Why Box Office Flops Really, Really Hurt

Luck-of-the-draw may be one element in box-office inequality, but there are other forces at work

Inequality is playing at a theater near you.

Or rather, “Avengers: Infinity War,” the movie that is raking in money like no other since…well, since “Black Panther” earlier this year. Two weeks in, “Avengers” has made $479 million at the U.S. box office, and $1.25 billion world-wide. That compares with $694 million domestically and $1.34 billion world-wide for “Black Panther.” That counts as good news for Walt Disney Co., which produced both movies,

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