Black Panther is now a record‑setting smash at the box office.

The Marvel superhero film blew past expectations, with US$192 million in ticket sales in North America over the weekend.

That makes Black Panther the fifth‑biggest opening weekend ever, not accounting for inflation.

The only films with a higher gross opening weekend are Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Jurassic World and The Avengers.

It's also the highest‑grossing February opening weekend film.

Source: Stuff.co.nz