Black Panther: Wakanda Forever just hit the theaters, and fans – including myself – couldn’t be more thrilled. I will refrain from spoilers for those who haven’t seen the movie yet, but it’s really great, especially considering the not-so-brilliant standards set by the MCU’s Phase 4 projects.
Before I went to the movies to see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, though, I had the urge to revisit older films including the character. If you want to do the same, I’ve got you covered. Here’s the complete list of all Black Panther movies in order – including the Avengers movies and other films in the MCU where the character appeared. Enjoy!
How many Black Panther movies are there?
So far, there are two Black Panther movies out there, both being a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, if we’re talking about all the movies where the character appears, then there are five Black Panther movies in total.
Black Panther movies in order (at a glance)
As mentioned, Black Panther (be it King T’Challa, or his successor) has appeared in five MCU movies so far. The movies are as follows:
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Black Panther (2018)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
That’s right – the first time we’ve seen the character wasn’t in a stand-alone movie, nor an Avengers-based movie. It was in Captain America: Civil War, which was the movie with most characters appearing in the entire MCU, outside of the Avengers films, of course.
What is the best way to watch Black Panther movies?
The best way to watch Black anther movies is in their release order, starting with Captain America: Civil War and finishing with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (which likely won’t be the last time we see the character in the MCU). The MCU storyline develops gradually, so it works best if you watch the films as they were released.
Black Panther movies in order (by release date)
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Synopsis: After all the destruction caused by superheroes fighting supervillains across the globe, the government is pushing a Superhero Registration Act that will keep superheroes in check and limit their actions.
However, some heroes see it as a problem because when push comes to shove, the bad guys won’t hold back. So, if the first line of defense against the biggest threats – has to hold back and limit their actions, the entire world is in jeopardy.
Some heroes were pro-Act, and some were against, creating a rift between the Avengers and creating two sides, with Captain America and Iron Man leading their respective sides. King T’Challa, aka Black Panther, was Team Iron Man and was introduced for the first time, seeking revenge against Bucky Barnes, aka the Winter Soldier, who was brainwashed into killing his father.
Watch the trailer here.
Black Panther (2018)
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Synopsis: After the Civil War, we get to learn more about the Black Panther. Prince T’Challa returns to Wakanda, his hidden, highly advanced native country in Africa. After his father dies, T’Challa becomes the King of Wakanda and has to fight his long-lost cousin, known as the Killmonger, who is there to usurp the throne.
Black Panther was, for many, an amazing movie. Personally, I didn’t find t as amusing as some other MCU projects, but truth be told, it was a groundbreaking project for the superhero movie genre, as it was the first MCU film that won the Academy Award. In fact – it won three!
Watch the trailer here.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Synopsis: Thanos, aka the Mad Titan, is on his long mission to collect the six Infinity Stones and wipe out half of the universe with a simple snap of his fingers. No being has ever wielded two Stones simultaneously before – and Thanos is on his way to having six, despite being one of the most powerful humanoid beings in the universe, even without the Stones.
The Avengers will have to make huge sacrifices to stop him. Will it be enough in the end? Only time will tell.
SPOILER ALERT: T’Challa, aka Black Panther, fights among the Avengers, and the final battle of the movie against Thanos and his unfathomably powerful alien army happens in Wakanda. After Thanos manages to collect all the Stones and achieve the ‘snap,’ Black Panther is among the heroes that are turned to dust.
Watch the trailer here.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Synopsis: The remaining Avengers do their best to cope with the fact that they’ve lost and that half of the universe is essentially gone. It’s a horrifying thought but one they have to deal with. Or do they?
Ant-Man swoops in with an idea, Tony Stark realizes how it can be achieved, and before you know it, the ‘snap’ becomes the ‘blip,’ and the battle against Thanos is reset. Only, this time, the Avengers are much, much more prepared. King T’challa returns, along with the rest of the members of the team that were lost in the Infinity War, as they try to defeat Thanos once and for all.
Watch the trailer here.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Synopsis: “Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye, and the Dora Milaje fight to protect the kingdom of Wakanda from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia and Everett Ross and forge a new path for their nation.”
The new Black Panther movie is still quite fresh, so I won’t elaborate on the plot further than the official synopsis to avoid potential spoilers to those who haven’t seen it yet. All I’m going to say is that it was a nice refreshment for me in the MCU and that I actually love everything they’ve done to honor Chadwick Boseman and his tenure as King T’challa.
Watch the trailer here.
Where to watch Black Panther Movies?
All MCU movies, including Black Panther, Captain America: Civil War, and the Avengers movies, can be found exclusively on Disney+. The only exception would be Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which is still in theatrical release only, so you can watch it in theaters. Standard practice for its arrival on Disney+, however, is 45 days after the theatrical premiere.
Do you need to watch Black Panther movies in order?
You won’t miss much about Black Panther himself if you, for instance, watch Black Panther (2018) before Captain America: Civil War (2016). However, the MCU is designed in a meticulous way where every move reveals exactly what it needs to reveal before the next movie arrives.
To get the best experience and follow the plots the right way, it’s recommended to watch all the movies in release order.
Are Black Panther movies connected?
All MCU movies are connected to each other, and so are the Black Panther movies. Some of those five movies are more tightly connected (like Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, or Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame) than others, but they all follow the same thread and head in the same direction, building towards a grand finale, and beyond.
Will there be more Black Panther movies?
Although Black Panther 3 hasn’t been announced yet, and it likely won’t happen any time soon, it’s almost certain that it will happen somewhere along the MCU live, likely in Phase 5 or Phase 6. However, the character, Black Panther, could potentially appear in a number of MCU projects, be it TV shows or movies.
One where the Black Panther will almost certainly happen is the next Avengers movie that had already been announced, titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
