The wait is almost over, Marvel fans. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will finally launch on Disney Plus on February 1.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was released in theaters on November 11, 2022, so it's been well over two months since it launched worldwide. After a lengthy wait, it'll arrive on one of the best streaming services in just two days' time (at the time of writing, anyway).
We knew Black Panther 2 wasn't coming to Disney Plus in January as Disney revealed it wouldn't as part of its January 2023 release slate. Now, though, Marvel fanatics are gearing up to watch it for the first or 10th time.
If you're looking for more news on Wakanda Forever's Disney Plus debut, we've got you covered. Below, you can read more about why it's taken so long for it to launch on Disney Plus, as well as other important information surrounding the MCU flick. So, dive in! When you're ready, find out how to watch Wakanda Forever.
When is Black Panther 2's Disney Plus release date?
On February 1, the worldwide phenomenon arrives on @DisneyPlus.Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: #WakandaForever is streaming February 1. pic.twitter.com/TDefiAFwUvJanuary 4, 2023
As confirmed by Marvel Studios on January 4, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will debut on Disney Plus on February 1.
The film, which made it into the top three of our Marvel Phase 4 ranked article, landed in theaters last November, and we expected it to arrive in January 2023. That's based on what we knew about some of the best superhero movies' Disney Plus releases. However, Marvel proved that wasn't the case, confirming it'll arrive a month later instead.
Marvel movies don't launch on Disney's streaming platform immediately after their theatrical releases; each one having a 45-day exclusivity period in cinemas. If Black Panther 2 was released exactly 45 days after its theatrical release, it would've arrived on Disney's streamer on Monday, December 26.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Marvel hasn't released any of its post-Avengers: Endgame films on Disney's streamer so soon after their theatrical release. The exception to that rule is Black Widow, which received a day and date launch in theaters and on Disney Plus in July 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Furthermore, Disney traditionally releases new films and TV shows on Wednesdays. That temporarily changed when She-Hulk: Attorney at Law debuted on a Thursday (August 18). This was due to the midweek episodic release of Star Wars TV show Andor. Clearly, Marvel and Lucasfilm didn't want their tentpole franchises to compete for viewers on the same day.
If Black Panther 2 follows Marvel's traditional Wednesday launch for Disney Plus releases, it should've come out on Wednesday, December 28, right? No – and Eternals holds the key as to why.
Eternals launched in theaters on November 5, 2021, but it wasn't available to stream on Disney Plus until January 12, 2022. That's because Marvel co-released Spider-Man: No Way Home (alongside Sony Pictures) in December 2021. In our view, Marvel didn't want to Eternals' Disney Plus launch to clash with No Way Home's theatrical run, as it might have distracted fans from going to see No Way Home.
Add in the fact Wakanda Forever continued to make money over the 2022 holiday season and it wasn't in Marvel's financial interests to end its theatrical run and release it on Disney Plus (for free, remember!) until February.
Is there an end credit scene in Black Panther 2?
Yes, but there's only one post-credits scene – not two – in Wakanda Forever.
We've broken down what that mid-credits stinger means for the Black Panther film series (and wider MCU) in this Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ending and post-credits scene explained article. It takes a deep dive into the film's more spoiler-y elements, so don't read it until you've watched the film.
What's the runtime for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever?
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever runs for two hours and 41 minutes. That includes its sole post-credits scene and its two credits sequences, and makes Black Panther 2 the second-longest MCU film of all-time. It's only surpassed by Avengers: Endgame's three hour runtime, while it's four minutes longer than the divisive Eternals film.
For more Wakanda Forever-based content, check out our "Who is Namor?" and "Who is Ironheart?" explainers. Alternatively, find out how to watch the Marvel movies in order, or see where we ranked Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in our best Marvel movies guide.
