ATLANTA — It’s the film that led a social media phenomenon, a production that impressed sci-fi action moviegoers, and a story the lifted a culture celebrating the first black Superhero by one of comics' most prestigious brands.
With a string of Academy Award nominations, including a nod for Best Picture, it's clear that the impact of 'Black Panther' was not only felt in Hollywood.
Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ surrounds the technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda and the newly crowned King T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), returning home after the events of Captain America: Civil War.
Old enemies reappear as T'Challa comes home and the King, in his guise as the superhero Black Panther, is drawn into a fight that puts his entire kingdom and the entire world at risk.
Photos: Disney, Marvel's 'Black Panther' premiere
Production not only filmed in downtown Atlanta, but also in Vine City, Decatur, Marietta, Cartersville, and other locations across north Georgia and, ‘Black Panther’ soared at the box office following its February 2018 release.
The Atlanta-based film generated more than $83.9 million in local economic activity and contributed more than $26.5 million in wages to more than 3,100 workers across the state.
But the cultural impact on the African American community that ‘Black Panther’ has made is worth more than blockbuster numbers.
As the film was released thousands of community leaders from around the nation, hosted screenings of the film.
In Atlanta, the non-profit Phoenix Leadership Foundation along with The DeKalb Chamber and Movie Tavern took more than 700 metro-Atlanta students from 14 schools to see the critically-acclaimed movie.
Jay Bailey, chairman of the Phoenix Leadership Foundation, said the event had the goal of allowing as many students as possible who might not have the opportunity to see the film to experience this action-packed blockbuster because of the positive role models the film portrays.
Growing up, Bailey’s superheroes were Batman, Superman, Aquaman, and more. But none of them looked like him.
“This was the first time in live action that I saw a superhero on the big stage that I saw my reflection in,” Bailey said. “I knew that day, at some point we were going to buy out a theater and give the opportunity to hundreds of kids to see this movie.”
Bailey’s foundation aims to expose children to positive role models and he knows that images matter.
“I think kids should know their image is regal, intelligent, wealthy, powerful and royal,” Bailey said. “It’s a deep passion of mine.”
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