Big Sean surprises Detroit students during 'Black Panther' field trip

ROYAL OAK, Mich. (WJBK) - "Black Panther" continues to crush it at the box office, putting it on track to possibly be among the highest grossing films ever.

Meanwhile, everyone from celebrities to teachers across the country have pushed for students to see the film, especially minority students who might not otherwise be afforded a trip to the movies. 

Here in Detroit, big names like Eminem, Big Sean, Jemele Hill, Jalen Rose and the Detroit Lions have made that possible. On Wednesday, more than 900 students from Detroit Public Schools Community District took a field trip to to Emagine Theatres in Royal Oak to see the film. Students in Ypsilanti have also been treated to the experience thanks to the group Hero Nation. 

While black leads in TV and film have grown over the years, there is still a lack of positive minority images coming from Hollywood, which is why many are stressing the importance of having young black kids see the movie.

"Black Panther" is about the mythical and highly advanced African nation of Wakanda, where T'Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman, inherits the throne but is challenged by a Wakandan exile named Killmonger, played by Michael B. Jordan. It's the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and based on 50-year-old material created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

The movie set a record with its $235 million debut at the top of the U.S. box office over the holiday weekend, becoming a blockbuster but also a cultural phenomenon. It's why some educators, philanthropists, celebrities, and business owners are pulling together their resources to bring children of color to see it.

And those 900 students seeing the film Wednesday got a very special surprise beforehand -- a visit from Detroit rapper Big Sean himself.

"I think Black Panther is extraordinary. It's one of my favorite movies I've ever seen," he told the kids. "I think it's important for kids, especially Detroit Public School kids, just all kids, to see black superheroes. Because that's what they are. That's something that we rarely get to see. I'm not even trying to make it a race thing; I'm just keeping it real though. It's important to see people of all colors of people being superheroes."

Big Sean is also giving back to his hometown community. 

He's teamed up with Emagine Theatres to open a theater in Detroit in the coming years. 

They hope to have a location finalized by the end of this summer, and hope to have the theater opened up by 2020. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report