Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness debuted in theaters on May 6, and it is officially a smash hit. In its opening weekend alone, it made $450 million worldwide. It’s all the more impressive because this is not Captain America or The Incredible Hulk or even Iron Man. This is Doctor Strange, a superhero who—prior to the MCU films—was beloved by comic readers, but lacked the mainstream pervasiveness that would guarantee box office success.
The Doctor Strange films, along with the Guardians of the Galaxy films and the Shang-Chi film, prove Disney and Marvel’s reach and power. They can make their audience care about these lesser-known characters, with no pre-existing knowledge required. The MCU’s self-sustaining ecosystem—its movies, TV shows, and various associated media—is enough to support these stories from the ground up. This new movie demands, more than any other MCU movie aside from Infinity War or Endgame, that you watch the prior movies and TV shows—especially WandaVision—to derive full enjoyment, and Complex has you covered.
If you are one of the rare few people who have yet to watch Doctor Strange 2, beware—there are major spoilers ahead. Here are 33 references and Easter eggs in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that you might have missed, including those mid and end credits scenes.