‘Black Panther’ Review Roundup: Early Reviewers Call Film One Of Best In Marvel Universe

Black Panther, which stars Chadwick Boseman as the titular Marvel superhero, hits theaters Feb. 16, but critics are already loving the film. While Rotten Tomatoes has not yet compiled the scores, various reviewers and celebrities have already rated the film highly. Boseman plays King T’Challa Wakanda, who revealed himself in Captain America: Civil War. In this film, his father has died, making him the new king of Wakanda, a highly advanced African nation. Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Daniel Kaluuya, Sterling K. Brown, Andy Serkis and Martin Freeman round out the rest of the cast.

Despite positive reviews pouring in, a group on Facebook has dedicated itself to creating fake accounts and giving Black Panther poor reviews. The group, called “Down With Disney’s Treatment of Franchises and its Fanboys,” created an event entitled “Give Black Panther a Rotten Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes.” The group also took credit for the tanked score of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The moderator has also made an event for the same purpose for the upcoming Solo: A Star Wars Story. When asked why he made action against The Last Jedi by HuffPost, the moderator of the group responded that he was upset by the inclusion of more female characters and that the film seemed disrespectful to the franchise’s history.

Despite the plan of a few thousand people to destroy the movie’s audience score, most people who have seen the film have loved it.

BLACK PANTHER REVIEW ROUNDUP

“BLACK PANTHER is fantastic. Beautiful, soulful, thoughtful and of the moment. Ryan Coogler knows what he’s doing. Long live T’Challa!” wrote Peyton Reed on Twitter.

James Gunn called the film an “extraordinary work by Ryan Coogler and company!”

“Black Panther. So very good. I cheered and laughed and pumped my fist. I’ve never seen a super hero movie like it. Everybody involved with it deserves a medal and a high five,” said Kumail Nanjiani.

Ava DuVernay, who was originally tapped to direct the film, said: “We edited our films across the hall from each other for 8 months. We talked in our edit bays, on walks around the lot. About our films, our dreams. Tonight, his comes true. On my way to the #BlackPanther premiere with a full heart for my fam, director extraordinaire #RyanCoogler!”

“BLACK PANTHER feels like the actual start of a new phase for Marvel, not only because it exists so well on its own terms, but because it feels so new and timely, through both its storytelling and the very people the story is about (and those who get to tell it). Wonderful,” tweeted editor Kate Erbland.

“I think the argument can be made for #BlackPanther being the best Marvel film ever! Just got out of premiere & overwhelmed at the imagery, the majesty, & a film that elevates the superhero genre to new heights,” wrote Umberto Gonzalez. “BLACK PANTHER is like a Marvel movie, but better. the action is predictably awful, but this is the first MCU film that has an actual sense of identity & history & musicality. Wakanda is alive. whole cast is great but the women (and the war rhinos) steal the show — Danai Gurira!” added David Ehrlich. “BLACK PANTHER is incredible, kinetic, purposeful. A superhero movie about why representation & identity matters, and how tragic it is when those things are denied to people. The 1st MCU movie about something real; Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger had me weeping and he’s the VILLAIN,” said Jen Yamato.

Angie Han added, “#BlackPanther: I never wanted this movie to end, and as soon as it did I wanted to go back. Solid action, smart story, tons of personality. Shuri is my new fave, Nakia is everything, Killmonger is incredible, T’Challa deserves to rule the MCU. Coogler has done it again. 💜🖤💙.”

Rebecca Keegan said, “Stunning visuals. Iconic performances. And A REAL FREAKING STORY about a wealthy nation confronting its role in the world. Black Panther has the goods. Also there’s a post-credits scene. Here’s the premiere crowd racing back to watch it.”

“#BlackPanther is exceptional – the James Bond of the MCU. You’ve seen nothing like this in a superhero movie – it’s bold, beautiful & intense, but there’s a depth & spiritualness that is unlike anything Marvel has ever done. It’s 100% African & it is dope af,” says Erik Davis.