The parts that are hard to follow from the film alone, explained with a story summary, a character map and key terms.
Released
2016
Runtime
115 min
Set in
2016
Good to know before watchingNo spoilers
No homework needed
It's an origin story for a new hero, with very little Avengers material.
When is it set?
According to Marvel Studios' official timeline book, the story begins after Ant-Man, Strange trains around the time of Civil War, and the final battle happens before Black Widow.
It's about magic
Instead of science and armor, there are spells and other dimensions. Reading the key terms first helps.
A visual feast
Buildings twist and cities fold like kaleidoscopes. Best on a big screen.
There are scenes during and after the credits
The mid-credits scene leads into Thor: Ragnarok.
Character mapSpoilers
Who's who in Doctor Strange (2016), with Stephen Strange at the center. The hospital is on the left, the sorcerers above, and the enemies at bottom right.
Because of copyright, we can't use stills, posters or any other images of the characters as they appear in the film. All face photos are freely licensed photos of the actors themselves (non-human characters are original illustrations made for this site; people without a photo are shown with initials).
Drag to move, pinch (or scroll on a computer) to zoom. Tap a person to read about them.
Face photos are freely licensed photos of the actors from Wikimedia Commons, cropped to a square and resized. Non-human characters are original illustrations made for this site, and people without a photo are shown with a placeholder (initials).
Dormammu: An original illustration made for this site (not an image from the film).
StorySpoilers
Read the story (spoilers up to the ending)
1. The brilliant surgeon
Strange is a gifted but arrogant surgeon who looks down on people, even his colleague and ex, Christine.
2. The crash
He crashes his car on a mountain road at night and badly damages the nerves in his hands. Surgery after surgery fails, his hands still shake, and he loses everything.
3. To Kathmandu
Hearing of a man who recovered from an incurable injury, Strange travels to Kathmandu, where Mordo takes him to the Ancient One.
4. Learning magic
Shown other dimensions with his own eyes, Strange begins to study magic. With his photographic memory he devours the library and improves fast.
5. Kaecilius attacks
The Ancient One's former student Kaecilius tries to destroy the three Sanctums to bring in Dormammu of the Dark Dimension. Strange fights him at the New York Sanctum, and the cloak chooses him.
6. Battle in the Mirror Dimension
Strange and Mordo fight Kaecilius in a New York that twists and folds around them.
7. Showdown in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Sanctum has fallen and Dormammu is arriving. Strange uses the power to turn back time and goes to bargain with Dormammu.
8. Strange the sorcerer
Strange gives up surgery and stays on as the sorcerer protecting the New York Sanctum.
The training compound of the sorcerers, in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The Ancient One
Leader of the sorcerers, said to have lived for centuries.
The Sanctums
Three buildings in New York, London and Hong Kong that shield Earth from other dimensions.
Sling ring
Worn on the fingers, it opens a portal to a faraway place when you trace a circle in the air.
The Mirror Dimension
A mirror-image copy of the real world. Fighting there doesn't damage reality.
The Dark Dimension
A realm of darkness where time doesn't exist, ruled by Dormammu.
The Eye of Agamotto
An amulet with the power to control time. It holds a green stone.
The Cloak of Levitation
A red cloak with a mind of its own that chooses Strange. It lets him fly.
Confusing parts, explainedSpoilers
Contains spoilers about the ending.
What was the Ancient One hiding?
To protect the world, she secretly drew a little power from the Dark Dimension to prolong her life. Mordo can't forgive that.
How does Strange beat Dormammu?
With the Eye of Agamotto, he traps them both in a time loop. Dormammu, who lives outside time, is stuck in a moment that never ends, and agrees to leave Earth alone.
Why does Mordo leave?
Seeing magic used to bend the laws of nature, he loses faith in the sorcerers' ways.
What's the stone in the Eye?
It's the Time Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones.
Easy-to-miss details
Strange's watch
Strange keeps wearing the watch Christine gave him, even after his hands are ruined.
Wong and the Wi-Fi
When Strange asks for the Wi-Fi password, the librarian Wong replies, "We're not savages."
Stan Lee's cameo
Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee appears as a bus passenger laughing at a book.
The ending and post-creditsSpoilers
After the end credits
Mid-credits: Strange meets Thor (leading into Ragnarok). Post-credits: Mordo decides there are too many sorcerers.
