Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Wakanda Forever is a beautiful, ambitious film that does something rare in superhero movies: it sits with grief instead of punching through it. The real-world loss of Chadwick Boseman makes this sequel feel more like a memorial than a popcorn flick, and that's both its strength and its challenge for families.

The world-building is phenomenal—Talokan is visually stunning and culturally rich—and the themes about leadership, revenge, and protection are genuinely complex. Kids who can handle the emotional weight will find meaningful conversations about loss, anger, and choosing reconciliation over revenge.

But let's be real: this is a 162-minute meditation on grief wrapped in a superhero suit. Younger kids expecting Black Panther action-adventure fun will find this slow, sad, and confusing. The pacing drags, the tone is heavy, and there's not much levity. For mature tweens and teens ready for something more serious, it's powerful. For the typical 8-year-old Marvel fan? It's a tough sit.

If your family is ready for a more grown-up superhero story that trusts its audience with complex emotions, this delivers. Just know what you're signing up for—and maybe pack snacks for that runtime.

Age Fit

Best for mature tweens (11+) and teens who can handle heavy emotional themes and a long runtime. The grief narrative is sophisticated and may be too intense for younger Marvel fans expecting lighter superhero fun.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

72

Models strong themes of grief, family unity, and leadership under pressure. Characters demonstrate loyalty, sacrifice, and working through loss together. However, the tone is notably heavy and somber given the real-world death of Chadwick Boseman woven into the narrative. Emotional weight may be intense for younger viewers, though the core values of cooperation and protecting one's community are positive.

Imaginative

81

Wakanda's Afrofuturist world-building remains visually stunning and culturally rich. The introduction of Talokan (the underwater kingdom) adds a fresh mythological layer with Mesoamerican influences. Advanced technology, unique cultural traditions, and creative action sequences invite wonder. While it's a sequel building on established lore rather than breaking entirely new ground, the imaginative scope is substantial.

Safe

68

Standard Marvel action violence with superhero battles, explosions, and combat sequences. No gore, nudity, or sexual content. However, the film opens with T'Challa's death and funeral, and grief is a central, heavy theme throughout. There are intense action sequences and some frightening imagery (underwater attacks, war scenes). The 162-minute runtime is notably long. For a Marvel film, this is on the expected safety spectrum, but the grief theme and intensity level make it heavier than typical superhero fare.

Enriching

78

Tackles complex themes of grief, succession, revenge versus reconciliation, and cultural preservation. Strong representation with predominantly Black and Indigenous cast exploring colonialism, resource exploitation, and protecting marginalized communities. The film handles real-world loss (Boseman's death) with dignity while exploring how leaders emerge from tragedy. Shuri's character arc from scientist to reluctant leader offers depth. Meaningful conversations about anger, healing, and breaking cycles of violence.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Handles real grief with dignity—Chadwick Boseman's death is woven into the story, showing kids how communities process loss together
Spectacular world-building with the introduction of Talokan, an underwater kingdom with Mesoamerican influences that expands the MCU beautifully
Strong female leadership and complex characters, especially Shuri's journey from scientist to reluctant leader
Tackles meaningful themes about revenge, reconciliation, and protecting your community from exploitation
Representation matters: predominantly Black and Indigenous cast exploring colonialism and cultural preservation in a blockbuster

⚠

What to Watch For

This is a HEAVY film—grief and loss are central themes, and the tone is somber throughout. Not your typical quippy Marvel fare
162 minutes is a marathon for kids (and adults). Bathroom breaks may be needed
Action violence is typical Marvel level—underwater battles, explosions, combat—but some sequences are intense
The opening funeral sequence sets an emotional tone that continues throughout. Prepare for feelings

Conversation Starters

"How did Shuri change throughout the movie? What do you think helped her deal with losing her brother?"
"Namor and the Talokan people were protecting their home too. Were there any 'good guys' and 'bad guys' or was it more complicated than that?"
"What would you do if you suddenly had to lead something important, like Shuri did? Would you feel ready?"
"The movie shows different ways people deal with grief—Ramonda, Shuri, and M'Baku all handled it differently. What did you notice?"
"Why do you think both Wakanda and Talokan wanted to stay hidden from the world?"

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Black Panther Wakanda Forever