Black Panther: Wakanda Forever came out on November 11, 2022. It is a groundbreaking and emotional sequel that successfully paid tribute to the original Black Panther actor, Chadwick Boseman, who tragically passed away on August 28, 2020. It was written and directed by Ryan Coogler. The story starts after T’Challa’s tragic death, and Wakanda has to figure out what to do without him. This movie does a lot of great things, it definitely stands out in 2022. Although it was an absolute thrill seeing it in theaters,  the movie is now out on Disney plus. So, it feels like the right time to explain why you should watch Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. 

In this film, various underrepresented cultures from Africa to Mesoamerica are depicted. This film does an amazing job of immersing the viewers into these cultures by showcasing their beautiful languages and fashion. The language spoken by the people of Wakanda is Xhosa, an actual language spoken in South Africa. The language spoken by the people of Talokan, a new kingdom that’s introduced in this film, speak Yucatec Mayan. The clothing/accessories  — accessories being blankets and lip plates– that the Wakandans wear are based on native tribes throughout Africa, such as the Maasai and Mursi people. The jewelry (jade) and headpieces worn by the Talokanil are based on the Mayan and Aztec peoples. If you like exploring different cultures, this movie is for you! 

The performances in this movie are arguably one of the best of any other marvel movie. The passion the cast had for this movie is noticeable throughout the creation of this movie, and the end product shows that passion. With the film being a tribute to Boseman, the cast passionately put real emotions behind their roles to put together a performance of a lifetime. These raw emotions are hard-hitting and demonstrate the passion the actors had for this film. Those feelings add to the experience and make it more memorable. 

In regards to most movies, white males are mainly seen as the protagonists. However, this is not the case for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The main cast of characters is majority female, which is something that is, unfortunately, uncommon. Having female lead characters in a movie is a refreshing change and a great way to empower women. This movie does this incredibly by portraying the female characters as strong and independent. One example that stands out the most is Riri Williams, who is Ironheart. In the movie, she is a 19-year-old African American enrolled at MIT constructing incredibly complex machines. There is no doubt that she will become a role model for young African American women who want to get into STEM and achieve great things. 

All in all, this movie is fantastic. It’s definitely worth the watch, and it’s finally out on Disney Plus!