Black Panther (film)

Black Panther is a 2018 African/American superhero film about T'Challa, heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, who must step forward to lead his people into a new future and must confront a challenger from his country's past.
 * Directed by Ryan Coogler. Written by Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, based on the comic book Black Panther by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Long live the king.taglines

T'Challa / Black Panther

 * [angered at why T'Chaka abandoned N'Jobu's son in the US] YOU WERE WRONG! ALL OF YOU WERE WRONG! To turn your backs on the rest of the world! We let the fear of our discovery stop us from doing what is right. No more! I cannot stay here with you. I cannot rest while he sits on the throne. He is a monster of our own making. I must take the mantle back. I must! I must right these wrongs.
 * [addressing the UN in Austria] My name is King T'Challa, son of King T'Chaka. I am the sovereign ruler of the nation of Wakanda. And for the first time in our history, we will be sharing our knowledge and resources with the outside world. Wakanda will no longer watch from the shadows. We cannot. We must not. We will work to be an example of how we, as brothers and sisters on this Earth, should treat each other. Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth. More connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis, the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another, as if we were one single tribe.

N'Jadaka / Erik "Killmonger" Stevens

 * I lived my entire life waiting for this moment. I trained, I lied, I killed just to get here, I killed in America, Afghanistan, Iraq. I took life from my own brothers and sisters right here on this continent, and all this death, just so I could kill you.
 * [Last words] Why? So you can just lock me up? Nah. Just bury me in the ocean with my ancestors that jumped from the ships, 'Cause they knew death was better than bondage.

King T'Chaka

 * A man who has not prepared his children for his own death has failed as a father. Have I ever failed you?

Dialogue



 * [First lines]
 * Young N'Jadaka: Baba.
 * N'Jobu: Yes, my son?
 * Young N'Jadaka: Tell me a story.
 * N'Jobu: Which one?
 * Young N'Jadaka: The story of home.
 * N'Jobu: Millions of years ago, a meteorite made of vibranium, the strongest substance in the universe, struck the continent of Africa, affecting the plant life around it. And when the time of men came, five tribes settled on it and called it Wakanda. The tribes lived in constant war with each other until a warrior shaman received a vision from the panther goddess Bast, who led him to the Heart-Shaped Herb, a plant that granted him superhuman strength, speed, and instincts. The warrior became king and the first Black Panther, the protector of Wakanda. Four tribes agreed to live under the king's rule, but the Jabari tribe isolated themselves in the mountains. The Wakandans used vibranium to develop technology more advanced than any other nation, but as Wakanda thrived, the world around it descended further into chaos. To keep vibranium safe, the Wakandans vowed to hide in plain sight, keeping the truth of their power from the outside world.
 * Young N'Jadaka: And we still hide, Baba?
 * N'Jobu: Yes.
 * Young N'Jadaka: Why?


 * [In 1992 at Oakland, CA, while N'Jadaka plays basketball, N'Jobu and Zuri posing as an American named James discuss their plan of action to break his wife out of prison.]
 * N'Jobu: Hey, look if we get in and out quick, it'll be no worries. You and the van come in from the west and laying right here. Me and the twins come in on the east, leaving this car behind. We'll come in .....
 * [Both hear a jet made of vibranium.]
 * N'Jobu: Hide the straps.
 * [Zuri hides the guns inside the closet and puts the door containing an African tapestry in front of it. N'Jobu quickly hides his plans in front of another tapestry containing a map of Wakanda. He then looks out to see N'Jadaka playing basketball with his friends.]
 * Zuri: Yo, is it the Feds?
 * N'Jobu: No.
 * [He soon hears someone knocking on the door. Zuri loads his gun and heads to the door. He notices two members of the Dora Milaje on the other side from the peephole.]
 * Zuri: It's these two Grace Jones looking chicks. They hold spears.
 * N'Jobu:[Recognizing who the women are] Open it.
 * Zuri: Are you serious?
 * N'Jobu: They won't knock again.


 * N'Jobu: I observed for as long as I could. Their leaders have been assassinated. Communities flooded with drugs and weapons. They are overly policed and incarcerated. All over the planet, our people suffer because they don't have the tools to fight back. With vibranium weapons they can overthrow all countries and Wakanda can rule them all, the right way.
 * T'Chaka: [to his brother] Did you think you were the only spy we sent to the States? [Zuri reveals himself]


 * Zuri: So, your mission did not go as planned.
 * T'Challa: What happened to my uncle, N'Jobu? My father told me he disappeared. There was a man today wearing a ring identical to this one.
 * Zuri: It is not possible.
 * T'Challa: He helped Klaue escape from us and he was wearing this ring. My grandfather's ring! Do not tell me what is impossible, tell me the truth!
 * Zuri: Some truths... [Exhales deeply] are too much to bear, T'Challa.
 * T'Challa:: That is not your choice to make. What happened to him?
 * Zuri: I promised the king to say nothing.
 * T'Challa: [Irritated] I AM YOUR KING NOW!
 * Zuri: Your uncle took a War Dog assignment in America. Your father placed me there to observe. Unbeknownst to him, your uncle fell in love with an American woman, they had a child. The hardship he saw there radicalized your uncle.
 * [Flashback with T'Chaka confronting his brother, N'Jobu.]
 * N'Jobu: I observed for as long as I could. Their leaders have been assassinated. Communities flooded with drugs and weapons. They are overly policed and incarcerated. All over the planet, our people suffer because they don't have the tools to fight back. With vibranium weapons, they can overthrow all countries, and Wakanda can rule them all, the right way.
 * Zuri: He knew your father would not support this, so your uncle betrayed us.
 * T'Challa:[Shocked] No!
 * Zuri: He helped Klaue steal Vibranium.
 * T'Challa: No.
 * T'Chaka: You will return home at once where you will face the council and inform them of your crimes.
 * Zuri: He drew his weapon on me.
 * [N'Jobu pulls a loaded handgun from the back pocket of his pants planning to kill Zuri, but T'Chaka kills him by impaling him with panther claws on his suit.]
 * Zuri: Your father killed his own brother to save my life.
 * T'Chaka: Speak nothing of this.
 * T'Challa: And the child?
 * Zuri: We left him. We had to maintain the lie.


 * [Showing T'Challa the new suits]
 * Shuri: Strike it.
 * T'Challa: Anywhere?
 * Shuri: Mmm-hmm.
 * [T'Challa kicks the suit across the room]
 * Shuri: [indignantly] Not that hard, genius!
 * T'Challa: You told me to strike it! You didn't say how hard!
 * Shuri: I invite you to my lab and you just kick things around?!


 * [Everett Ross interrogates Ulysses Klaue, as T'Challa and Okoye listen in]
 * Ulysses Klaue: [Cuffed to a chair, singing] "Don't hurt me, no more! What is love? Baby, don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more..." [Casually] You know, you really shouldn't trust the Wakandans. I'm much more your speed.
 * Ross: I don't trust anybody, not in this job. But what I AM interested in is that arm cannon out there. Where'd you get that?
 * Klaue: It's an old mining tool that I made some adjustments to. But I can, uh, get you one if you like.
 * Ross: Why don't you give me the name of your supplier, and I'll ask them?
 * Klaue: He's right outside. Why don't you ask him yourself?
 * Ross: What, T'Challa? You're telling me that weapon on your arm is from Wakanda?
 * Klaue: [Winks and clicks] Bingo. What do you actually know about Wakanda?
 * Ross: Um... Shepherds, textiles, cool outfits...
 * Klaue: It's all a front. Explorers searched for it for centuries. "El Dorado, the Golden City" – they thought they could find it in South America, but it was in Africa the whole time. A technological marvel. All because it was built on a mound of the most valuable metal known to man. Isipho, they call it, "the gift". Vibranium.
 * Ross: Vibranium, yeah. Strongest metal on earth.
 * Klaue: It's not just a metal. They sew it into their clothes. It powers their city, their tech... their weapons.
 * Ross: Weapons?
 * Klaue: [Chuckles] Yeah. Makes my arm cannon look like a leaf blower.
 * Ross: That's a nice fairy tale, but Wakanda is a Third-World Country, and you stole all their Vibranium.
 * Klaue: "I stole..."?! [Laughs hysterically, then snaps and jolts the chair angrily] "ALL OF IT"?! I took a tiny piece of it. They have a mountain full of it. They've been mining it for thousands of years, and they still haven't scratched the surface. I'm the only outsider who's seen it and got out of there alive. If you don't believe me, you ask your friend what his suit is made of. What his claws are made of.


 * T'Challa: [In Xhosa] Kuthetha. (translation: "Speak.")
 * W'Kabi: Speak.
 * Killmonger: I'm standing in your house. Serving justice to a man who stole your vibranium and murdered your people. Justice your king couldn't deliver.
 * T'Challa: I don't care that you brought Klaue. The only reason I don't kill you where you stand is because I know who you are. Now what do you want?
 * Killmonger: I want the throne. [The tribal elders scoff and roll their eyes] Y'all sittin' up here comfortable. Must feel good. There's about two billion people all over the world that looks like us, but their lives are a lot harder. Wakanda has the tools to liberate them all.
 * T'Challa: And what tools are those?
 * Killmonger: Vibranium. Your weapons.
 * T'Challa: Our weapons will not be used to wage war on the world. It is not our way to be judge, jury and executioner for people who are not our own.
 * Killmonger: Not your own? But didn't life start right here on this continent? So ain't all people your people?
 * T'Challa: I am not king of all people. I am king of Wakanda. And it is my responsibility to make sure our people are safe and that vibranium does not fall into the hands of a person like you.
 * Ramonda: Son, we have entertained this charlatan for too long. Reject his request.
 * Killmonger: Oho, I ain't requestin' nothin'. Ask who I am.
 * Shuri: You are Erik Stevens. An American black operative. A mercenary nicknamed Killmonger. That's who you are.
 * Killmonger: That's not my name, Princess. Ask me, King.
 * T'Challa: No.
 * Killmonger: Ask me.
 * T'Challa: Take him away.
 * River Tribe Elder: [In Xhosa] Ungubani? (translation: "Who are you?")
 * Killmonger: [In Xhosa] Indingu N'Jadaka! Unyanka N'Jobu! (translation: "I am N'Jadaka! Son of Prince N'Jobu!") [The tribal elders are stunned]
 * Mining Tribe Elder: [In Xhosa] Unyana ka N'Jobu? (translation: "Son of Prince N'Jobu?")
 * Killmonger: [In English] I found my daddy with panther claws in his chest! You ain't the son of a king! You're the son of a murderer!
 * Ramonda: [In Xhosa] U due Ku Disto! (translation: "You're lying!") [In English] Lies!
 * W'Kabi: I'm afraid not, Queen Mother. [Presents N'Jobu's royal ring]
 * Killmonger: [smug] Hey, Auntie. I'm exercising my blood right. The challenge for the mantles of king and Black Panther.
 * Ramonda: Do not do this, T'Challa.
 * M'Kathu: As the son of Prince N'Jobu, he is within his rights.
 * Ramonda: He has no rights here!
 * River Tribe Elder: The challenge will take weeks to prepare!
 * Killmonger: Weeks? I don't need weeks. The whole country ain't gotta be there. I just need him and somebody to get me outta these chains.
 * Ramonda: T'Challa, what do you know of this?
 * T'Challa: I accept your challenge.


 * T'Challa: I never yielded! And as you can see, I am not dead!
 * Killmonger: All that challenge shit is over with. I'm the king now. Get those planes in the air, carry out the mission! W'Kabi! Man, kill this clown!
 * Okoye: W'Kabi! The challenge is not complete!
 * Border Tribesman: What will we do?
 * W'Kabi: Border Tribe! [In Xhosa] Kill him! [The Border tribesmen charge into battle against T'Challa. A furious Okoye rounds on Killmonger]
 * Okoye: You! Your heart is so full of hatred, you're not fit to be a king! [Okoye and the Dora Milaje attack Killmonger as he activates his own Black Panther suit]


 * W'Kabi: Would you kill me, my love?
 * Okoye: For Wakanda? [holds her spear at his throat] Without question!


 * [In Oakland]
 * Shuri: When you said you would take me to California for the first time, I thought you meant Coachella, or Disneyland. Why here?
 * T'Challa: This is where our father killed our uncle.
 * Shuri: [Sees a condemnation notice] They're tearing it down. Good.
 * T'Challa: They are not tearing it down, I bought this building. And that building. And that one over there. This will be the first Wakandan International Outreach Center.

Taglines

 * Long live the king.
 * Hero. Legend. King.
 * A king will rise.
 * The Avengers have a new king.
 * All Hail the King.

Cast

 * Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther
 * Ashton Tyler as Young T'Challa (deleted scene)
 * Michael B. Jordan as N'Jadaka / Erik "Killmonger" Stevens
 * Seth Carr as Young N'Jadaka
 * Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia
 * Danai Gurira as Okoye
 * Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross
 * Daniel Kaluuya as W'Kabi
 * Letitia Wright as Shuri
 * Winston Duke as M'Baku
 * Angela Bassett as Ramonda
 * Forest Whitaker as Zuri
 * Denzel Whitaker as Young Zuri
 * Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue
 * Stan Lee as himself
 * John Kani as T'Chaka
 * Atandwa Kani as Young T'Chaka
 * Sterling K. Brown as N'Jobu
 * Florence Kasumba as Ayo
 * Sydelle Noel as Xoliswa
 * Nabiyah Be as Linda
 * Isaach de Bankolé as River Tribe Elder
 * Connie Chiume as Mining Tribe Elder
 * Dorothy Steel as Merchant Tribe Elder
 * Danny Sapani as M'Kathu
 * Francesca Faridany as the British Museum Director
 * Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes (Uncredited)

Quotes about

 * We are already limited in the sense that given that type of power, that type of stage that he had, and especially in that industry. You don’t see many black male and female actors being able to put on that stage. For him to be as transcendent as he was. But then you add on the fact that growing up as a black kid, you had superheroes that you looked up to, but they weren’t black. You had Batman, you had Superman, you had Spider Man, and so on and so on. And for Ryan Coogler and for that cast, and for him himself to be able to make Black Panther, even though we knew it was like a fictional story, it actually felt real. It actually felt like we finally had our Black superhero and nobody can touch us. (Speaking about Chadwick Boseman and Black Panther)
 * LeBron James quoted in Remembering Chadwick Boseman: Ibram X. Kendi on Legacy of “Black Panther” Actor, Cancer & Anti-Racism, Democracy Now, (31 August 2020)
 * I don’t even know if I can even—as you know, Amy, I don’t even know if it can even be described in words what Black Panther meant, what T’Challa meant, what many of those incredible characters meant, what Wakanda meant, what Wakanda still means to black people. And particularly those of us who are really striving to be antiracist, those of us who are knowledgeable about precolonial West African empires, those of us who know that the reason why there is so much poverty, for instance, in Africa is not because there’s something wrong with African people. That if not for colonialism, if not for the slave trade, there may be a Wakanda. And I think that black people I think in the United States and all over the world, for them to see themselves in greatness and in excellence, for them to see themselves affirmed, I think was just incredible... And like other black people who went to see the film and just as nonblack people, it gave me the ability to really step outside of myself, step outside of my world and imagine what’s possible. And there is nothing more radical and critical to transforming the world than a radical imagination. Of thinking about what is possible. I think Black Panther gave that to so many people.
 * Ibram X. Kendi quoted in Remembering Chadwick Boseman: Ibram X. Kendi on Legacy of “Black Panther” Actor, Cancer & Anti-Racism,  Democracy Now, (31 August 2020)
 * As a father, as a girl dad, the portrayal of women in Black Panther is almost certainly what I admired the most, from the chief technology officer to even the baddest person on the film, who to me was the general, who was my favorite character and certainly my wife’s favorite character. But then also, I just want to again emphasize that this is possible. We currently have a tech industry where women and particularly women of color are far and away underrepresented or imagine that it’s not their place or imagine that they don’t have the intellectual capacity. And these are all sexist and racist lies. And women, particularly women of color, can be the chief technology officer of the baddest place, I should say the most technologically advanced sort of companies or places on earth. That’s possible, if we can create that type of sort of society.
 * Ibram X. Kendi quoted in Remembering Chadwick Boseman: Ibram X. Kendi on Legacy of “Black Panther” Actor, Cancer & Anti-Racism,  Democracy Now, (31 August 2020)
 * It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.” Black Panther is one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, earning more than $1.3 billion around the world. It has been called a defining moment for black America, as the first superhero movie with a majority black cast and an African lead character.
 * Amy Goodman, in Remembering Chadwick Boseman: Ibram X. Kendi on Legacy of “Black Panther” Actor, Cancer & Anti-Racism, Democracy Now, (31 August 2020)