[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Not to be "that guy", but what social relevance? There have been black superhero movies for decades tbh

And most of them are blaxpoitation films or films that take inspiration from that era. What makes Black Panther so innovative was the fact that it didn't rely on the blaxploitation angle and it was a film that embraced culture and spoke of issues in a way that's never been handled in a mainstream superhero film before. It's difficult to explain but, in the US in particular, it's a very important film because it bucked a lot of trends that people used to devalue black actors and films with minority casts. Go back even a few years ago and most studios would have never gone for a big budget Blockbuster without a white actor on the poster because they wouldn't believe it to be profitable.

Black Panther showed that you could tell a successful authentic story featuring black characters and culture that didn't rely on stereotypes or belittlement. Black Panther's critical, financial success along with the adoration of the audience, when you consider all the factors, was unheard of. If the MCU ever does come to an end, Black Panther will likely be one of the films that will remain relevant and beloved.