Parents' Guide to

Black Panther

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Masterful Marvel film has depth, diversity -- and violence.

Movie PG-13 2018 134 minutes
Black Panther Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 155 parent reviews

seodhna
seodhna Parent of 10-year-old
July 18, 2022
age 11+

black super hero

amazing movie very heart warming I loved the black african super hero vibe my 10 year old son absulutly loved it
Jeremy E.
Jeremy E. Parent of 9 and 12-year-old
January 26, 2023
age 8+

An innocent enough comic book movie that still manages to be empowering

The symbolism here contains a good message and is ladled on in a thick but not too heavy-handed manner. I'm baffled by reviewers who rate this as only appropriate for those aged 12 and up. There’s punching and kicking, there’s spear-chucking and shock wave blasting, and there are apparent deaths from said physical conflict—but all of it is very cartoon-like. The violence depicted is beyond the curtain separating a viewer’s reality from the elements of this movie that require suspension of disbelief. My eight-year-old is all too aware that he just saw a make-believe cartoon bad guy get squashed by a make-believe battle rhino and not something he can or should worry about happening or replicating in the real world. Give me a break, folks. Comparing the action here to, say, the very believable violence in Captain America appearances—with the latter’s depictions of events we actually see in today’s real work such as the bombing of a building or the depiction of WWII violence (Ukraine, anyone?)—is a non-starter. There is mild cursing, and a female is called a b-word. As we are not always sure which word is currently ultra-taboo in today’s minefield, our family just points out the bad words and tries to teach avoidance and replacement with more descriptive terms. It’s an innocent enough comic book movie that still manages to be empowering for races and genders that have, to perhaps put it too mildly, seen unequal treatment.
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What's the Story?

After a folktale-like prologue that recounts the history of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, BLACK PANTHER opens with a flashback to 1992, when a younger T'Chaka (Atandwa Kani) makes a surprise visit to Oakland, California, to confront a rogue Wakandan spy. Back in the present, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is preparing for his coronation day, which includes a potential challenge -- through ritual combat -- from any of Wakanda's five tribes, as well as a sacred ceremony in which he officially becomes the nation's Black Panther. After T'Challa takes the throne, intelligence surfaces that notorious arms dealer Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) has stolen a vibranium artifact from the British Museum. T'Challa takes his top warrior -- head of the royal guard General Okoye (Danai Gurira) -- and his former love, Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), a Wakandan spy, to attempt to capture Klaue (one of the few outsiders who knows the truth about how much vibranium -- the most valuable metal on Earth -- is available in Wakanda). But CIA operative Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and Klaue's mysterious young ally (Michael B. Jordan) complicate the mission. It turns out that the mystery man is a former SEAL who has a very personal score to settle with T'Challa and the Wakandans.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (155 ):
Kids say (303 ):

Ryan Coogler's masterful superhero drama is unlike any other, featuring outstanding acting, breathtaking art direction, fascinating royal intrigue, memorable action sequences, and surprising depth. It's that depth -- of character, of storyline, of relevancy -- that makes Black Panther shine, as Boseman's T'Challa takes the mantle of king with enormous uncertainty about whether to share Wakanda's resources with the world. With the exception of his second-in-command W'Kabi (Kaluuya), T'Challa surrounds himself with an inner circle of influential women: Okoye, Nakia, his mother (Bassett), and his genius younger sister, scientist/tech inventor Shuri (Letitia Wright). Each of them contributes much to the story, with Gurira's spear-wielding Okoye the movie's clear scene-stealer, Wright the clever comic relief, and Nyong'o offering a wee bit of romance. Even the central villain, as played by frequent Coogler collaborator Jordan, is well-rounded and humanized, with the actor doing great work opposite the equally nuanced Boseman.

There's so much to appreciate in Black Panther, from its pulsing score, which features a soundtrack overseen by award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar, to the mesmerizing cinematography courtesy of DP Rachel Morrison, gorgeous tribal costumes, and vibrant production design. There's not as much laugh-aloud banter as viewers may have come to expect from Marvel movies, but the beats of humor that are here, usually thanks to plucky Shuri or mountain-tribe leader M'Baku (Winston Duke), are extra funny. Ultimately the film's success comes down to the thoughtful, compelling storytelling from director Coogler and writer Joe Robert Cole, as interpreted by a terrific cast of actors. This isn't just another highly entertaining but formulaic superhero story; it's also poignant and powerful and earns its place toward the top of Marvel's films. (Be sure to watch all the way through the credits for a couple of extra tidbits!)

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the role models in Black Panther. Who are they, and what character strengths do they exhibit? How does T'Challa demonstrate courage, integrity, and even teamwork?

  • Why is it important for superheroes to be diverse? How is Black Panther an example of both racial and gender diversity compared to other superhero films?

  • How does the movie explore issues related to race? Why is Erik's perspective on the world so different from T'Challa's? Is one right and the other wrong? Why or why not? Why does representation matter in movies, TV, and books?

  • How are the Dora Milaje (T'Challa's all-female combat fighting force) unique in the Marvel Universe? What did you think of the way the movie portrays women in usually "male" roles -- e.g., tech expert, warrior general, spy? What message does that convey to viewers?

  • What is the movie's message about global responsibility? Do you agree with the view that the Black Panther should keep Wakanda safe at all costs, or with the idea that Wakanda should help less-stable, less-advanced nations and communities by sharing resources?

Movie Details

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