The Atlantic

The Tragic Fight Scene That Defined <em>Black Panther </em>

<em>The Atlantic</em> looks back on the key film moments of 2018, this time a brawl at a waterfall in Ryan Coogler’s superhero masterpiece.
Source: Walt Disney Studios

Over the next week, The Atlantic’s “And, Scene” series will delve into some of the most interesting films of the year by examining a single, noteworthy cinematic moment from 2018. First up is Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther. (Read our previous entries here.)


By the time we revisit the waterfall in , about 75 minutes into the film, every viewer understands the stakes of the place. Warrior Falls is Wakanda’s ceremonial proving in this secluded country, and the value still placed on tradition even though Wakanda’s technology has reached unparalleled heights.

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