Black Panther and the movie revolution
Black Panther represents far more than just another salvo in the battle for movie audiences
The Black Panther just kicked Superman’s butt. And Batman’s. And Iron Man’s.The movie chalked up the fifth-biggest US opening of all time, leaving the other superheroes in the dust and raking in well over US$200m.It strikes a big blow for Disney, which is in a war for eyeballs with rapidly rising Netflix.Netflix just upended the traditional movie-release model by announcing during half-time at the Superbowl that The Cloverfield Paradox would be available for viewing right after the game.With no previews, no publicity build-up, no release hype, this was a serious shot across the bows of the traditional film industry.But Black Panther represents far more than just another salvo in the battle for audience.The plot unfolds in the technologically advanced mythical African kingdom of Wakanda, which escaped colonisation to rise as a major power.The original Black Panther — King T’Chaka — is played by none other than SA’s John Kani, while his successor and the current Black Panther, T’C...
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