Black Panther 2018

Movie · 134 min · English · January 29, 2018

Action adventure Science fiction action Superhero

Directed by Ryan CooglerWritten by Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole

Starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman

A 2018 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character T'Challa / Black Panther, Black Panther was produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The motion picture was directed by Ryan Coogler, who also wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole. The main cast includes Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther, joined by 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. In the story, T'Challa becomes king of Wakanda after his father's death. However, he faces a challenge for the throne from Killmonger (Jordan), who seeks to end Wakanda’s isolationist approach and use its resources to spark a global revolution.

Wesley Snipes had intended to develop a Black Panther movie in 1992, but that project never moved forward. In September 2005, Marvel Studios included a Black Panther film among ten Marvel-based projects planned for distribution by Paramount Pictures. Mark Bailey was brought on board to write the screenplay in January 2011. The official announcement of the film came in October 2014. By then, Boseman had already appeared as the character in the MCU film Captain America: Civil War (2016). At that time, Cole and Coogler were also involved, with additional casting confirmed throughout 2016. Black Panther marked the first Marvel Studios film with a Black director and a predominantly Black cast.

Principal photography began in January and concluded by April 2017 at EUE/Screen Gems Studios in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Additional filming took place in Busan, South Korea. The film had its premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on January 29, 2018, followed by its release in the United States on February 16 as part of Phase Three of the MCU. Critics highlighted its direction, writing, acting—especially that of Boseman, Jordan, and Wright—and praised its costume design, production quality, and soundtrack. Some critiques focused on the visual effects. Many reviewers regarded it as one of the strongest entries in the MCU, and it was recognized for its cultural impact. The National Board of Review and the American Film Institute both named Black Panther among the top-ten films of 2018.

The film earned over $1.3 billion worldwide and set multiple box office records. It became the highest-grossing film directed by a Black filmmaker, the ninth-highest-grossing at the time of release, the third-highest in the U.S. and Canada that year, and the second-highest-grossing film of 2018. Black Panther received seven nominations at the 91st Academy Awards, winning three. It also garnered numerous other honors. This was the first superhero film to be nominated for Best Picture, and it marked the first time an MCU film won an Academy Award.

A follow-up titled Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was released in November 2022, with Wright replacing Boseman after his passing in 2020. A third installment is scheduled for release in December 2028. An animated series, Eyes of Wakanda, debuted in August 2025 on Disney+.