Disney's 'Black Panther' reaches $1 billion globally

Black Panther has proved more valuable than vibranium - officially joining the billion-dollar club on it's fourth Friday of release worldwide. Photo / Getty Images

Black Panther has proved more valuable than vibranium - officially joining the billion-dollar club on it's fourth Friday of release worldwide.

According to Forbes, the critically-acclaimed Marvel Comics flick has amassed $530.8M (NZD $728.8M) domestic and $442M (NZD $606.8M) overseas in just 24 days.

This week, the record-breaking movie topped the box office for the fourth time in a row and earned the third-best fourth weekend gross ever, reports Daily Mail.

At this rate, Black Panther is well on its way to being North America's biggest comic book movie ever, and the biggest solo superhero flick ever worldwide.

The Afro-futurist film also boasts an impressive ensemble - including Lupita Nyong'o, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Danai Gurira, Michael B. Jordan, Chadwick Boseman, Martin Freeman, and Andy Serkis.

On Friday, Black Panther director Ryan Coogler penned an ESPN essay in honor of his 'big sister' and 'hero' Ava DuVernay, whom he's known since 2013.

"Ava is a pioneer. She makes the most distant dreams and ideas a reality," the 31-year-old Sundance Award winner gushed.

"She made a show called Queen Sugar and mandated the use of female directors and key creatives a full two years before the great Frances McDormand shared with the world what an inclusion rider was. Ava is inclusion, equity and representation."

However, Coogler has yet to actually collaborate with the 45-year-old Oscar nominee, whose Disney film A Wrinkle in Time hits US theaters Friday and NZ cinemas from April 12.