Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Extends The MCU"s Worst Oscars Record
Despite strong critical acclaim and being one of the highest-grossing movies of 2022, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever extended the MCU's worst Oscars record. Now in Phase 5, the MCU has had no shortage of Academy Award nominations since its start with Iron Man in 2008, and Black Panther 2 was nominated in myriad categories including Best Supporting Actress, Best Costume Design, and Best Visual Effects. Recognizing the movie's performances, costumes, and visual beauty didn't guarantee that it would win, however, and just like Oscars 2022 with Spider-Man: No Way Home and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, it continued a distinctly glum streak for the MCU.
The MCU is full of successful films, but Black Panther stood out by being nominated in seven categories, and it had the distinction of being the very first MCU film to actually win some Academy Awards. While most superhero movies don't win Oscars despite being nominated many times, some could occasionally be acknowledged for their contributions to cinema beyond Best Visual Effects, such as Black Panther proved with wins for Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever carried the legacy of its predecessor into Oscars 2023 with a nomination for Best Supporting Actress, Best Costume Design, and Best Visual Effects.