Where to watch Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Disney Plus is the easy option in the US, since the film sits in the same app as every prerequisite on this page. YouTube TV also lists it, which helps if that is the service you already pay for. Having WandaVision and Loki on Disney Plus means you can do the whole homework run without leaving one app.
Outside the US, availability varies by country. Check the watch box on this page for the services listed where you live.
What to watch before Multiverse of Madness
This Phase 4 sequel arrived in May 2022 and leans on more Disney Plus material than almost any Marvel film before it. Here is what each prerequisite gives you.
WandaVision is the big one. Wanda Maximoff's state of mind at the start of this film comes directly from the ending of that series, and without it her choices can feel sudden. If you only have time for one extra title, make it this.
Spider-Man: No Way Home shows Strange's last spell going wrong and the multiverse cracking open. The sequel follows from that, and Wong's new position is explained there too.
Loki is the lightest requirement. It introduces branching realities and variants, which this film takes for granted. The animated What If...? series is a fun extra for one surprise, but it is not required.
| Title | How much it matters | What you get |
|---|
| WandaVision | Essential | Wanda's grief and the Darkhold |
| Spider-Man: No Way Home | Strongly helps | The cracked multiverse, Wong's new role |
| Loki | Helps | Variants and branching timelines |
| Doctor Strange | Helps | Strange, Christine and Mordo's history |
Where it sits on the timeline
On our timeline the film comes after Moon Knight, which has no plot link, and before Thor: Love and Thunder, which goes back to cosmic adventure. Its story is set in 2025. In release order it also follows No Way Home and precedes Love and Thunder, so both lists agree here. Our Marvel Phase 4 in order guide shows how the films and series of this stretch interlock.
What it is about (spoiler-free)
Stephen Strange is a guest at a wedding he would rather not attend when a giant creature attacks New York, chasing a teenager named America Chavez. America has a rare and dangerous ability: she can travel between universes, though she cannot control it. Someone powerful wants that ability badly enough to tear through realities for it.
To protect her, Strange looks for help from the one person he believes understands this kind of magic. Things escalate quickly. Director Sam Raimi brings in a lot of his horror background, so expect jump scares, creepy imagery and a darker tone than most MCU films.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness post-credit scenes
Stay for both. The mid-credits scene is the important one: a new character appears and pulls Strange toward his next adventure, a clear hint of where his story is heading. It runs only a minute or so, and it raises a question the film itself leaves open.
The second scene, at the very end, is a quick comic gag tied to a small side character from the film. It carries no story weight, but Raimi fans will smile.
Why it is essential
We rate it essential. It is the main sequel to WandaVision and a turning point for the Scarlet Witch, and its events carry into Agatha All Along. It introduces America Chavez, expands what the multiverse means for the larger story, and sets up a new direction for Strange himself. Several later titles assume you know how this one ends, which is why it stays on our essential Marvel movies and shows list.
Cast and characters
Benedict Cumberbatch returns as Doctor Stephen Strange, and Elizabeth Olsen plays Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch, in what is effectively a co-lead role. Xochitl Gomez is America Chavez. Chiwetel Ejiofor is back as Baron Mordo, Benedict Wong plays Wong, now Sorcerer Supreme, and Rachel McAdams returns as Christine Palmer. A few faces from other realities, including a version of Peggy Carter, also turn up.
Runtime and viewing tips
Multiverse of Madness runs 126 minutes, a little over two hours. If you are watching with younger kids, know that a few scenes are genuinely scary by MCU standards. For a strong double bill, pair it with the WandaVision finale the night before, so Wanda's arc flows straight from one into the other.
