One of the false narratives that is perpetuated by Hollywood is that movies that star men — white men — are universal, and movies that star women and nonwhite people are niche.

One of the most glorious things about “Wonder Woman’s” success this past summer is its $821 million worldwide box office which proved emphatically that big action movies that star women can be successful on a global scale. It demolished the long-held conceit of the last 15 years, which put men at the center of all the superhero stories.

As “Black Panther” opens across the world, we see the long-held notion about the universality of stories of nonwhite characters shot down, hopefully forever.

Left to right: Okoye (Danai Gurira) and Ayo (Florence Kasumba) with the Dora Milaje, the special forces of Wakanda, in 'Black Panther' Marvel Studios

“Black Panther” is also a very big feminist success. One of the things that is so special about the film is the integration of women into the narrative essence. Ryan Coogler is a 31-year-old, brilliant African-American filmmaker. Throughout his career, he has employed a diverse group of women in multiple positions across all his films.

Rachel Morrison, the first woman nominated for a best cinematography Academy Award this year for “Mudbound,” has worked with Coogler on several films. Hannah Beachler has been his production designer on all his movies. And the legendary Ruth Carter handles costumes on “Black Panther.”

The story, which Coogler also wrote as well as directed, along with Joe Robert Cole, unlike the typical superhero film actually makes sense. But what’s striking about the film is that it feels like a post-gender film. Gender does not define or stereotype the characters. Our heroes are both men and women, and they’re spectacular. Chadwick Boseman plays T’Challa, the Black Panther, Prince of Wakanda who becomes King when his father is killed.

But it is the female characters in this film that are transcendent. If you were moved by the early scenes of the Amazon warriors of Themyscira in “Wonder Woman” training on the beach, you will feel right at home here in Wakanda.

With the portrayal of women in “Black Panther," a line in the sand has been crossed, and it all starts with Danai Gurira as Okoye, the head of the Dora Milaje, the all-female security force that protects Wakanda. She is also the general of the army and head of intelligence. She is the person T’Challa relies on most for keeping him safe, and she is so badass and breathtakingly powerful.

The other women are just as fierce: Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, who spends her time outside Wakanda as a spy, and returns home to support the new king and her country. Angela Bassett plays the queen and she is regal, as always. Letitia Wright as Shuri, the sister of T’Challa and second in line to the throne, is literally the smartest person in the country, proving that superpowers are not just about brute force. She has built Wakanda into the most technologically advanced nation in the world — think Q in the Bond films, but younger and smarter. She also designed Black Panther’s suit.

The women here are also the film’s comic relief, and they head into battle just like the men. The beauty is there is never a thought that women shouldn’t go into battle.

The narrative that films with black leads do not travel overseas will no longer be accepted after this film. This movie, as well as “A Wrinkle in Time,” which stars a biracial girl and is the highest budgeted film directed by an African American woman, Ava DuVernay, opens on March 9. These films are both game-changers for an industry that is so desperate for an update.

Melissa Silverstein is the founder and publisher of Women and Hollywood. She is also the co-founder and artistic director of the Athena Film Festival, which will run from Feb. 22-25 at Barnard College.