Every time we update the Planned Feature Films with Licensing Potential chart, it becomes more obvious—studios are increasingly investing into franchises. And superheroes are some of the best sources to mine—with a diverse and deep reserve of characters and storylines.
Make sure you check the list out, as a good chunk of films have been pushed back (even for those with a relatively close 2018 date).
Breaking it down by the numbers, the latest list counts 137 films with licensing potential through 2025. Of those, 39% are sequels, 18% are reboots, and just 6% are original projects. Twenty-three percent of films on the list are based on a comic property, 15% on a book, 9% on a game (traditional or video), 9% on a TV series, and just 5% on a toy.
As of writing, the biggest film launches of Q1 have landed. Feb. 16, 2018 is the day that will set the standard for box offices around the world. In the east, Monster Hunt 2 launches from Edko Films. And hailing from Hollywood, Black Panther makes its mark as the latest black lead from Marvel Studios.
China’s Monster Hunt 2, a hybrid live action and CGI fantasy, saw its opening day coincide with the start of the Chinese New Year holiday. By 10 p.m. local time Friday, the film had grossed $95.7 million (RMB603 million), according to provisional data from China Box Office—breaking the previous first-day record in China, which was set last year by Wolf Warrior 2. Edko Films will not stop at two; the studio plans to build the property as a long-lasting franchise complete with merchandising and theme park extensions, among other things.
On the other side of the pond, Black Panther raked in a record $25.2 million in Thursday preview showings—roughly double the previous record of $12.7 million set by Deadpool. The film is projected to debut to as much as $170 million over the Presidents Day weekend and has already set a record as the fourth biggest pre-seller in Fandango history.
The Marvel film has grossed $47 million internationally in its first day, showing in several major markets including the U.K., Hong Kong, Taiwan, France, and Australia. On Friday, Black Panther opened in Spain, Mexico, Finland, India, and South Africa.