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Movie Review: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman tragically died of cancer in 2020. This sequel pays poignant tribute to his character. This time around, the Black Panther’s people of Wakanda find themselves drawn into a conflict with an undersea nation led by a potent newcomer named Namor.

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Movie Review: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Plugged In Entertainment Reviews

Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman tragically died of cancer in 2020. This sequel pays poignant tribute to his character. This time around, the Black Panther’s people of Wakanda find themselves drawn into a conflict with an undersea nation led by a potent newcomer named Namor. Read the Plugged In review: https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/black-panther-wakanda-forever-2022/ If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback: https://focusonthefamily.com/podcastsurvey/

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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

The people of Wakanda fight to protect their home from intervening world powers as they mourn the death of King T'Challa. The people of Wakanda fight to protect their home from intervening world powers as they mourn the death of King T'Challa. The people of Wakanda fight to protect their home from intervening world powers as they mourn the death of King T'Challa.

• Ryan Coogler
• Joe Robert Cole
• Letitia Wright
• Lupita Nyong'o
• Danai Gurira
• 1.5K User reviews
• 363 Critic reviews
• 67 Metascore
• 50 wins & 174 nominations total

Top cast 99+

• M'Baku

• (as Tenoch Huerta Mejía)

• Everett Ross

• Valentina Allegra de Fontaine

• River Tribe Elder

• Border Tribe Elder
• (as Daniel Sapani)
• Merchant Tribe Elder

• Mining Tribe Elder
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia Tenoch Huerta , who plays the ruler of an underwater kingdom, didn't know how to swim. When Ryan Coogler offered him the role and asked about his swimming skills, Huerta simply replied, "I've never drowned before." He took swimming lessons afterwards in preparation for the role.
• Goofs (at around 12 mins) Near the beginning of the movie when people are diving down in submersible diving suits, there is a reading called out of "Negative One PSI". Negative pressures do not exist, and pressures less than that at sea level (between zero and one PSI) would only happen if they were going up into higher atmospheres.

Ramonda : I am Queen of the most powerful nation in the world! And my entire family is gone! Have I not given everything?

• Crazy credits The Marvel Studios logo animation features quotes/images/clips of T'Challa ( Chadwick Boseman ) and is shaded purple, the royal color of Wakanda. The animation also has the music muted.
• Connections Edited into Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever: Nigeria: Past is Present (2023)
• Soundtracks Funeral Written by Baaba Maal , Massamba Diop , and Ludwig Göransson Produced by Ludwig Göransson Performed by Baaba Maal

User reviews 1.5K

• Nov 9, 2022

'Wakanda Forever' Stars Through the Years

• How long is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever? Powered by Alexa
• Co-producer Nate Moore has teased the existence of a potential director's cut of the movie. If it does exist, when can it be expected to be released?
• With a little over $800 million gross, is this movie considered a box office disappointment compared to the almost $1.4 billion gross of the original?
• November 11, 2022 (United States)
• United States
• Official site
• Black Panther 2
• Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
• Marvel Studios
• Walt Disney Pictures
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $250,000,000 (estimated)
• $453,829,060
• $181,339,761
• Nov 13, 2022
• $859,208,836

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 41 minutes
• IMAX 6-Track
• Dolby Digital
• Dolby Atmos
• D-Cinema 96kHz Dolby Surround 7.1
• 12-Track Digital Sound
• Dolby Surround 7.1

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Review: ‘Black Panther’ Shakes Up the Marvel Universe

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Anatomy of a Scene | ‘Black Panther’

Ryan coogler narrates a sequence from his film featuring chadwick boseman as t'challa, a.k.a. black panther..

I’m Ryan Coogler, co-writer and director of “Black Panther”. This scene is an extension of an action set piece that happens inside of a casino in Busan, South Korea. Now, T’Challa is in pursuit of Ulysses Klaue, who’s escaped the casino. He’s eliciting the help of his younger sister, Shuri, here, who’s back home in Wakanda. And she’s remote driving this Lexus sports car. And she’s driving from Wakanda. She’s actually in Wakanda. T’Challa’s in his panther suit on top of the car in pursuit. These are two of T’Challa’s comrades here. It’s Nakia who’s a spy, driving, and Okoye who’s a leader of the Dora Milaje in the passenger’s seat in pursuit of Klaue. The whole idea for this scene is we wanted to have our car chase that was unlike any car chase that we had seen before in combining the technology of Wakanda and juxtaposing that with the tradition of this African warrior culture. And in our film we kind of broke down characters between traditionalists and innovators. We always thought it would be fun to contrast these pairings of an innovator with a traditionalist. T’Challa, we kind of see in this film, is a traditionalist when you first meet him. His younger sister, Shuri, who runs Wakanda’s tech, is an innovator. So we paired them together. In the other car we have Nakia and Okoye, who’s also a traditionalist-innovator pairing. Nakia is a spy who we learn is kind of unconventional. And Okoye, who’s a staunch traditionalist, probably one of our most traditional characters in the film, you know, she doesn’t really like being in clothes that aren’t Wakandan. And this scene is kind of about her really bringing the Wakandan out. One of the images that almost haunted me was this image of this African woman with this red dress just blowing behind her, you know, spear out. And so a big thing was, like, you know, for me was getting the mount right so that the dress would flow the right way. It wouldn’t be impeded by the bracing system she was sitting on. So that took a lot of time. We had to play with the fabric and the amount of the dress to get it right.

By Manohla Dargis

• Feb. 6, 2018

A jolt of a movie, “ Black Panther ” creates wonder with great flair and feeling partly through something Hollywood rarely dreams of anymore: myth. Most big studio fantasies take you out for a joy ride only to hit the same exhausted story and franchise-expanding beats. Not this one. Its axis point is the fantastical nation of Wakanda, an African Eden where verdant-green landscapes meet blue-sky science fiction. There, spaceships with undercarriages resembling tribal masks soar over majestic waterfalls, touching down in a story that has far more going for it than branding.

Wakanda is home to Black Panther, a.k.a. T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), the latest Marvel hero to leap off the comic-book page and into his own movie. Created in 1966 by Stan Lee (script) and Jack Kirby (art), the original Black Panther — a hepcat in a slinky suit with claws and ears — debuted alongside the Fantastic Four in an adventure in Wakanda, which is powered by a mystery metal, vibranium. It was a splashy, timely entrance (the revolutionary group that shares his name officially formed that same year), and by the end of his first escapade, the Four had assured T’Challa “there’s no reason for the Black Panther’s career to come to an end!”

In the decades since, Black Panther has undergone a variety of costume alterations and adventures in the comics, some under the direction of the filmmaker Reginald Hudlin and, more recently, the author Ta-Nehisi Coates . To direct the first Panther movie, Marvel tapped Ryan Coogler, who with his last outing, “ Creed ,” shook the dust off the Rocky series by giving it an African-American champion played by Michael B. Jordan. For “Black Panther,” Mr. Coogler brought back both Mr. Jordan and some former crew members — including Rachel Morrison , the director of photography on his first feature “Fruitvale Station” — continuity that may help account for this movie’s intimacy and fluidity.

As with all Marvel screen ventures, the story has a lot of moving parts, but in general the results don’t register as the same-old superhero busywork, the kind that makes for forgettable stories and strenuously overinflated running times. Written by Mr. Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, “Black Panther” brings T’Challa’s story up to the present, sketches in his past and looks to his future, all while clearing room for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its other unitard-wearing warriors. (Black Panther was first wedged into the forgettable “Captain America: Civil War.”) The movie also rather too breezily establishes Wakanda as a militaristic monarchy that is nevertheless fair and democratic.

The story initially involves a satisfying if obvious cartoonish villain, Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis, having a conspicuously very good time), an underworld arms dealer with a weaponized arm, an Afrikaans sneer and a rampaging cohort that includes Erik Killmonger (Mr. Jordan). As his name announces, Killmonger has, well, issues to go with his striking body ornamentation. The band’s evildoing ways attract the attention of the Black Panther and an international lawman in the person of a friendly C.I.A. agent (the customarily cuddly Martin Freeman), whose good-guy status is just one reminder that “Black Panther” adheres to at least some dubious Hollywood conventions.

For a while, as the story and the Black Panther veer here and there, jumping from Wakanda to Busan, South Korea, the filmmakers seem as if they’re simply going to deliver a remix of James Bond with a touch of Spidey shenanigans. The Black Panther even slinks into a swank casino with some backup and before long the place has erupted with the kind of choreographed mayhem that — as legs and gowns twirl — achieves liftoff. There’s also the inevitable chaotic car chase that turns Busan into a video game and, dispiritingly, a car commercial, an egregious tie-in that is somewhat alleviated by the amusing image of a woman warrior’s bare foot putting pedal to the metal.

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• DVD & Streaming

Black Panther

• Action/Adventure , Drama , Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Content Caution

In Theaters

• February 16, 2018
• Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa/Black Panther; Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger; Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia; Danai Gurira as Okoye; Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross; Daniel Kaluuya as W'Kabi; Letitia Wright as Shuri; Winston Duke as M'Baku; Sterling K. Brown as N'Jobu; Angela Bassett as Ramonda; Forest Whitaker as Zuri; Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue

Home Release Date

• May 15, 2018
• Ryan Coogler

Distributor

Movie review.

Secret identities have been a staple of superherodom since Superman first slapped on a pair of glasses and called himself Clark.

But a whole country in disguise?

Welcome to Wakanda, a third-world nation that boasts—well, basically nothing. Sure, it’s picturesque in its own way. And maybe it had a bit of vibranium—that super-rare, super-durable metal that makes up Captain America’s shield—back in the day. But Wakanda didn’t have enough of the stuff to make a dent in the country’s crippling poverty. Now it doesn’t even have that , thanks to the thieving Ulysses Klaue (pronounced claw ). With most of its vibranium gone, Wakanda is so destitute that the only folks who visit are those who got lost on their way to Chad.

Nope, there’s absolutely nothing to see in Wakanda. Nothing at all … unless, that is, you sneak past the high-tech, invisible cloaking barrier.

Turns out, Wakanda has a bit more vibranium than its leaders let on. Like, a whole mountain of it. And you can do more than just make shields out of the stuff. It’s awfully useful for transportation and medicine, for national defense and even fashion. Vibranium is the most useful substance since water, and this African nation is soaked in the stuff. As a result, Wakanda is secretly the most advanced society on the planet, and its capital city makes Abu Dhabi look a little dowdy, Tokyo look a little antiquated, and the Big Apple look like it’s a little past its sell-by date.

For centuries, Wakanda has kept its great wealth to itself, doing its level-headed best to protect its vibranium, its culture and its people. And the country’s new, young, all-powerful king, T’Challa, shows no immediate signs of reversing course. Some disagree with that tack, admittedly: T’Challa’s ex-girlfriend, Nakia, thinks it’s high time Wakanda took a more active role in helping the hurting world around it. But let’s face it, most African nations have learned, quite painfully, what it means to have something of value to the whole world: invasion, exploitation, colonialization. And even though Wakanda is a bit too powerful to worry much about that sort of thing happening, why risk it?

Not everyone is so clueless about Wakanda’s natural attributes, though. Klaue knows there’s more vibranium to steal: Lots more. And he’s recently found a new partner in crime—a guy with the moniker Erik Killmonger.

But Killmonger has an agenda that even Klaue might blanch at, one that could mean nothing less than upending and destroying the world as we all know it. He aims to turn Wakanda’s vibranium into a mass weapon of vengeance, and he’ll not let anything stand in his way.

Not even Wakanda’s king, T’Challa, and its traditional protector: Black Panther.

Positive Elements

Let’s do something unusual here and begin our positive focus with Killmonger. That’s right, the bad guy.

Make no mistake, Killmonger is bad—bad to practically every lethal bone in his body. But as it is with most great movie villains, we see elements of a righteous impulse twisted in him. The guy has seen Africa exploited, misused and ignored. He knows the injustices that the continent’s inhabitants have had to endure for so many centuries, and he’s angry about it. And when you look at history, it’s not hard to find reasons for that anger.

T’Challa understands those realities, too. But if Killmonger’s determined to mete out catastrophic retaliation for past abuses, T’Challa looks toward the future—one filled with hope and reconciliation. He aims to walk a higher road, one that might serve as an example for other people and countries to follow. As king and protector of Wakanda, T’Challa’s willing to sacrifice everything for his homeland. Yet he also recognizes the threat that Killmonger represents to the rest of the world, too, and he’s determined to stop him.

But here’s an interesting twist: Despite the obvious threat, T’Challa insists on opposing Killmonger fairly. He, along with most of the Wakandans we meet, doesn’t try to achieve honorable ends through dishonorable means. Sometimes, admittedly, there’s a difference of opinion about what path to travel: When someone usurps T’Challa’s throne, Nakia decides to oppose the usurper. Meanwhile, Okoye, Wakanda’s supremely skilled warrior/general, declares her allegiance to the throne of Wakanda, not the man who sits on it. Both pursue what they believe is the most righteous course under the circumstances. Nakia risks all to oppose a would-be tyrant; Okoye pushes against her own instincts to persevere with her duty. Both courses are pretty inspiring.

We see plenty of others—even would-be antagonists—follow their own righteous paths. M’Baku, a chieftain from a rival clan and longtime T’Challa adversary, helps the king out in an hour of need. Everett Ross, a somewhat slippery CIA agent, is willing to sacrifice for someone else and jumps to Wakanda’s defense when the need is dire. Wakandans help and heal people, even when it seems like it’d be in their self-interest not to do so.

T’Challa, Nakia and others rescue kidnapped women from heavily armed kidnappers. We learn that T’Challa’s father made a difficult, far-reaching decision many years ago that his son now believes in hindsight was morally wrong.

[ Spoiler Warning ] And finally, we must note that Nakia’s desire for Wakanda to shed its reclusiveness and help the rest of the world as much as its resources will allow is a value that T’Challa eventually embraces, too. In times of great stress and trial, he says, “the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers.” And while we can obviously hear that dialogue as political commentary on current real-world issues, it’s also a message the Christian Church has long embraced.

Spiritual Elements

While some of Black Panther ‘s themes echo Christian ideas and values, the movie’s explicit spiritual framework is rooted in another mythos.

The Black Panther has been Wakanda’s protector for centuries. The country’s king is always given the power of the panther as part of his title—a power that Wakandans say comes from the panther god, Bast, by way of a glowing flower. As part of the new king’s coronation ceremonies, Wakandan monarchs undergo a mystical “death,” as it were: They fall into a trance and are literally buried under dirt (or other such substance), where they travel to the realm of their ancestors—meeting the spirits of their fathers and others who have gone before.

We hear people pray to these ancestors and praise Bast. (“Glory to Bast, I’m in good health,” one says.) T’Challa’s widowed mother expresses faith that his father is still with them all. During ceremonial combat, M’Baku temporarily knocks T’Challa to the ground and taunts him, saying, “Where is your god now?”

Sexual Content

T’Challa and Nakia share some kisses, a couple of them a bit sensual. Nakia and Okoye wear flattering evening wear to a casino; Nakia’s dress exposes her shoulders, Okoye’s a bit of cleavage. Some Wakandan traditional garb displays female midriffs. T’Challa, M’Baku and others sometimes go about without shirts.

Violent Content

We witness plenty of typical superhero action here. Characters get punched and kicked and shot at. A few aircraft are shot out of the sky (though given Wakandan technology, I’m not sure whether those aircraft necessarily contained human pilots). Cars crash. Some are blown to bits. There’s some seriously frenetic action involving high-tech Wakandan spears, secret arm cannons and—well, not to give too much away¬—some well-armored animals.

A few violent moments are worth noting in greater detail. Someone has his throat cut during a dramatic battle sequence. Others are stabbed in the shoulder or gut during ceremonial battles, and we subsequently glimpse their bloody wounds. A guy is shot in the spine, almost ending in his death. A woman is shot in the head and killed. Someone’s thrown off a cliff, apparently to his doom. Folks die via spear and claw and bullet (with one being shot treacherously in the back).

In flashback, we see men seemingly intent on sparking violence in Oakland, California, and they hide a pair of automatic weapons when someone comes to the door. We hear about some colonial-era atrocities. And there’s also mention of slaves who, instead of submitting to slavery, killed themselves. A bunch of flowers are set on fire. A large animal gets thrown to the ground. We hear an arm apparently break.

Killmonger has a long history as a soldier, assassin and spy, and he says he’s ceremonially scarred himself for each life he’s taken. His body is covered with such scars.

Crude or Profane Language

We hear at least five s-words, a few uses of “a–” and at least one use of “b–ch,” (some of which are in songs playing in the background). Additionally, we hear several instances of “h—” and two misuses of God’s name. There’s one crude hand gesture.

Drug and Alcohol Content

While Wakandan legend says the Black Panther’s power comes from Bast, it technically flows from a flower that’s ground into powder and then mixed into a liquid. When the Wakandan king (who, as mentioned, also serves as Black Panther) needs to undergo ritual combat with another claimant to the throne, he drinks another drug-laced beverage, which temporarily removes his special powers.

Attendees at a casino consume various alcoholic beverages.

Other Negative Elements

We hear an occasional lie … including the whopper that Wakanda is a poor, third-world country. (Yeah, just like Kanye West’s most notable attribute is his modesty.) A scene takes place in an illegal gambling parlor.

Black Panther isn’t just a movie: It’s a moment.

Most Marvel movies make a mint upon release, and this one will be no different. But the buzz surrounding Black Panther has hit a whole different level. It’s the first blockbuster superhero movie not only to star a black hero, but a predominantly black cast as well (including Oscar winners Lupita Nyong’o and Forest Whitaker and newly minted Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown). Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer, who’s not even in the movie, thought the movie was important enough to rent out an entire movie theater and fill it with “an underserved community … to ensure that all our brown children can see themselves as a superhero.” Black Panther , in its own superhero-y way, deals with bigger cultural touchstones, most notably racial upheaval.

But while this movie certainly has a special appeal for one segment of superhero lovers, it’s also a movie made for all of us. Black Panther preaches—and I think that’s a fair characterization—that we have a responsibility to make the world a better place. To help folks when and where we can. To use the gifts that God has given us to serve others and to hold ourselves to high, honorable standards. It tells us that while we can fight back against evil, we cannot respond to hate in kind. The only thing that can overcome man’s worst impulses is to aspire to be better. More honorable. More just.

Black Panther , like most superhero movies, is an aspirational story—one that encourages all of us to up our game, superpowers or no. It’s a hard road such stories ask of us, no question, and the movie even acknowledges as such. When T’Challa faces his dearly departed father, he’s told flat out, “You are a good man with a good heart. And it is hard for a good man to be king.” But T’Challa’s determined to try to be both, whatever the cost.

Black Panther isn’t necessarily better than some of the other standout superhero movies that have come before it. And, as noted above, it has its share of problems—whether it’s the film’s occasionally intense violence, it’s occasional profanity or its often hinky spirituality. Still, Black Panther has a good heart, and it gives us a real hero—strong and honorable and, when possible, even filled with grace.

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

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Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman tragically died of cancer in 2020. This sequel pays poignant tribute to his character. This time around, the Black Panther’s people of Wakanda find themselves drawn into a conflict with an undersea nation led by a potent newcomer named Namor.

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Movie Review: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever First Reviews: Thoughtful, Spectacular Sequel That Raises the Bar for the MCU

Early reviews say wakanda forever honors the late chadwick boseman with a visually sumptuous, character-driven story that manages to be both epic and intimate at the same time..

TAGGED AS: First Reviews , marvel cinematic universe , movies

Hardly just another sequel in the MCU , Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has the pressure of following up the best-reviewed movie of the franchise — which was also up for Best Picture (and won three of its six other Oscar nominations). Of course, the second Black Panther feature is also missing its former lead, Chadwick Boseman , who sadly died of cancer in 2020. According to the first reviews of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever , though, the sequel manages to still live up to the original and meet expectations for another thrilling and culturally meaningful superhero blockbuster while feeling equally weighed down by and lifted up by Boseman’s legacy.

Here’s what critics are saying about Black Panther: Wakanda Forever :

Does the sequel live up to expectations?

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever had the highest of expectations and surpasses every one of them, and makes a strong case for itself as a Best Picture contender. – Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is under a lot of pressure, but Coogler lands it. – Princess Weekes, The Mary Sue

Marvel raised the bar on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever . – Christie Cronan, Raising Whaisians

Rather than one-upping Black Panther , Wakanda Forever continues its story with a grace and care that’s more moving than any comic book movie has the right to be. – Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge

What director and co-writer Ryan Coogler and the team have done with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is nothing short of outstanding. – Janet A. Leigh, Digital Spy

How does it fit into the MCU?

One of the most moving MCU entries so far, and one of the best films to come out of Marvel’s Phase Four. – Ross Bonaime, Collider

Decisions that were made in Avengers: Endgame , Black Panther , and other spots of the Marvel Cinematic Universe pay off in ways that will surprise fans… You’re going to leave the theater with a ton of questions for Phase 5 and beyond. – Aaron Perine, ComicBook.com

When the film tries to remind the audience of how it connects to the rest of the MCU, especially when specific lines of dialogue seem forced in to do so, it loses itself. – Kate Sánchez, But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Wakanda Forever has a sense of self that extends far beyond its Marvel brand identity. – David Ehrlich, IndieWire

(Photo by ©Marvel Studios)

Does it work without Chadwick Boseman?

The central character of this tale remains the one played by Boseman, who may not be around anymore, but his influence casts a long, deep shadow. – Neil Pond, Neil’s Entertainment Picks

Unavoidably, Boseman’s absence paradoxically has a presence of its own but in a way that feels wholly appropriate and is not distracting. – Janet A. Leigh, Digital Spy

While Wakanda Forever directly reflects Boseman’s death by almost replicating the circumstances in the story, it’s done so with reverence and never feels like exploitation. – Kate Sánchez, But Why Tho? A Geek Community

A love for Chadwick and an undying reverence for T’Challa can be felt throughout Wakanda Forever . But the movie is careful to not be so bound up in those powerful emotions that it ever feels narratively inflexible or stuck in the past. – Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge

Every major character in Wakanda is left to determine whether T’Challa’s memory will be a blessing or a torment, and the movie around them is so wracked by the same tension that even its most formulaic moments are heavy with a human weight that blockbusters seldom have the strength to carry. – David Ehrlich, IndieWire

How well does the movie honor his legacy?

The passing of T’Challa is handled with care, grace, and respect… Right off the bat, the viewer is set with the tone that this film is a love letter to Chadwick. – Jamie Broadnax, Black Girl Nerds

Not only is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever a love letter to Chadwick Boseman, but it is also an accurate depiction of how people cope with their remorse. – Britany Murphy, Discussing Film

The death of both the actor and the character he played is handled with incredible grace, sensibility, and honor… Fans will be relieved to see this dedication. – Sheraz Farooqi, Cinema Debate

(Photo by ©Marvel Sudios)

How is Namor as the villain?

Played by Tenoch Huerta, Namor is an absolute powerhouse in every way. – Sheraz Farooqi, Cinema Debate

Every time the film focuses on Namor, the importance of protecting his people, and his interactions with Shuri, the film excels. – Kevin L. Lee, AwardsWatch

Tenoch Huerta’s Namor… might have a claim to the title of Phase 4’s most memorable “villain.” – Aaron Perine, ComicBook.com

It’s been a long time since a villain/anti-hero has felt so fleshed out in the MCU. – Britany Murphy, Discussing Film

One of the most captivating villains we’ve seen in a Marvel Studios movie… A villain with layers, and depth, and is conflicted. Much like Killmonger in Black Panther . – Jamie Broadnax, Black Girl Nerds

Huerta cannot quite measure up to Michael B. Jordan’s raw charisma, but he makes up for it by projecting an imperial mien worthy of Namor’s status as a demigod among his people. – Jake Cole, Slant Magazine

Do any other performances stand out?

Bassett in particular arguably puts her career-best performance in the role, with incredibly raw emotion packed into her delivery of each line of the script. – Sheraz Farooqi, Cinema Debate

Bassett gives one of the best performances in the Marvel universe so far. – Ross Bonaime, Collider

Bassett also has to be on the shortlist for Best Supporting Actress nominees. The script sets her up for some powerful moments that Bassett crushes with the kind of emotion to put lumps in throats. – Jeffrey Lyles, Lyles’ Movie Files

Wright gives a standout performance in having to convey a wide myriad of emotions of someone who is the heir to the throne but has inner and exterior conflicts about her leadership while living in the shadow of T’Challa and his legacy. – Carla Hay, Culture Mix

One of the shining rays of exuberance in this movie is Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams, a.k.a. Ironheart. – Aaron Perine, ComicBook.com

(Photo by Annette Brown/©Marvel)

How is the script?

The storyline is fluid, engaging, and constantly moving – one of the best scripts from Marvel. – Christie Cronan, Raising Whaisians

On a plot and scene-by-scene basis, the film struggles to find one singular thread to connect everything. – Kevin L. Lee, AwardsWatch

At times, Coogler and Cole’s script seems to strain from the effort it takes to pull all these threads together. – Rachel LaBonte, Screen Rant

How does it look?

The film is shot beautifully with its gorgeous cinematography and color palette being far more noticeable than most other Marvel projects. – Kevin L. Lee, AwardsWatch

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has better visual effects than Black Panther . The cinematography is also an improvement. – Carla Hay, Culture Mix

The regality of the Wakanda regime, from landscapes to the CGI technology to the costuming, the visuals are even better in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever than the original 2018 film. – Christie Cronan, Raising Whaisians

Once again, Carter does her thing… and it already feels like a foregone conclusion that she will claim another Best Costume Design Oscar for work on this franchise. – Jeffrey Lyles, Lyles’ Movie Files

Are there meaningful action scenes?

They’re at their best when they focus on the human side of it rather than the explosiveness of it all. – Rachel LaBonte, Screen Rant

[As] the scope of the battles get larger and larger, yet the stakes become more and more personal. – Kevin L. Lee, AwardsWatch

The action is top-notch… Coogler is much more focused on telling a story about the emotions that drive violence, not the violence itself. – Kate Sánchez, But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Even though the movie’s action sequences are a marked upgrade over the first film’s, they ultimately end up playing second string to Wakanda Forever’ s focus on the Wakandan royal family’s emotions. – Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge

Only the first action scene… has the panache that the previous film displayed at numerous turns. – Jake Cole, Slant Magazine

Is it more than just another superhero movie?

The movie has the muscle and heft of a comic-book blockbuster, but it also reflects profoundly on the human resonance of ancestry, remembering and moving on. – Neil Pond, Neil’s Entertainment Picks

More than just a standard superhero story about good and bad guys… it pushes its audience to think about the ripples history creates in the present . – Kate Sánchez, But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Beyond super heroes, action-packed scenes and explosions, the power of grief – the physical, mental, and emotional anguish – is the bloodline of this film. – Christie Cronan, Raising Whaisians

Wakanda Forever manages to be both epic and intimate at the same time. – Kevin L. Lee, AwardsWatch

Wakanda Forever is probably the best female-led superhero movie we have to date. – Princess Weekes, The Mary Sue

Is it a lot of movie? Will we feel the length?

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has a ton of story to tell and it needs every single minute. – Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics

It’s big and bulky and sometimes beautiful, almost enough for two full movies packed into one. – Neil Pond, Neil’s Entertainment Picks

I was surprised how fast the time flew during this film. – Christie Cronan, Raising Whaisians

Wakanda Forever is paced in such a way that its action sequences move at a brisk clip, while its more serious moments never overstay a beat. – Toussaint Egan, Polygon

It’s easily 20 minutes too long. Yet Wakanda Forever has a slow-burn emotional suspense. Once the film starts to gather steam, it doesn’t let up. – Owen Gleiberman, Variety

While its length and emotional density can feel like a marathon, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a cinematic triumph. – Eric Francisco, Inverse

Does it signal good things ahead for the MCU?

For people dealing with Marvel fatigue, this is the film that will give you some hope. – Princess Weekes, The Mary Sue

I cannot applaud Marvel enough for this movie – the most important Marvel film in the MCU repertoire to date. – Christie Cronan, Raising Whaisians

It paves an exciting way forward for the Marvel franchise while cementing itself as a cultural force to be reckoned with. – Rachel LaBonte, Screen Rant

Phase 5 has some big shoes to fill after this one, and hopefully, the storytelling can create the same kind of authenticity and greatness this movie has. – Jamie Broadnax, Black Girl Nerds

Wakanda Forever suggests that the kingdom, and the franchise, are in good hands. – Neil Pond, Neil’s Entertainment Picks

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever opens everywhere on November 11, 2022.

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Black panther.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 156 Reviews
• Kids Say 306 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Masterful Marvel film has depth, diversity -- and violence.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Black Panther is the first film in the Marvel cinematic universe to center on a superhero of color: African prince-turned-king T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), aka the Black Panther. As in all superhero movies, there's plenty of violence -- in this case, mostly brutal hand-to-hand combat…

Why Age 12+?

More close-up fights than in previous Marvel films, with more explosive, widespr

Infrequent use of "s--t," "ass," and "hell"; one character makes a middle-finger

On camera: Toyota Land Cruiser, a top-of-the-line Lexus (which has been heavily

A couple of kisses and some flirting. One couple calls each other "my love" in a

Adult extras drink in the background of a casino scene; a more central character

Any Positive Content?

Positive representation of Marvel's first Black superhero; ensemble cast is larg

Promotes teamwork, communication, loyalty, integrity, courage, and friendship. H

T'Challa is a born leader who's thoughtful, patient, and compassionate. Okoye, N

Violence & Scariness

More close-up fights than in previous Marvel films, with more explosive, widespread violence. One-on-one ritual battles are intense (with bloody wounds, stabbings, etc.), full of moments when it seems like a character is going to die. A couple of deaths (both real and presumed) are particularly emotional. Weapons used in full-scale battle scenes include spears, curved knives, armored war animals. Super-powered guns/cannons that have the power to obliterate vehicles in one shot. Bad guys shoot bystanders and enemies, sometimes in cold blood. A long, explosive car chase causing lots of destruction. Dead bodies shown. Flashback to T'Challa's father's death. Brief footage from 1992 LA riots on TV. Black Panther rescues women from armed Nigerian soldiers.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Infrequent use of "s--t," "ass," and "hell"; one character makes a middle-finger gesture. A couple of Wakandan characters use the historically accurate word "colonizer" as a derisive/dismissive way of referring to white people/those in power. On the flip side, characters use the word "savage" a couple of times as an insult to the Wakandans.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

On camera: Toyota Land Cruiser, a top-of-the-line Lexus (which has been heavily featured in commercials), BBC News. Off camera: Marvel-branded merchandise is everywhere, including video games, apparel, action figures, and other products associated with all the characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A couple of kisses and some flirting. One couple calls each other "my love" in a flirtatious/charged manner. Klaue smuggles a sensitive package in the crotch area of his pants.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adult extras drink in the background of a casino scene; a more central character orders a whiskey. A fictional heart-shaped herb is used for medicinal, mystical purposes in a sacred ritual.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Diverse Representations

Positive representation of Marvel's first Black superhero; ensemble cast is largely Black. Women have agency and are shown to be strong, smart, capable, and courageous.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Positive Messages

Promotes teamwork, communication, loyalty, integrity, courage, and friendship. Highlights the abilities of women and people of color in leading roles. Explores the necessity of global compassion and outreach and the idea that, as human beings, more unites us than separates us. Duty, ritual, justice, and tradition are very important to the Wakandans. An important theme of the movie is learning that those who may seem perfect usually aren't; we all have flaws and secrets. But we also aren't responsible for the choices of those who came before us.

Positive Role Models

T'Challa is a born leader who's thoughtful, patient, and compassionate. Okoye, Nakia, and Shuri are strong, smart, capable, and brave, and Shuri is an inventive tech genius. Even the main villain is complicated and thought-provoking. A highly respected character is revealed to have made some pretty big mistakes in the past.

Parents need to know that Black Panther is the first film in the Marvel cinematic universe to center on a superhero of color: African prince-turned-king T'Challa ( Chadwick Boseman ), aka the Black Panther. As in all superhero movies, there's plenty of violence -- in this case, mostly brutal hand-to-hand combat that gets quite intense, with bloody injuries and even deaths. Although there are a few shoot-outs with super-powered guns/cannons (as well as some cold-blooded killings), the majority of the action features spear and blade fighting. That said, some confrontations do include larger, explosive battles and very destructive car chases. Language and sexual content are pretty minimal: a few uses of "s--t" and "hell" and a couple of quick kisses. Set mostly in the fictional African nation of Wakanda, the movie features not only the first mostly Black ensemble cast in superhero-film history ( Michael B. Jordan , Lupita Nyong'o , Angela Bassett , Forest Whitaker , Danai Gurira , and Daniel Kaluuya co-star), but also an all-female royal guard and a brilliant female inventor/engineer. Families who see Black Panther will have plenty to talk about afterward, from its portrayal of race and gender to the overall importance of having Black superheroes as main characters, rather than sidekicks. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (156)
• Kids say (306)

Based on 156 parent reviews

black super hero

An innocent enough comic book movie that still manages to be empowering, what's the story.

After a folktale-like prologue that recounts the history of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, BLACK PANTHER opens with a flashback to 1992, when a younger T'Chaka (Atandwa Kani) makes a surprise visit to Oakland, California, to confront a rogue Wakandan spy. Back in the present, T'Challa ( Chadwick Boseman ) is preparing for his coronation day, which includes a potential challenge -- through ritual combat -- from any of Wakanda's five tribes, as well as a sacred ceremony in which he officially becomes the nation's Black Panther. After T'Challa takes the throne, intelligence surfaces that notorious arms dealer Ulysses Klaue ( Andy Serkis ) has stolen a vibranium artifact from the British Museum. T'Challa takes his top warrior -- head of the royal guard General Okoye ( Danai Gurira ) -- and his former love, Nakia ( Lupita Nyong'o ), a Wakandan spy, to attempt to capture Klaue (one of the few outsiders who knows the truth about how much vibranium -- the most valuable metal on Earth -- is available in Wakanda). But CIA operative Everett Ross ( Martin Freeman ) and Klaue's mysterious young ally ( Michael B. Jordan ) complicate the mission. It turns out that the mystery man is a former SEAL who has a very personal score to settle with T'Challa and the Wakandans.

Is It Any Good?

Ryan Coogler 's masterful superhero drama is unlike any other, featuring outstanding acting, breathtaking art direction, fascinating royal intrigue, memorable action sequences, and surprising depth. It's that depth -- of character, of storyline, of relevancy -- that makes Black Panther shine, as Boseman's T'Challa takes the mantle of king with enormous uncertainty about whether to share Wakanda's resources with the world. With the exception of his second-in-command W'Kabi (Kaluuya), T'Challa surrounds himself with an inner circle of influential women: Okoye, Nakia, his mother (Bassett), and his genius younger sister, scientist/tech inventor Shuri (Letitia Wright). Each of them contributes much to the story, with Gurira's spear-wielding Okoye the movie's clear scene-stealer, Wright the clever comic relief, and Nyong'o offering a wee bit of romance. Even the central villain, as played by frequent Coogler collaborator Jordan, is well-rounded and humanized, with the actor doing great work opposite the equally nuanced Boseman.

There's so much to appreciate in Black Panther , from its pulsing score, which features a soundtrack overseen by award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar, to the mesmerizing cinematography courtesy of DP Rachel Morrison, gorgeous tribal costumes, and vibrant production design. There's not as much laugh-aloud banter as viewers may have come to expect from Marvel movies, but the beats of humor that are here, usually thanks to plucky Shuri or mountain-tribe leader M'Baku (Winston Duke), are extra funny. Ultimately the film's success comes down to the thoughtful, compelling storytelling from director Coogler and writer Joe Robert Cole, as interpreted by a terrific cast of actors. This isn't just another highly entertaining but formulaic superhero story; it's also poignant and powerful and earns its place toward the top of Marvel's films. (Be sure to watch all the way through the credits for a couple of extra tidbits!)

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the role models in Black Panther . Who are they, and what character strengths do they exhibit? How does T'Challa demonstrate courage , integrity , and even teamwork ?

Why is it important for superheroes to be diverse? How is Black Panther an example of both racial and gender diversity compared to other superhero films?

How does the movie explore issues related to race? Why is Erik's perspective on the world so different from T'Challa's? Is one right and the other wrong? Why or why not? Why does representation matter in movies, TV, and books?

How are the Dora Milaje (T'Challa's all-female combat fighting force) unique in the Marvel Universe? What did you think of the way the movie portrays women in usually "male" roles -- e.g., tech expert, warrior general, spy? What message does that convey to viewers?

What is the movie's message about global responsibility? Do you agree with the view that the Black Panther should keep Wakanda safe at all costs, or with the idea that Wakanda should help less-stable, less-advanced nations and communities by sharing resources?

Movie Details

• In theaters : February 16, 2018
• On DVD or streaming : May 15, 2018
• Cast : Chadwick Boseman , Michael B. Jordan , Lupita Nyong'o
• Director : Ryan Coogler
• Inclusion Information : Black directors, Black actors, Female actors, Latino actors
• Studio : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Superheroes , Brothers and Sisters
• Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity , Teamwork
• Run time : 134 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : prolonged sequences of action violence, and a brief rude gesture
• Awards : Academy Award , Common Sense Media Award , Common Sense Selection
• Last updated : July 21, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

Captain America: Civil War

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Doctor Strange

Best Superhero Movies for Kids

Great movies with black characters, related topics.

• Magic and Fantasy
• Superheroes
• Brothers and Sisters

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Movie Review: Wakanda Forever

Wakanda Forever teeters on the edge of overstuffed irrelevance. But it remembers ultimately that character—and characters—count.

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Tv/streaming, collections, chaz's journal, great movies, contributors, black panther.

Now streaming on:

In 1992, a little Black kid on a makeshift basketball court in Oakland, California disrupts his game to glance up at the sky. Figuratively, he’s looking at the loss of hope, a departure represented by glowing lights drifting away into the night. As we learn later, those lights belong to a futuristic flying machine returning to the mysterious African country of Wakanda, the setting of “Black Panther." The young man was once told by his father that Wakanda had the most wonderful sunsets he would ever see, so he cradles that perceived vision of beauty through his darkest hours. When he finally sees the sun go down over Wakanda, it provokes a haunting emotional response.

That same response will be felt by viewers of “Black Panther,” one of the year's best films, and one that transcends the superhero genre to emerge as an epic of operatic proportions. The numerous battle sequences that are staples of the genre are present, but they float on the surface of a deep ocean of character development and attention to details both grandiose and minute. Wakanda is a fully fleshed-out, unapologetically Black universe, a world woven into a tapestry of the richest, sharpest colors and textures. Rachel Morrison ’s stunning cinematography and Ruth Carter’s costumes pop so vividly that they become almost tactile. You can practically feel the fabric of the hat worn by Angela Bassett as it beams in the sunlight on the day her son becomes king.

Bassett is just one of numerous familiar and up-and-coming actors of color who bring their A-games to “Black Panther.” Forest Whitaker , Sterling K. Brown and “ Get Out ” star  Daniel Kaluuya are just a few of the others. The entire cast creates characters with complexities rarely afforded minorities in cinema; these people are capable of contradictory human responses that have lasting consequences. Their feelings are deep, instantly relatable, and colored with the shades of grey not often explored in blockbuster entertainment. When the villain still manages to make your eyes tear up despite trying to murder the hero in the previous scene, you know you’re in the presence of great acting and storytelling.

The villain in question, nicknamed Killmonger, is played by Michael B. Jordan . Someday, the team of Jordan and writer/director Ryan Coogler will be mentioned with the same reverence reserved for Scorsese and De Niro. The duo have done three films together, and though this is the first where Jordan is in a supporting role, they still convey a cinematic shorthand that’s representative of their trusted partnership. A film like this is only as good as its villains, and Jordan deserves a place in the anti-hero Hall of Fame alongside such greats as Gene Hackman ’s Little Bill Daggett from “ Unforgiven .” Like Hackman, Jordan lures you in with his likeable comic swagger before revealing the shocking levels of his viciousness. He is hissable, but his character arc is not without sympathy nor understanding.

Coogler is the perfect fit for this material. It hits all the sweet spots he likes to explore in his films. So much gets written about which prominent directors should helm a superhero film next, but relatively few would be allowed to leave such a personal mark on a product so slavishly devoted to fan feelings. Coogler turns the MCU into the RCU—the Ryan Coogler Universe—by including everything we’ve come to expect from his features in the script he co-wrote with Joe Robert Cole . Like Oscar Grant in “ Fruitvale Station ,” T’Challa ( Chadwick Boseman ) is a typical Coogler protagonist, a young Black man seeking his place in the world while dealing with his own personal demons and an environment that demands things from him that he is unsure about giving. Like Donny in “ Creed ,” T’Challa exists in the shadow of a late father once known for a greatness he also wishes to achieve through similar means.

Coogler extends these same character traits to his muse Jordan’s Killmonger who, true to comic book lore form, has a “two sides of the same coin” relationship with the hero. Even their plans apply this theory. T’Challa wants to keep Wakanda away from the rest of the world, protecting his country by using its advanced technology solely for its denizens. Killmonger wants to steal that technology and give it to others, specifically to underprivileged Black folks so they can fight back and rule the world.

Additionally, the dual, reflective imagery of T’Challa and Killmonger is beautifully drawn to the surface in a scene where both men undergo the same spiritual journey to visit the fathers they long to see. But these similar journeys are polar opposites in tone, as if to prove the adage that one man’s Heaven is another man’s Hell. These scenes have a way of burrowing into your skin, forcing you to reckon with them later.

Coogler’s universe also isn’t male-dominated. In each of his films, there are women who advise and comfort the male leads while still having their own lives and agency. In “Fruitvale Station,” it’s Octavia Spencer ’s Mrs. Grant; in “Creed,” it’s Tessa Thompson ’s artistic girlfriend. “Black Panther” really ups the stakes, presenting us with numerous memorable, fierce and intelligent women who fight alongside Black Panther and earn their own cheers. Lupita Nyong’o is Nakia, the ex for whom T’Challa still carries a torch. Letitia Wright is Shuri, T’Challa’s sister and the equivalent of James Bond’s Q; she provides the vibranium-based weapons and suits Black Panther uses. And Danai Gurira is Okoye, a warrior whose prowess may even outshine T’Challa’s because she doesn’t need a suit to be a badass. All of these women have action sequences that drew loud applause from the audience, not to mention they’re all fully realized people. Okoye in particular has an arc that replays Black Panther’s central ideological conflict in microcosm.

For all its action sequences (they’re refreshingly uncluttered, focusing on smaller battles than usual) and talk of metals that exist only in the mind of Stan Lee , “Black Panther” is still Marvel’s most mature offering to date. It’s also its most political, a film completely unafraid to alienate certain factions of the Marvel base. It’s doing a great job upsetting folks infected with the Fear of a Black Planet on Twitter, to be sure. To wit, Wakanda has never been colonized by White settlers, it’s the most advanced place in the universe and, in a move that seems timely though it’s been canon since 1967, Wakanda masquerades as what certain presidents would refer to as a “shithole nation.” Coogler really twists the knife on that one: In the first of two post-credits sequences, he ends with a very sharp response about what immigrants from those nations can bring to the rest of the world.

Speaking of endings, Coogler is a man who knows how to end a movie. His last shot in “Creed” is a tearjerking thing of beauty, and the last scene (pre-credits that is) in “Black Panther” made me cry even harder. As in “Creed,” Coogler depicted young brown faces looking in awe at a hero, something we never see in mainstream cinema. “Black Panther”’s last scene is a repeat of the scene I described in my opening paragraph: In the present day, a little Black kid on a makeshift basketball court in Oakland, California disrupts his game to glance up at the sky. Figuratively, he’s about to gain some hope, an addition represented by a humanitarian hero with much to teach him and his fellow basketball players. The young man stares in awe, realizing that his life, and the lives of those around him will be changed.

It’s an ending rife with meta, symbolic meaning. Starting this weekend, a lot of brown kids are going to be staring at this movie with a similar sense of awe and perception-changing wonder. Because  the main superhero, and almost everyone else, looks just like them . It was a long time coming, and it was worth the wait. 

Odie Henderson

Odie "Odienator" Henderson has spent over 33 years working in Information Technology. He runs the blogs Big Media Vandalism and Tales of Odienary Madness. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire  here .

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Black Panther (2018)

Rated PG-13

134 minutes

Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther

Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger

Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia

Forest Whitaker as Zuri

Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue / Klaw

Danai Gurira as Okoye

Angela Bassett as Ramonda

Sterling K. Brown as N'Jobu

Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross

Daniel Kaluuya as W'Kabi

Florence Kasumba as Ayo

Winston Duke as M'Baku / Man-Ape

Letitia Wright as Shuri

Phylicia Rashād

• Ryan Coogler
• Joe Robert Cole

Cinematography

• Rachel Morrison
• Ludwig Göransson
• Michael P. Shawver
• Claudia Castello

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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Where to watch.

Watch Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with a subscription on Disney+, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

A poignant tribute that satisfyingly moves the franchise forward, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever marks an ambitious and emotionally rewarding triumph for the MCU.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever says a solemn goodbye to one of the MCU's most beloved stars without skimping on the action.

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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

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