Film guide · 2022

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessComplete Guide

The parts that are hard to follow from the film alone, explained with a story summary, a character map and key terms.

Released
2022
Runtime
126 min
Set in
2025

Good to know before watchingNo spoilers

Watch WandaVision first

Wanda's state of mind is key to the story.

It follows No Way Home

The multiverse keeps expanding.

Some horror moments

A few scenes are scary, so heads up.

Scenes during and after the credits

The mid-credits scene points to Strange's future.

Character mapSpoilers

Who's who in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), with Doctor Strange at the center.

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.

All characters

About the images

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).

StorySpoilers

Read the story (spoilers up to the ending)

1. A dream battle

Strange dreams of another Strange fleeing a monster with a young girl.

2. America

The girl from the dream, America, appears in the city chased by a monster. She can travel between worlds.

3. Asking Wanda

Strange asks Wanda for help, but she has her own aims.

4. Into another world

Strange and America escape into another universe.

5. The fight over the books

The battle centers on a dangerous book and the one that can counter it.

6. Resolutions

Strange and Wanda each reach their own ending.

Read the detailed scene-by-scene story

Key terms

The multiverse
The many worlds beyond our own.
The Darkhold
An extremely dangerous book of magic that corrupts those who use it.
The Book of Vishanti
A book of good magic that can counter the Darkhold.
Dreamwalking
A spell that sends your mind into the body of your variant in another world.
Incursion
When two universes collide and both are destroyed.
The Illuminati
A secret council of heroes in another universe.

Confusing parts, explainedSpoilers

Contains spoilers about the ending.

Why does Wanda want America's power?

To be with her children in another world. The Darkhold had corrupted her.

Why does Strange get a third eye?

It's a side effect of the dark magic he used. Where it leads hasn't been shown yet.

Who's in the Illuminati?

Heroes from another world, including some familiar faces from other films.

Easy-to-miss details

A battle of musical notes

Two Stranges fight using musical notes as weapons.

America's jacket

America's jacket is covered in patches.

The pizza guy

After the credits, an actor who's a longtime friend of the director has a fun cameo.

The ending and post-creditsSpoilers

After the end credits

Mid-credits: a mysterious woman, Clea, tells Strange he caused an incursion. Post-credits: a Pizza Poppa gag.

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