Where the Data Ranks 2017’s (and 2018’s) Comic Book Films. Black Panther Crosses $1 Billion and Death of Stalin Debuts

Black Panther was won the weekend for the fourth straight weekend a first for a movie part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film earned an estimated $41.1 million domestically and it now has earned $562 million domestically.

The film also debuted in China, its final major market. There it opened with an estimated $66.5 million. Internationally the film earned an estimated $100 to bring its foreign earnings to $516.6 million.

The film has earned $1.079 billion. It’s the second highest domestic total ever for a comic adaptation, behind Marvel’s The Avengers. It’s ranked #7 overall not adjusted for inflation. When it comes to worldwide total, the film is just $6 million behind The Dark Knight Rises and is currently #21 for all films released also not adjusted for inflation. There it’s #6 for comic adaptations. The way the film is going, it should move into the top four worldwide earners for a comic film. It is $80 million short of Captain America: Civil War.

The film has earned more than every comic adaptation released in 2017.

The film is still earning far more domestically than the average Marvel film with 52.11% earned versus 41.17% on average. Things should shift even more internationally now that China has opened as that market can bring in 20% of a film’s total earnings.

The Death of Stalin debuted in four theaters earning $181,308 an impressive $45,327 per theater. The film has a comic adaptation tied with it which was released before the film debuted. It debuted internationally last year, with controversy in Russia. It earned $7.6 million in foreign markets.

We’ll have a deeper analysis of 2018’s releases as more are released (and one more comes out this March) but lets do the time warp to 2017…


Justice League continues to fight at the box office and stands at $657.8 million worldwide, an increase of $66,000 since last week. While the film is lagging other DC films, it’s also earning much more at the foreign box office than any other film beside Batman v Superman. The film is earned 65.2% of its dollars from the foreign box office. The DCU on average has earned 58%. The higher percentage is partially due to lower domestic earnings, but the film is definitely not to be counted out at the worldwide box office. It’s now just $42,000 behind Big Hero 6‘s worldwide earnings and currently sits at #26 all time for comic adaptations.

Thor: Ragnarok added an estimated $66,000 worldwide to its total. Worldwide the film has earned $853.9 million. The film is about $9.5 million behind Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

My Friend Dahmer has held steady at $1,361,611, the same amount as last week so it’s possible this film’s theatrical earnings are done.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle has slowed down and stands at $410.9 million. That’s an increase of $42,000 over the week.

2017 has been a record year for comic adaptations. With over a month to go the films have earned $2.365 billion domestically beating the previous year’s $1.901 billion. Internationally, films have earned $3.752 billion beating the previous record of $3.215 billion set in 2014. Worldwide comic adaptations have earned $6.117 billion beating the 2016 record of $5.026 billion. “Profits” too have seen a record year with $4.439 billion versus 2016’s record of $3.812 billion.

We’ll continue to report on 2017’s statistics until all dollars are in, at least another month, if not more.

Lets compare how the big two comic companies compare for earnings. Black Panther is included, so Marvel’s totals will increase over time. On average DC films earn $317.6 million domestically while Marvel earns $327.4 million. Internationally, Marvel rules with $488.3 million and DC lags behind with $435.7 million.

2017 has had five clear successes and a whole lot of mixed otherwise. Thor: RagnarokWonder Woman, Logan, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 have done well this year. My Friend DahmerJustice LeagueKingsman: The Golden Circle, The LEGO Batman Movie and Smurfs: The Lost Village, and Atomic Blonde are in that debatable area. ValerianWilson, Ghost in the Shell, and Blade of the Immortal are generally disappointments. Marvel’s Inhumans… got no clue and tough to debate since it’s a television show primarily with a limited film engagement.

Here’s where this year’s comic films stand as far as the actual numbers. With a new film opening the averages have dipped.

Total Domestic Gross: $2.365 billion
Total International Gross: $3.752 billion
Worldwide Gross: $6.117 billion
Total Reported Budgets: $1.667 million
Total “Profit”: $4.439 billion

Average Domestic Gross: $147.8 million
Average International Gross: $268 million
Average: Worldwide Gross: $382.3 million
Average Budget: $128.2 million
Average Profit: $254.1 million

Below is where the films released stand when it comes to being compared to this year’s averages. Those in green are above average while those below are red.