The anticipation for the premiere of “Black Panther” has been building up for months. Marvel’s super hero film, set in the fictional East African country Wakanda, has sold advance tickets at record-breaking rates. Activist and community groups, as seen here in Baltimore, have bought up “thousands of tickets,” according to Forbes.
After all that build-up, theatergoers in Towson last night were turned away from multiple showings at the Cinemark and XD after being told there was a malfunction, as ABC2 reported.
“There was a long refund line so everyone who purchased a ticket in support of the movie are now getting their money back,” Brandie Garland told the network. “Originally when we got to the box office they were saying they were having some difficulties, but they said it wouldn’t be an issue they were pretty sure the movie was going to show.”
Other people on social media were not pleased.
LIES!!! not if you attempted to view at your TOWSON location!!! What a cluster F!
— K(dot)P(dot)Mc (@KPM229) February 16, 2018
#Towson @Cinemark such a huge let down tonight for the premier of #BlackPanther @theblackpanther @MarvelStudios all the shows were canceled ?
— Sunny (@Mak3my_Dae) February 16, 2018
So, @Cinemark in Towson, Maryland will NOT be showing #BlackPanther tonight because of technical difficulties. Needless to say, WE AINT HAPPY!
— Linwood Outlaw III (@linoutlaw) February 16, 2018
@Cinemark How do you have a glitch on Black Panther on opening night at your Towson location? Poor communication amongst the staff smh pic.twitter.com/FsoUB0ha2s
— Thomas Sheppard (@OmarComing410) February 16, 2018
Aside from tweets directing people to refunds, the company has not released any information about the problem. Baltimore Fishbowl has reached out to a Cinemark spokesperson for comment.
Every screening was not cancelled. The 10:20 showing happened, but it was a 3D showing and I’m pretty sure they screened the 2D version in the theater instead (after a significant delay)
It was still worth the trouble and the wait