Spider-Man: Homecoming post-credit scene explained (spoilers)
Skip ahead to the next section if you have not seen the film yet.
The first extra arrives partway through the credits. Adrian Toomes, the Vulture, is in prison when another inmate, Mac Gargan, corners him. Gargan, whom Peter fought earlier in the film, has heard Toomes knows who Spider-Man really is and wants the name. Toomes says he does not know. Fans of the comics know Gargan as the future Scorpion, so the scene plants a possible villain and also shows that Toomes keeps Peter's secret, a choice that says a lot about how the film ends.
The second extra comes after the full credits. Captain America appears in one of the old school safety videos seen earlier in the film, this time lecturing the audience on patience and asking whether waiting was really worth it. It is pure comedy and sets nothing up, but it is one of the best jokes the MCU has made about its own credit scenes.
What the mid-credits scene sets up
So far, very little directly. Far From Home and No Way Home took Peter's story in other directions, and Gargan has not returned in either. The scene still matters for character: Toomes protecting Peter's identity is the quiet payoff of their relationship, and it is worth catching before you move on.
Where to watch Spider-Man: Homecoming
In the US it streams on Disney Plus and is also listed on fuboTV, YouTube TV and FXNow. Outside the US, availability varies by country, so check the watch box on this page. The film runs 133 minutes, a little over two hours, and both extras together add only a few minutes.
What to watch before Spider-Man: Homecoming
Captain America: Civil War is the one film to see first. Homecoming starts with Peter's own shaky phone footage of his trip to Germany, and the whole movie assumes you know how Tony Stark recruited him. Without that, the opening loses most of its fun.
| Title | Why it helps | Needed? |
|---|
| Captain America: Civil War | How Tony recruited Peter | Yes |
| The Avengers | Where the Vulture's alien tech comes from | Helpful |
| Iron Man | Tony and Happy's history | No |
Spider-Man: Homecoming explained: what happens (spoiler-free)
Peter Parker is fifteen, back in Queens and desperate for another mission. Tony gave him a high-tech suit and told him to wait for a call that never seems to come. So Peter stops bike thieves, gives directions to old ladies and reports every small win to a very patient Happy Hogan.
Then he runs into a crew selling weapons built from alien scrap. Their boss, Adrian Toomes, is a salvage contractor who lost his business when the government took over cleanup after the Avengers' battles. Peter wants to prove he can handle the case alone, even if it costs him his spot on the academic decathlon team and the homecoming dance.
The tone is closer to a high school comedy than any earlier MCU film, and that is its biggest strength. Peter makes real mistakes here, and watching him learn from them is what gives the later films their weight.
Where it fits on the timeline
On our timeline the film sits after Black Panther, which also picks up right after Civil War, and before Doctor Strange. In release order it reached theaters in July 2017, early in Phase 3, and our Marvel Phase 3 in order guide lists the films around it.
Why it matters for the MCU
Homecoming sets up everything the next two Spider-Man movies pay off. Peter's friendship with Ned, his feelings for MJ, May's protectiveness and his complicated bond with Tony Stark all start here. Spider-Man: Far From Home builds directly on these relationships, so skipping this one makes the sequels hit softer. Our Spider-Man Marvel movies in order guide shows how the trilogy fits with Peter's Avengers appearances.
Cast and characters
Jon Watts directs, the first of his three Spider-Man films. Tom Holland plays Peter Parker, and Michael Keaton is Adrian Toomes, one of the most grounded villains in the franchise. Robert Downey Jr. appears as Tony Stark, more mentor than co-star. Marisa Tomei plays May Parker, Jon Favreau returns as Happy Hogan, and Gwyneth Paltrow has a small role as Pepper Potts.
