Black Panther (2018) and I, Daniel Blake (2016)

Black Panther (2018) and I, Daniel Blake (2016) represent the vast spectrum of contemporary cinema, ranging from global blockbusters to independent social realism.

Black Panther, produced by Marvel Studios (a Disney subsidiary), is the 17th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It features the fictional kingdom of Wakanda, which avoided colonization to achieve technological superiority. The film is culturally significant for its Afrofuturist aesthetic, challenging historical portrayals of Africa as "primitive" and resonating with modern contexts like #blacklivesmatter. Disney utilized vertical integration and a "360-degree" marketing strategy—including synergies with Lexus and Hasbro—to transform the release into a "cultural event". It grossed over $1 billion worldwide and was the first superhero film nominated for a "Best Picture" Academy Award.

In contrast, I, Daniel Blake, directed by Ken Loach, is a low-budget British co-production addressing austerity and the UK welfare system. Unlike Disney’s conglomerate model, it relied on public funding from the BFI and BBC Films. The film utilizes social realism, featuring lesser-known actors and location shooting in Newcastle to convey a clear left-wing political message. While Marvel aims for massive profit, Loach’s work targets an educated, socially aware audience, prioritizing political debate over commercial gain.

Both films successfully harnessed digital platforms; Black Panther became the most-tweeted film ever by March 2018, while I, Daniel Blake utilized hashtags like #idanielblake to engage active consumers. Furthermore, both films challenge Curran and Seaton's theory that media concentration limits variety, as they both offered adventurous, diverse content that reached global audiences and won major awards, including the Palme d’Or and multiple Oscars