Black Panther (2018)
Long live the king.
King T'Challa returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country's new leader. However, T'Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne by factions within his own country as well as without. Using powers reserved to Wakandan kings, T'Challa assumes the Black Panther mantle to join with ex-girlfriend Nakia, the queen-mother, his princess-kid sister, members of the Dora Milaje (the Wakandan 'special forces') and an American secret agent, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 13 February 2018 |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Science Fiction |
| Director | Ryan Coogler |
| Starring | Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan and Lupita Nyong'o |
| Runtime | 135 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | IMDb 7.3/10 · Rotten Tomatoes (average) 8.3/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 96% · Metacritic 88/100 · TMDB users 7.4/10 |
| Budget | $200 million |
| Box office | $1.35 billion worldwide |
Where to watch Black Panther
Black Panther is streaming on Hulu ($18.99 a month) in the US. It is also on Disney+ ($15.99 a month). If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Disney+ is $15.99 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 1 October 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
What kind of watch this is
Ryan Coogler directs a 135-minute sci-fi action film that treats its superhero premise with the gravity of a political thriller. The tone is lean and urgent, swapping the usual blockbuster sprawl for a tight, high-stakes succession crisis. It is not interested in explaining the tech; it is interested in the weight of the crown. The film runs long enough to make you feel the cost of power, a detail that separates it from the average comic book release.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes reports a 96% approval rating, a figure that placed it above The Dark Knight and Iron Man as the best-reviewed live-action superhero film on the site. Metacritic assigns it a Metascore of 88, signaling universal acclaim. Peter Travers called it "an exhilarating triumph on every level." Jamelle Bouie placed it in the same league as Superman and The Dark Knight, noting it embraces the genre rather than transcending it. The film landed on many top-ten lists for 2018. Critics praised the cast and the thematic depth.
How it did with audiences
It cost $200 million and took in $1.3 billion worldwide, a margin that made accounting departments pause before smiling. In the United States, it pulled in $700 million. That final number made it the highest-grossing solo superhero film and the highest-grossing film by an African-American director. It also landed as the second-highest-grossing film of 2018. On TMDB, users rate it 7.4 out of 10. The math was never in question.
Awards
Black Panther took home 4 awards from 2 nominations. The Saturns went to the film and Danai Gurira, while Michael B. Jordan took the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain. It also made the National Board of Review’s Top Ten. Those superhero firsts at the Oscars set the stage. The industry simply adjusted.
What came next for the cast
Chadwick Boseman moved from Civil War to Endgame, with Ma Rainey arriving after. Michael B. Jordan went from Creed to Wakanda Forever, a leap that speaks for itself. Lupita Nyong'o returned to Star Wars and Black Panther, while Danai Gurira’s Walking Dead arc continued into The Ones Who Live. The timeline does not prove cause. It simply marks the next stop.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Black Panther.
Sources
- Black Panther on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q23780734 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Black Panther (film)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
Watch it without paying for the whole year
Binge Boss tracks the movie you are on and tells you which services you need this month, and which you can cancel.
Add Black Panther to your list