The latest installment to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man: No Way Home, was released in theaters last Friday. No Way Home isn’t just the finale of Tom Holland’s first Spider-Man trilogy (you read that right, more movies have already been confirmed by producer Amy Pascal) — it’s a culmination of every Spider-Man film that came before it. Just in case you couldn’t snag opening weekend tickets, here’s a list of everything you may need to know for the next screening of Spider-Man: No Way Home.
- Spider-Man’s biggest baddies are returning
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Unless you’ve been living under a rock the past couple of months, or you somehow haven’t seen any promotional material for the movie, Spider-Man’s most iconic villains will be returning to the big screen. So far, five villains have been revealed in the official trailer: Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin (Spider-Man), Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock (Spider-Man 2), Thomas Haden Church’s Sandman (Spider-Man 3), Rhys Ifans’ Lizard (The Amazing Spider-Man) and Jamie Foxx’s Electro (The Amazing Spider-Man 2). Although it’s only one player short of filling out the roster for a Sinister Six, we likely won’t get the famous sextuple in this film.
- Spider-Man’s identity is no longer a secret
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At the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home, Mysterio told the world that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. And that’s a big deal because we’ve never seen Spider-Man grapple with the loss of his anonymity on film. Peter won’t be able to hide behind the mask or protect his loved ones anymore; he and everyone close to him will be in danger. I suspect that at least one of the villains will go after Peter’s heart and try to get to either MJ or Aunt May. From the Gwen Stacey parallel in the trailer, the odds aren’t looking good for Michelle.
- The stakes are higher than they’ve ever been
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Not only does Spider-Man have to save the world, but he’ll have to save the lives of bad guys, too. In the official trailer, Doc Ock refers to the villains as ghosts, and Doctor Strange states that “they all die fighting Spider-Man.” By messing up Doctor Strange’s spell, he may have the opportunity to change their fates. He will try — and probably fail — to save everyone. The only question is who will fall, friend or foe?
- Spider-Man: No Way Home is bigger than the MCU
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And by that, I mean this isn’t just your typical Marvel Cinematic Universe crossover film. The movie will star MCU characters Doctor Strange and Wong as well as J. Jonah Jameson of the original Spider-Man trilogy. Moreover, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield are rumored to be reprising their respective roles as Spider-Man for the film. No Way Home is the Avengers: Endgame of Spider-Man films, and it’s as close to a live-action spider-verse we might ever get.
- Bring a box of tissues
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The spoiler-free reviews from critics are in, and they’re all saying the same thing: Spider-Man: No Way Home is an emotional journey that will have you laughing and crying (sometimes at the same time). Some even think this is Tom Holland’s best performance as Spider-Man to date. So be prepared to get misty-eyed.
I hope you’re as excited as I am to finally watch Spider-Man: No Way Home. It’s supposed to be a theater viewing experience you don’t want to miss. If you do plan on going to the theaters, keep yourself and others safe by wearing a mask. Remember, with great power comes great responsibility.