thought “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was a box-office darling; however that flick had nothing on “Blank Panther.” Why? I can’t recall the last time nearly every theater I went to the flick was sold out for the entire four-day holiday weekend. Yes, it was beyond frustrating, not to mention to see a flick with a predominantly all African-American cast receive such raving reviews. So how big was Marvel’s first big screen adaptation of the character who first appeared in “Captain America: Civil War.” It was so big that it brought in over $200 million, to the tune of $235 million during the holiday weekend.

Over the weekend it earned $200 million from Friday thru Sunday, and amounted nearly $200 million overseas drawing its global debut to nearly $400 million. Nabbing second place was last week’s runner up “Peter Rabbit” which added another $23.1 million to its tally. Domestically speaking the film will cross the $50 million mark by Monday.

Third place was a victory for “Fifty Shades Freed” which earned $19 million. Most of those sales likely came as a direct result of Valentine’s Day this past week. “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” is still holding strong to land in fourth place. The film added another $10 million during its ninth week in theaters to bring its domestic total just over $375 million. Rounding out the top five was the Clint Eastwood biopic “15:17 to Paris” with $9.1 million.

You may as well pencil this in right now; “Black Panther” will rule the box-office for the next several weeks. I’m saying this sparingly as it could face some competition from “The Strangers: Prey At Night” which opens on March 9, but the likely hood of that flick dethroning “Black Panther” means it would have to be huge in terms of critical buzz and audience reception.