Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist-plotter Jack Kirby, the character of Black Panther first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 in 1966. He was the first superhero character of African descent to feature in mainstream American comics, debuting years before other Black comic book heroes, such as Luke Cage, the Falcon, and Blade.
Over the years, the Wakandan king has made numerous appearances outside of the printed page, in animated television shows and films, video games, and big-budget movies within Marvel’s Cinematic Universe.
Chadwick Boseman took on the role of Black Panther in 2016 for the Avengers team-up movie Captain America: Civil War. He headlined his own Black Panther movie in 2018 and went on to star in two other Avengers movies before his sad and untimely passing in 2020.
In 2022, Letitia Wright took over the role of Black Panther in a sequel movie that marked the beginning of a new era for the people of Wakanda. Black Panther 3 is still to be officially confirmed but we expect it won’t be too long before a second sequel is announced.
In this article, we list all of the live-action movies to have featured the Wakandan superhero. Which of these movies is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.
Captain America: Civil War
US Release Date: May 6, 2016
Worldwide Box Office: $1.153 billion
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Metascore: 75
Main Cast:
Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), Tom Holland (Peter Parker), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner), Marisa Tomei (Aunt May)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Political involvement in the Avengers’ affairs causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man.
Wakandan Wisdom:
T’Challa (to Zemo): Vengeance has consumed you. It’s consuming them. I’m done letting it consume me
Black Panther
US Release Date: February 16, 2018
Worldwide Box Office: $1.344 billion
Director: Ryan Coogler
Metascore: 88
Main Cast:
Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa), Michael B. Jordan (Erik Killmonger), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Letitia Wright (Shuri), Angela Bassett (Ramonda), Daniel Kaluuya (W’Kabi), Martin Freeman (Everett K. Ross), Winston Duke (M’Baku)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
T’Challa, heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must step forward to lead his people into a new future and must confront a challenger from his country’s past.
Wakandan Wisdom:
T’Challa: Wakanda will no longer watch from the shadows. We can not. We must not. We will work to be an example of how we, as brothers and sisters on this earth, should treat each other. Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe.
Avengers: Infinity War
US Release Date: April 27, 2018
Worldwide Box Office: $2.052 billion
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Metascore: 68
Main Cast:
Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Letitia Wright (Shuri), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), Tom Holland (Peter Parker), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton) Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Benedict Cumberbatch (Stephen Strange), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
Wakandan Wisdom:
T’Challa (pointing at Steve Rogers): Get this man a shield!
Avengers: Endgame
US Release Date: April 26, 2019
Worldwide Box Office: $2.798 billion
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Metascore: 78
Main Cast:
Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Letitia Wright (Shuri), Angela Bassett (Ramonda), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), Tom Holland (Peter Parker), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton) Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Benedict Cumberbatch (Stephen Strange), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos’ actions and restore balance to the universe.
Wakandan Wisdom:
Okoye (referring to a gravity disturbance): It turned out to be a subduction under the Pacific plate.
Natasha Romanoff: So how are we handling it?
Okoye: An earthquake under the ocean, we handle it by not handling it.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
US Release Date: November 11, 2022
Worldwide Box Office: $859.2 million
Director: Ryan Coogler
Metascore: 67
Main Cast:
Letitia Wright (Shuri), Michael B. Jordan (Erik Killmonger), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Angela Bassett (Ramonda), Martin Freeman (Everett K. Ross), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Tenoch Huerta (Namor), Dominique Thorne (Riri), Michaela Coel (Aneka), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Valentina Allegra de Fontaine)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
The people of Wakanda fight to protect their home from intervening world powers as they mourn the death of King T’Challa.
Wakandan Wisdom:
M’Baku (to Shuri): The world has taken away too much for you to still be considered a child.
Which movie featuring Black Panther do you most enjoy? Let us know in the comments below.