Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

What makes Black Panther: Wakanda Forever special is how it turns a superhero sequel into a heartfelt act of mourning—and somehow still delivers the kind of grand, transportive spectacle you go to the movies for. Ryan Coogler directs with a steady, compassionate hand, letting grief and resilience ripple through every scene while the visuals, music, and world-building feel rich enough to sink into. Letitia Wright gives Shuri a raw, searching center, and Tenoch Huerta Mejía’s Namor arrives with the rare Marvel villain energy that feels mythic, political, and genuinely unsettling. It’s longer and more somber than most comic-book romps, but if you want a blockbuster with real emotional weight and a kingdom’s worth of imagination, this one earns your time.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is clearly trying to do two big jobs at once: honor a real loss while expanding Wakanda’s world and setting up the franchise’s next era. When it works, it’s emotionally sincere, visually rich, and anchored by strong performances—especially from Letitia Wright and an intriguing new foil in Namor. But it’s also a hefty, overstuffed film that can feel unfocused, with pacing that drags and action beats that don’t always land with the punch you’re expecting from a Marvel event. If you want tight storytelling, frequent momentum, and crowd-pleasing thrills, this may test your patience; if you’re open to a more somber, reflective superhero sequel, there’s still plenty worth seeing.