"Black Panther," Marvel's juggernaut superhero film, made its way into the three highest-grossing films of all time in North America over the weekend.
Its current gross of $655 million, per Box Office Mojo, blasted it past "Titanic" in the record books, sitting behind only "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and "Avatar." The chart above shows how the top films in North America fared during their initial releases. ("Titanic" added nearly $60 million to its overall total via 2012 and 2015 re-releases.)
Why it matters: The film's runaway success proves that audiences have an appetite for blockbuster films that showcase diverse representation, especially after the success of last year's "Wonder Woman." And it sets wild expectations for this month's "Avengers: Infinity War," Marvel's team-up extravaganza, that will be set partially in the nation of Wakanda — home of "Black Panther."