In 2018, 'Black Panther' became more than a blockbuster; it was a cultural event. Grossing $1.34 billion, it was the first big-budget superhero film with a predominantly Black cast and a Black director (Ryan Coogler). Its success shattered long-standing Hollywood myths that Black-led films wouldn't perform well in international markets. It was also the first superhero movie to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Its 'Afrofuturist' aesthetic and complex villain (Killmonger) raised the bar for what a blockbuster could achieve in terms of social commentary and visual design.