Woohoo! “Wakanda Forever,” the long-awaited movie sequel to the Marvel juggernaut “Black Panther,” took the box office for its first week on the big screen — earning $180 million in North America and another $150 million worldwide.
At $330 million total, “Wakanda Forever” placed among the biggest sequels ever. In the global crowd of moviegoers, people like me were making their first in-person trip to the theater in three years. As the New York Times reported, the huge response helped end “one of the worst box office droughts on record.” I returned to the theater with more than a little trepidation, encouraged by my visiting nephew Cameron — who correctly pointed out how mad I’d be if plot leaks became public before I’d seen it. Two hours and 40 minutes flew by. It was worth breaking my self-imposed theater moratorium.
I already knew that there was at least one scene shot in Cambridge up near MIT. Lucky passersby spotted actress Danai Gurira — who plays Okoye, head of the all-woman Wakandan royal security force — filmed in a late-night high-speed chase near that area in the summer of 2021.
I was so excited to hear that — not just because it was a juicy tidbit about the then-upcoming movie, but because it meant the Marvel production team was shooting in Massachusetts. Made more attractive because of the now-permanent Massachusetts Film Tax Credit.
After years of legislative wrangling and his own public opposition, Gov. Charlie Baker signed off — last year — on a compromise making the Film Tax Credit permanent. The tax credit is for productions that spend at least $50,000 in Massachusetts. More credits can be earned if the production either films 75% of the project or spends 75% of the budget here. Not only does this enrich the state’s bottom line, but hundreds of local technicians and actors get work, and local non-production businesses like restaurants and hotels benefit from an influx of new customers.
The “Black Panther” blockbuster is just one of the many films and TV productions recently shot in and around Massachusetts, productions which will benefit from the film tax credit. [Editor’s note: GBH is one such company — HBO Max’s “Julia” filmed at GBH for its series about Julia Child.] Boston.com names 14 major movies and TV shows shooting here this year alone.
I was a big backer of the film tax credit during the time when so many claimed it was a Hollywood scam and would never pay off for Massachusetts. I’m not generally one to gloat (karma and all that) but I can’t resist a simple, “I told you so.” And if the stars align maybe I’ll get to see the filming of “Black Panther 3” on the Boston Common. Wakanda Forever!