The Ant-Man and the Wasp post-credit scene is the one that answers a question many fans ask after Infinity War: where was Scott Lang? Watch the film after Thor: Ragnarok and before Avengers: Infinity War in story order, with Ant-Man and Captain America: Civil War seen first. Those two films are all the setup it needs.
There are two extra scenes, and they could hardly be more different in tone.
If you have already seen Infinity War, the mid-credits scene lands like a punch. If you have not, it is a strong reason to watch that film right away. Either way, do not switch off when the credits start rolling.
In the US, Ant-Man and the Wasp streams on Disney Plus. The film runs 119 minutes, just under two hours, so with both extra scenes you are looking at a little over two hours in total. Catalogs shift between countries and over time, and the watch box on this page shows where it is available for you.
The story is set in 2018, and most of it happens in the days before the events of Infinity War. That is why chronological lists put it after Thor: Ragnarok and right before Avengers: Infinity War. Our full list also counts the older Marvel TV shows, so the optional Marvel's Cloak & Dagger sits between Ragnarok and this film. Release order flips that: the film reached theaters in July 2018, a couple of months after Infinity War, as a lighter follow-up in Phase 3.
| Order | What comes before | What comes after |
|---|---|---|
| Story order (films only) | Thor: Ragnarok | Avengers: Infinity War |
| Story order (full list) | Marvel's Cloak & Dagger | Avengers: Infinity War |
| Release order | Avengers: Infinity War | Captain Marvel |
Either order works. Story order keeps the timeline tidy, while release order lets the mid-credits scene hit the way Marvel intended. If you are new, we lean toward story order and simply watch Infinity War next. Our Marvel Phase 3 in order guide shows the whole phase both ways.
For prerequisites, the first Ant-Man introduces Scott, Hope, Hank Pym and the idea of the Quantum Realm. Captain America: Civil War explains why Scott starts this film wearing an ankle monitor.
Scott is three days away from finishing two years of house arrest. He has been a model detainee, mostly, and he would very much like to keep it that way. Then Hope van Dyne and her father, Hank Pym, show up with a problem. They believe Janet van Dyne, the original Wasp, may still be alive in the Quantum Realm, and Scott might be the key to finding her.
Getting there means keeping Hank's shrinking lab out of the wrong hands, and plenty of people want it. A black-market dealer is circling, the FBI keeps dropping by to check on Scott, and a masked figure called Ghost can phase through walls and is very interested in the same technology. The result is a heist comedy with car chases where cars shrink and grow mid-pursuit, built around two families trying to put themselves back together.
It is marked recommended, not essential. You can follow Infinity War without it. Its real value shows up one film later, because the Quantum Realm ideas set up here become central to Avengers: Endgame. Skip it, and a big turn early in Endgame arrives with less explanation.
It is also the starting point for Janet's story, which continues in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Michelle Pfeiffer joins the cast, and Janet van Dyne turns out to know far more about the Quantum Realm than anyone expected. Cassie Lang, still a kid here, gets a few scenes that hint at the hero she wants to become.
Peyton Reed returns as director. Paul Rudd plays Scott Lang, and Evangeline Lilly gets a full suit and co-billing as Hope van Dyne, the new Wasp. Michael Douglas is Hank Pym, Michelle Pfeiffer plays Janet, and Hannah John-Kamen is Ava, the woman behind Ghost. Her story is more sympathetic than most MCU villains of this era, and the film takes time to explain why she wants the lab. Randall Park plays FBI agent Jimmy Woo, a small role that later expands in WandaVision.
This film is a breather between two very heavy movies. If you are doing the Infinity Saga back to back, it is a good place to put it on a lighter evening, since it is short, funny and mostly self-contained. Keep in mind that the mid-credits scene changes the mood instantly, so plan to start Infinity War soon after if you are watching in story order. Our Infinity Saga in order guide lists every film from Iron Man to Endgame if you want to map out the full run.
Yes, it has two. The mid-credits scene connects directly to the ending of Avengers: Infinity War, and the scene after the full credits is a short, silly gag. The first one matters for the story, so stay at least that long.
Without spoiling the details, it lines up with the final moments of Infinity War and leaves Scott stranded in a dangerous situation. That situation is how he re-enters the story in Avengers: Endgame.
In the US, Ant-Man and the Wasp streams on Disney Plus. Availability varies by country, so check the watch box on this page before you start a rewatch.
In story order it comes before Infinity War, since most of it takes place shortly before that film. In release order it came out after. Both work, but the mid-credits scene has more punch if you have already seen Infinity War.
Watch Ant-Man and Captain America: Civil War. The first film introduces the characters and the Quantum Realm, and Civil War explains why Scott is under house arrest when this one begins.
You can, since it is recommended rather than essential. It does set up the Quantum Realm ideas that matter a lot in Avengers: Endgame, so skipping it makes that film a little harder to follow.
He was under house arrest after Civil War, which is why he does not appear in Infinity War. This film covers that period, and its mid-credits scene shows exactly where he was when Thanos struck.
The movie runs 119 minutes, just under two hours. Add a few extra minutes if you stay for both credit scenes.
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