What do blue aliens and black panthers have in common?
Five consecutive weekends at the top of the box office.
"Black Panther" is still ruling the box office — for the fifth weekend in a row. The last time that happened was "Avatar," back in 2009. Part of the reason is that there haven't been any big releases in February or March to give it much competition. But still, it's pretty big deal, says Vanity Fair's Rebecca Keegan.
I think this is potentially the most important record that "Black Panther" has broken because staying at the top of the box office for this length of time represents a movie that has mass appeal and an extraordinary quality that is compelling people to see it multiple times.
Keegan also pointed out that a big reason behind the "Avatar" hype was its technological lore. It was heavily marketed as the first time 3D was used in an innovative way, which fueled ticket sales. Meanwhile, "Black Panther" has been marketed as a well-made movie that has quenched a thirst for representation.
Plus:
- One of the big barriers to more inclusive movie sets is the lack of representation in Hollywood unions. One group, Women in Media, is aiming to get more women their guild cards.
- Just weeks after the Academy instituted its new policies for reporting member misconduct, Academy President John Bailey has been accused of sexual harassment.
On The Lot, Take Two's weekly segment about the business of entertainment and Hollywood, airs every Monday.