The parts that are hard to follow from the film alone, explained with a story summary, a character map and key terms.
Released
2018
Runtime
134 min
Set in
2016
WORLD BOX OFFICE#23 all-time worldwide$1,349,926,083#7 among Marvel filmsAs of 2026-11-01 · figures being verified
Good to know before watchingNo spoilers
It follows Civil War
It begins after King T'Chaka's death in the Vienna bombing. You can follow it without having seen Civil War.
Wakanda is a secret
To the outside world it looks poor, but it's actually the most technologically advanced nation on Earth.
The villain has his reasons
Killmonger's anger is rooted in Wakanda's own past.
There are scenes during and after the credits
The final one features a familiar face.
Character mapSpoilers
Who's who in Black Panther (2018), with T'Challa and Killmonger at the center. T'Challa's family and allies are above, Killmonger's side below.
Because of copyright, we can't use stills, posters or any other images of the characters as they appear in the film. All face photos are freely licensed photos of the actors themselves (non-human characters are original illustrations made for this site; people without a photo are shown with initials).
Drag to move, pinch (or scroll on a computer) to zoom. Tap a person to read about them.
Face photos are freely licensed photos of the actors from Wikimedia Commons, cropped to a square and resized. Non-human characters are original illustrations made for this site, and people without a photo are shown with a placeholder (initials).
Wakanda's King T'Chaka confronts his brother N'Jobu, who has been living in America and helping steal vibranium.
2. A new king
After his father's death, T'Challa returns to Wakanda for the coronation ritual, defeats M'Baku of the Jabari in a challenge, and is crowned.
3. Chasing Klaue
Arms dealer Klaue steals a Wakandan artifact from a museum. T'Challa catches him in Korea with Nakia and Okoye, but a mysterious man named Erik breaks him out.
4. A challenge for the throne
Erik kills Klaue, arrives in Wakanda, and reveals he's N'Jobu's son. In a duel for the throne, T'Challa is thrown over the falls.
5. King Killmonger
Now king, Erik, called Killmonger, burns the herbs and prepares to ship Wakandan weapons around the world.
6. The king returns
The Jabari had rescued T'Challa, and the last herb revives him. On the Ancestral Plane, he confronts his father's mistake.
7. The battle for Wakanda
T'Challa, Shuri, Nakia, Okoye and the Jabari fight Killmonger's forces, and T'Challa defeats him.
8. Opening up to the world
T'Challa decides to share Wakanda's knowledge with the world and announces it at the United Nations.
