Black Panther has bloody dominated its opening weekend, silencing all the h8ters and sceptics that doubted Marvel‘s latest cinematic hit because appaz sUpeRheRoEs aRe bOriNg and it’s too pOliTicAl. Don’t even try, son.
Seriously, the film has ranked an overall fifth in movies that made over $200 million in its first three days and we wonder whyyy. Where Marvel has been dominated by dudes named Chris, its latest and first black lead superhero movie champions Black Americans and their African roots without condescension or “otherness” pandering.
If you’re waiting for the fanfare to die down before hitting the cinemas, we’ll give you the spoiler-free friendly gist of what goes on in the cinematic masterpiece.
So you have badass, T’Challa, who first appeared in one of the Captain America‘s (Cap is so last year) who becomes king when his father dies. And pretty much between then and the end, you get to see King T’Challa navigate his royal highness-ness as loads of hurdles come his way. I’m talking Michael B. Jordan as a villain-but-not-so-villain (watch the movie), betrayal, Andy Serkis being cray cray, and plenty more…like trying to keep up with his super cool and tech-mastermind sister, Shuri who delivers some of the best lines in the movie.
The film’s also set in Wakanda which is a fictional East African nation free of them “colonisers” (hehe #moviereference) and far more advanced than Ironman, sorry not sorry. People are gentle, happy, and loved.
And now, after thousands of hilariously loving tweets about the movie, director Ryan Coogler has written a thank you note and let’s just say you’ll need a box of tissues.
In it he writes…
“Never in a million years did we imagine that you all would come out this strong. It still humbles me to think that people care enough to spend their money and time watching our film-But to see people of all backgrounds wearing clothing that celebrates their heritage, taking pictures next to our posters with their friends and family, and sometimes dancing in the lobbies of theatres-often moved me and my wife to tears.”
*Cries in Wakandan*
You can read the full letter below:
#WakandaForever pic.twitter.com/CmJySoHFjB
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) February 21, 2018
Naturally the Twitter replies included a lot of crying:
We love you Ryan 😭 pic.twitter.com/Ssx3aP7TO0
— ✨D✨ (@TheIllestTrini) February 21, 2018
And lowkey mutiny:
Give this man the keys to MCU’s future.
— Scott Duwe (@mountain_Duwe) February 21, 2018
Anddd love for Wakanda of course:
https://twitter.com/BRIANJ32/status/966117970392092672
