Ryan Coogler stepping into the Marvel Cinematic Universe is one of the best things to have happened in the history of superhero filmmaking. The inclusion of Wakanda not only changed the state of technology as the characters know it, but the incomparable production level of Black Panther gave the MCU its first-ever Academy Award Best Picture nomination, along with a few wins in Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design.
While T'Challa makes an appearance in Marvel's What If…? (which can be watched out of order given the nature of isolated storytelling within each episode), the films are where he shines, no matter how brief his scenes are, and it's largely due to the incomparable performances from the late Chadwick Boseman and the phenomenal character work. Here are all the Black Panther movies in order, which you can find on Disney+. However, for those without a subscription, Prime Video and Apple TV+ make renting an option, too.
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Although Captain America: Civil War is primarily marketed as the third Captain America film to follow Chris Evans' titular character, it feels more like another Avengers movie with its large ensemble cast. It's not one viewers can go into without prior knowledge of the character introductions that've occurred before it, but it's still solid in its introduction of the new characters who'll go on to play a bigger role in the MCU.
However, as far as first introductions go, Captain America: Civil War is the first film to introduce all viewers to the late and inimitable Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther. He isn't Team Cap or Team Tony, but rather there to avenge his father, fueled by the belief that Bucky Barnes' bomb killed him. With a sleek costume design, thrilling strength, and an incredible entrance, the character's curtain-raiser is among one of the best moments in the film. With it and the ending scenes, it adds exciting anticipation of seeing more of him and the Wakandans.
Black Panther (2018)
Now, unlike Civil War, Black Panther is a film that can serve as a standalone for any viewer who wants to watch a superhero film without any prior knowledge of the genre or Marvel's extensive lore. A large part of the reason the film is so revered is that this standalone approach makes it easily palatable for a larger audience, giving it the attention the brilliant production deserves.
Set to become king after his father's death, T'Challa grapples with his new responsibilities, grief, and the interference brought on by his cousin demanding his inheritance to the throne. Rich in storytelling and gorgeously shot from start to finish, there's a reason Black Panther is a top-five Marvel film for countless viewers and one of the most critically acclaimed films in the genre. It isn't merely an origin story for the hero we'll get to see more of, but it's an introduction to a world that's beautifully modeled to protect and shine with the technology that strengthens them and improves the state of things as they are. It's a love story in more ways than one, showing T'Challa as the kind of hero whose heart is bigger than he can carry.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
While T'Challa as the Black Panther doesn't show up until halfway into Avengers: Infinity War, his role is still tremendous in a film that's fully gripping from start to finish. As the second-to-last installment in the Infinity Saga that the first few phases are building up toward, Infinity War briefly slows things down to effectively show viewers where all the characters are before thrusting them into a life-changing battle against Thanos.
Wakanda is the reason why Bucky Barnes is fully cleared of Hydra's brainwashing, showcasing character growth on all fronts, and The Avengers also need the help of T'Challa's sister, Shuri, to take the Mind Stone out of Vision before Thanos finds them. The battle at Wakanda results in Marvel's biggest war to date, ending with the final snap that wipes half of humanity from Earth, including T'Challa. Still, however brief his role is, T'Challa's importance is something that the writing thoroughly underscores every time he's on screen.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
In the final installment of the Infinity Saga, Avengers: Endgame, like Infinity War, spends most of its time catching up with characters five years after the snap. In these brief moments, it serves as a riveting character study that explores grief within the MCU, making it one of the more profoundly poignant films in the entire franchise.
And though we don't spend nearly enough time with T'Challa as we'd like, he returns in one of the most widely-revered and satisfying moments in Marvel's history, as the portals open and every "snapped" person comes back to life to fight Thanos for one more battle. Though Sam Wilson's voice is the first one we hear from Cap's point of view, Okoye, T'Challa, and Shuri are the first three people who step out from one of the portals, prompting a quiet but viscerally evocative nod from T'Challa that still hits like a ton of bricks to indicate that Wakanda is in this battle to end.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever looks different from what most people imagined it would be, as the sudden and heartbreaking passing of Chadwick Boseman impacted both creators and viewers. The original penned sequel changed to reflect the present-day tragedy, becoming a film about grief and an incomparable character legacy.
Differing from all films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, even the ones that tackle pain and loss, it allows the characters to celebrate the lives that both the actor and the fictional hero lived. It leaves viewers with a semblance of hope and a reminder that, despite the insurmountable loss, T'Challa was able to find a bit of joy with Nakia and their son, who may someday become the new Black Panther in future films. With breathtakingly harrowing performances from Angela Bassett and the entire cast, Wakanda Forever is undoubtedly the heartbreaking Marvel film to watch.
