2. Black Panther
A momentous event in pop culture. A comic-book superhero epic directed by a black man, Ryan Coogler, with a nearly all-black cast that set box-office records. Coogler’s deft balancing of a high-tech spy gadgetry, ceremonial palace intrigue, fantasy action mayhem, and subversive political critique is unparalleled in the larger MCU.
Underscored by weighty hot-button themes, Coogler’s material is enlivened by eye-popping production design and captivating performances, in particular from Jordan’s portrayal of Killmonger. It’s a distinctly African-American comic-book epic with universal appeal.
