Black Panther (film)
The first superhero film nominated for Best Picture.
Black Panther is a 2018 American superhero film from Marvel Studios, distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, and the 18th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ryan Coogler directed the movie and co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole. Chadwick Boseman stars as T'Challa, the Black Panther, alongside a cast that includes Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis. The story follows T'Challa after his father's death as he becomes king of the fictional African nation Wakanda, only to face a challenge from Killmonger, who wants to end Wakanda's isolation and use its advanced resources to spark a global uprising.
The idea for a Black Panther film was first considered by Wesley Snipes in 1992, but it didn't move forward. In 2005, Marvel Studios listed it among ten planned films for Paramount Pictures, and Mark Bailey was hired to write a script in 2011. The project was officially announced in October 2014, with Boseman debuting as the character in 2016's *Captain America: Civil War*. Cole and Coogler joined the project around that time, and additional casting was revealed throughout 2016. This was Marvel Studios' first film with a Black director and a predominantly Black cast. Principal photography ran from January to April 2017 at EUE/Screen Gems Studios near Atlanta and on location in Busan, South Korea.
The film premiered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on January 29, 2018, and hit U.S. theaters on February 16 as part of Phase Three of the MCU. Critics praised its direction, writing, performances (especially Boseman, Jordan, and Wright), costume design, production values, and soundtrack, though some criticized the visual effects. Many reviewers ranked it among the best MCU films and highlighted its cultural impact. The National Board of Review and the American Film Institute both named it one of the top-ten films of 2018. It earned over $1.3 billion worldwide, setting numerous box office records, including becoming the highest-grossing film directed by a Black filmmaker, the ninth-highest-grossing film at the time, the third-highest-grossing in the U.S. and Canada that year, and the second-highest-grossing film of 2018 overall.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Ryan Coogler
- Producer
- Kevin Feige
- Writer
- Ryan Coogler / Joe Robert Cole
- Based On
- Black Panther · Stan Lee · Jack Kirby
- Music
- Ludwig Göransson
- Cinematography
- Rachel Morrison
- Editing
- Michael P. Shawver / Debbie Berman
- Studio
- Marvel Studios
- Distributor
- Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
- Released
- 29 January 2018 · Dolby Theatre · 2018 · 2 · 16 · United States
- Runtime
- 134 minutes
- Country
- United States
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Wesley Snipes planned to make a Black Panther film in 1992, but the project did not come to fruition. In September 2005, Marvel Studios listed a Black Panther film as one of ten films based on Marvel characters intended to be distributed by Paramount Pictures. Mark Bailey was hired to write a script in January 2011. Black Panther was officially announced in October 2014, and Boseman made his first appearance as the character in the MCU film Captain America: Civil War (2016). Cole and Coogler had joined by then, with additional casting revealed throughout 2016. Black Panther was the first Marvel Studios film with a Black director and a predominantly Black cast. Principal photography took place from January to April 2017 at EUE/Screen Gems Studios in the Atlanta metropolitan area, and on location in Busan, South Korea.
The film premiered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on January 29, 2018, and was released in the United States on February 16 as part of Phase Three of the MCU. Critics praised its direction, writing, acting (particularly that of Boseman, Jordan, and Wright), costume design, production values, and soundtrack, but some criticized the visual effects. Many critics considered it to be one of the best MCU films, and it was noted for its cultural significance. The National Board of Review and the American Film Institute named Black Panther one of the top-ten films of 2018. It grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide and broke numerous box office records, becoming the highest-grossing film directed by a Black filmmaker, the ninth-highest-grossing film at the time of its release, the third-highest-grossing film in the U.S. and Canada that year, and the second-highest-grossing film of 2018.
Reader's Guide
Black Panther was nominated for seven awards at the 91st Academy Awards, winning three, and received numerous other accolades. It was the first superhero film to receive a Best Picture nomination, and the first MCU film to win an Academy Award. A sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, was released in November 2022, with Wright taking over as the lead following Boseman's death in 2020. A third film is scheduled for release in December 2028. An animated series, Eyes of Wakanda, was released in August 2025 on Disney+.
The film's cultural significance was widely noted, and it was considered by many critics to be one of the best MCU films. Its box office success broke records for a film directed by a Black filmmaker. The film's plot involves T'Challa's ascension to the throne of Wakanda, a technologically advanced African nation that has hidden its true nature from the world, and his confrontation with Killmonger, who challenges his rule and his isolationist policies. The film's cast includes a predominantly Black ensemble, and its production marked a milestone for Marvel Studios.
Did You Know?
- The film grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film directed by a Black filmmaker.
- Chadwick Boseman signed a five-film contract with Marvel, beginning with Captain America: Civil War (2016).
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