“Never in a million years did we imagine that you all would come out this strong,” Coogler wrote in a letter tweeted by Marvel on Tuesday. “It still humbles me to think that people care enough to spend their money and time watching our film.”
The film has also been lauded for its celebration and representation of black culture. As The New York Times notes, it’s one of the first films in a long time that is centered on black people who have a lot of agency and aren’t fixated on “black pain, and black suffering, and black poverty.”
You can read Coogler’s full letter below:
I am struggling to find the words to express my gratitude at this moment, but I will try.
Filmmaking is a team sport. And our team was made up [of] amazing people from all over the world who believed in this story. Deep down we all hoped that people would come to see a film about a fictional country on the continent of Africa, made up of a cast of people of African descent.
Never in a million years did we imagine that you all would come out this strong. It still humbles me to think that people care enough to spend their money and time watching our film- But to see people of all backgrounds wearing clothing that celebrates their heritage, taking pictures next to our posters with their friends and family, and sometimes dancing in the lobbies of theaters– often moved me and my wife to tears.
For the people who bought out theaters, who posted on social about how lit the film would be, bragged about our awesome cast, picked out outfits to wear, and who stood in line in theaters all over the world– all before seeing the film…
To the press who wrote about the film for folks who hadn’t yet seen it, and encouraged audiences to come out…
And to the young ones, who came out with their parents, with their mentors, and with their friends…
Thank you for giving our team of filmmakers the greatest gift: The opportunity to share this film, that we poured our hearts and souls into, with you.
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Chadwick Boseman attends the Premiere Of Disney And Marvel's 'Black Panther' - Arrivals on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Lupita Nyong'o attends the Premiere Of Disney And Marvel's 'Black Panther' - Arrivals on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Angela Bassett attends the Premiere Of Disney And Marvel's 'Black Panther' - Arrivals on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Sope Aluko attends the premiere of Disney and Marvel's 'Black Panther' on January 29, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JB Lacroix/WireImage)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Nabiyah Be attends the Premiere Of Disney And Marvel's 'Black Panther' - Arrivals on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Yara Shahidi attends the Premiere Of Disney And Marvel's 'Black Panther' - Arrivals on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Marija Abney attends the Premiere Of Disney And Marvel's 'Black Panther' - Arrivals on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Slater Vance, Angela Bassett, Bronwyn Vance and Courtney B. Vance attend the Premiere Of Disney And Marvel's 'Black Panther' - Arrivals on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Donald Glover attends the Premiere Of Disney And Marvel's 'Black Panther' - Arrivals on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Janeshia Adams-Ginyard attends the Premiere Of Disney And Marvel's 'Black Panther' - Arrivals on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Iva Colter (L) and actor Mike Colter at the Los Angeles World Premiere of Marvel Studios' BLACK PANTHER at Dolby Theatre on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Angel Parker attends the Premiere Of Disney And Marvel's 'Black Panther' - Arrivals on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Jessica Oyelowo and David Oyelowo attend the Premiere Of Disney And Marvel's 'Black Panther' - Arrivals on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Tanika Ray attends the Premiere Of Disney And Marvel's 'Black Panther' - Arrivals on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Issa Rae attends the Premiere Of Disney And Marvel's 'Black Panther' - Arrivals on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Janelle Monae attends the Premiere Of Disney And Marvel's 'Black Panther' - Arrivals on January 29, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 29: Danai Gurira attends the premiere of Disney and Marvel's 'Black Panther' on January 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JB Lacroix/WireImage)
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