Short answer:
The first Black Panther movie came out in U.S. theaters on February 16, 2018.

It had its world premiere in Los Angeles on January 29, 2018 , and then rolled out to other countries in mid‑February and early March 2018.

When Did Black Panther Come Out? (Quick Scoop)

Release timeline at a glance

  • Los Angeles premiere: January 29, 2018.
  • U.S. wide theatrical release: February 16, 2018.
  • Many international markets (UK, Hong Kong, Ireland, Taiwan): from February 13, 2018 onward.
  • Japan release: March 1, 2018.
  • China release: March 9, 2018.

So when people online ask “when did Black Panther come out” , they almost always mean the U.S. theatrical release date: February 16, 2018.

Mini breakdown: which date “counts”?

  • If you mean the first time it was shown publicly → the LA premiere on January 29, 2018.
  • If you mean when most fans finally saw it in theaters in the U.S. → February 16, 2018.
  • If you’re thinking in terms of “2018 movie” vs other MCU phases → it’s officially listed as a 2018 release and part of Phase Three of the MCU.

Context and “now” vibes

  • As of 2026 , it’s been about eight years since Black Panther hit theaters, and it’s still talked about as one of Marvel’s most influential films for representation and cultural impact.
  • Forum and social posts around early 2026 are marking that “almost 8 years ago, on February 16th 2018, Black Panther premiered…”, underlining how huge it was at the box office and in pop culture.

Many fans on forums still frame it as the moment a big‑budget superhero film centered on Wakanda and T’Challa shifted expectations for what mainstream comic book movies could look like.

Quick FAQ style bullets

  • Q: Is Black Panther a 2017 or 2018 movie?
    A: It’s officially a 2018 film.
  • Q: Which date should I use for trivia/homework?
    A: Use the U.S. theatrical release: February 16, 2018.
  • Q: When was the red‑carpet premiere?
    A: January 29, 2018 in Los Angeles.

HTML table of key dates

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Event / Region</th>
      <th>Date</th>
      <th>Note</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>World premiere (Los Angeles)</td>
      <td>January 29, 2018</td>
      <td>Red-carpet premiere at the Dolby Theatre.[web:1][web:3][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>United States (wide release)</td>
      <td>February 16, 2018</td>
      <td>Main U.S. theatrical release date.[web:6][web:9][web:10]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland, Taiwan</td>
      <td>February 13, 2018</td>
      <td>Early international releases.[web:1][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Japan</td>
      <td>March 1, 2018</td>
      <td>Staggered international rollout.[web:1]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>China</td>
      <td>March 9, 2018</td>
      <td>Major overseas market release.[web:1]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

TL;DR: Black Panther officially came out in U.S. theaters on February 16, 2018 , with its world premiere in Los Angeles on January 29, 2018.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.