30 MCU Easter Eggs That Are Still Great

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most epic easter eggs from across the MCU. We’ll be getting into spoilers for various MCU properties so consider this your warning!

#30: The Garrett Morris Cameo

“Ant-Man” (2015)

As Scott Lang tries to adjust to the Ant-Man suit, the technology proves to be a bit of a bumpy ride for him. He shrinks and stumbles through his apartment complex in an entertaining sequence and eventually crash lands onto the hood of an elderly man’s car. At first the driver might seem like an ordinary extra but he’s actually Garrett Morris. The “Saturday Night Live” alum isn’t just a talented comedian, he also happens to be the first person to portray Ant-Man in live-action. Since Garrett was only the character for an SNL skit, he didn’t technically play Ant-Man in an official Marvel project, but it’s still nice to see the MCU give the actor his deserved due.

#29: Namedropping Stephen Strange

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014)

Jasper Sitwell’s rundown of every potential threat that Project Insight listed was the gift that kept on giving. Among the notable names was Bruce Banner, Steve Rogers, and Stephen Strange. Nowadays, a cute nod to Doctor Strange is hardly anything to freak out over. But the thing you have to remember is that at this point Doctor Strange hadn’t debuted in the MCU yet. Plus, this was before we knew Benedict Cumberbatch would get the role. So a line that teased the arrival of the Sorcerer Supreme and the mystical side of the MCU was more than enough to excite fans. If HYDRA was scared of Stephen back when he was just a surgeon, they must be absolutely terrified of him now!

#28: Frozen Captain America

“The Incredible Hulk” (2008)

Steve Rogers spent a long time submerged in ice, but that doesn’t mean nothing memorable happened during his seventy-year-long nap. In an infamous deleted scene from “The Incredible Hulk”, Bruce Banner travels to the Arctic and tries taking his own life. But the attempt simply causes him to transform into the Hulk who puts a stop to the whole thing. In fact, Hulk causes a calamity that disrupts the ice surrounding him. If you pause and look closely, you can see the faint outline of Captain America hidden in the ice. From there it’s not hard to imagine that Hulk’s actions could’ve accelerated the Star-Spangled Avenger’s eventual return. Either way, the nod to Cap is a great blink-and-you-miss-it that proves their relationship goes way back.

#27: Tobey’s Back Hurts

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021)

Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man went through a lot of physical pain during the Sam Raimi films, and in “No Way Home”, all of that strain came back. While chatting with Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man and prepping to fight all of the bad guys, Tobey reveals his lingering back problem. For those who are well-versed in their Raimiverse lore, this is a funny callback to “Spider-Man 2” when Peter injures his back during an epic fail. Tobey also had a back problem in real life as well. In a movie filled with nostalgia it makes perfect sense to revisit memorable moments like this. And what makes this scene stand out more is how Andrew actually steps in and fixes Tobey’s back problem. Hey, that’s what Spider-bros are for!

#26: The Human Torch

“Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011)

When Steve and Bucky visit an exposition showcasing innovative technologies, a special display featuring a figure in a red suit can be spotted. This is a reference to the Human Torch, but no, not the Johnny Storm one. It’s actually a nod to the OG Human Torch, an android named Jim Hammond. Hammond is sort of super-powered royalty since he was one of the first characters Marvel ever debuted in the comics. If you think about it, it’s really cool that the movie about the first Avenger features a nod to one of Marvel’s first ever heroes, period. Plus, while it wasn’t Johnny Storm, a Human Torch easter egg in a movie starring Chris Evans just feels appropriate.

#25: Hail Hydra

“Avengers: Endgame” (2019)

In the midst of an elaborate time-travel plot, Captain America found himself in an elevator scene reminiscent of “Winter Soldier”. Except instead of fighting HYDRA agents, this time things went differently. Steve essentially avoided a confrontation by muttering a very specific phrase and leaving the elevator with what he wanted. The line that Cap uses to pretend to be allied with Hydra is a callback to a controversial comic book storyline called “Secret Empire”. During that arc it’s revealed that Cap was secretly a HYDRA mole all along. But due to massive backlash Marvel soon retconned this decision. That’s definitely for the best, since an MCU Captain America who’s actually part of HYDRA would be a nightmare!

#24: Into the Happyverse

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021)

Fans of “Daredevil” are no strangers to the iconic duo of Nelson and Murdock, and in a strange way, we kind of got the return of Nelson and Murdock in this “Spider-Man” movie. Well, sort of. With Matt Murdock’s surprise cameo in “No Way Home”, he shared screen time with Peter Parker, Aunt May, and Happy Hogan. It’s well known that Happy is played by Jon Favreau but interestingly, Favreau also portrayed Foggy Nelson way back in the 2003 “Daredevil” movie. So in a way, Happy’s scenes with Matt almost take on a new life entirely. Wait, is Happy Hogan actually a multiversal variant of Foggy Nelson? Probably not, but it’s fun to imagine what a full-blown Happyverse could look like.

#23: Mephisto Confirmed?!?

“The Avengers” (2012)

While Mephisto officially debuted in “Ironheart”, what if we told you that he was actually once an agent of SHIELD? When Nick Fury approaches Captain America about the Avengers Initiative, he shares classified information with him. Hidden in the very bottom of a secret report about the Tesseract is the name Mephisto. This suggests that Mephisto has a connection not only to the Tesseract but to SHIELD as well. SHIELD has done shady stuff but in all seriousness, it’s extremely unlikely that they would hire a demon like Mephisto. That being said, him running around as a field agent sounds super funny, so that’s basically our headcanon now. Well you know what they say, the devil is always in the details!

#22: Thanos-Copter

“Loki” (2021-23)

When it comes to the Mad Titan we have lots of questions. Why is he so evil? Is he the greatest MCU villain of all time? And most importantly of all: does he have a pilot’s license? When Loki is banished to the Void in the first season of his show, we quickly learn that it’s a wasteland. And amidst all the wreckage happens to be the remnants of a Thanos-Copter. In some comics Thanos actually had a helicopter he’d fly around in, so this is a pretty epic pull. It’s just so cartoonishly zany you can’t help but love it. If Thanos makes his grand return to the MCU then he needs to have the Thanos-Copter, sorry, but there’s no excuses!

#21: The Hulk Spits Out a Bullet

“The Avengers” (2012)

The Avengers are an incredible team but when they actually first teamed up it wasn’t easy. In one particular scene where tempers flare up, Bruce Banner explains how he’s essentially unkillable. He reveals that he once tried taking his life but the Hulk simply put a stop to Banner’s attempt. At first it might seem a bleak story but it’s actually a reference to that deleted scene from “The Incredible Hulk” where everything goes as Banner said it did. It might seem like it’s just Mark Ruffalo paying lip service to the 2008 Edward Norton “Hulk” movie, but wait, there’s more here. This easter egg also seemingly canonizes a previously abandoned plot point. Looks like that deleted scene is also a gift that keeps giving.

#20: The Collector's Collection of Easter Eggs

“The Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014)

James Gunn really likes to flex his knowledge of the source material. By including the Collector in his first Guardians of the Galaxy film, he got the opportunity to include a whole assortment of recognizable oddities to thrill his fellow comic book lovers. Amidst the Collector’s many cases we can spot Cosmo the Space Dog, who many will recognize from his time with the Guardians in the comics. Then there’s Howard the Duck, everyone’s favorite hard-drinking mallard. You can also spot a Dark Elf and a Chitauri. What more could fans ask for?

#19: Tales to Astonish

“Ant-Man” (2015)

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again - it’s nice to see a character’s first comic book appearance get an on-screen nod. While Thor’s debut got a billboard, Ant-Man’s actually got some lip-service courtesy of the movie’s villain, Darren Cross, aka Yellowjacket. The original Ant-Man, Hank Pym, made his comic book debut in Tales to Astonish #27, which saw the discovery of the Pym particles and Hank’s first experiences with shrinking. It was 8 issues later in the same title that Dr. Pym would debut as a bonafide superhero, adopting the mantle of Ant-Man. In the film, after showing footage of Hank’s early adventures, Cross loudly proclaims “Tales to Astonish!” It’s quick, but a nice nod nonetheless!

#18: Ed Brubaker

“Captain America: Winter Soldier” (2014)

Nowadays, no one stays dead in comics. If a character is killed off, they’re sure to make a triumphant return in a matter of months or years, probably with a complicated story arc detailing the means by which they cheated death. But that wasn’t always the case. In 1968, after 27 years of service at Captain America’s side, Bucky Barnes was retroactively killed off in World War II. And he stayed dead for nearly four decades. Then in 2005, writer Ed Brubaker revived Bucky and gave us the awesome character known as the Winter Soldier. Well, when Bucky came back from the dead in the MCU, Ed Brubaker did it again by playing one of the on-screen scientists!

#17: The Ten Rings Connection

“Ms. Marvel” (2022)

While this TV show mostly stands alone, it has a significant tie-in to the wider MCU. In a flashback to 1942, the Clandestines find a bangle – or quantum band – in an Indian temple. On the floor you can see the symbol of the Ten Rings, the criminal organization from “Shang-Chi.” But how the band ended up there remains a mystery. Wenwu might have collected various artifacts over the centuries, which may have led to an encounter with the Kree. The quantum bands might also be linked to the actual ten rings, as both are ancient weapons of other-worldly origins. In any case, this is an interesting little reference that’s sparked many theories.

#16: Hitler Punch

“Captain America: The First Avenger” (2011)

This one isn’t exactly subtle, but hey, an iconic superhero punching one of the most hated men in history shouldn’t really be subtle, now should it? During his performance for the troops, Captain America winds up and throws a simulated punch right at the Fuhrer's face. Even without the comic book context, it would be a widely appreciated moment, but what makes it all the sweeter is the fact that this right hook is taken straight from the cover of Captain America #1, first published in March of 1941. Cap has weathered his fair share of changes over the years, so it was nice to see the filmmakers pay tribute to his fascist-smashing roots.

#15: S.H.I.E.L.D.’S Map

“Iron Man 2” (2010)

Before Erik Selvig mapped out Marvel’s reality in “Thor: The Dark World,” this map was a major clue for what was to come. It marked Tony’s Malibu mansion and New York, which could either be the site of the Stark Expo or the Hulk’s battle in Harlem. There’s also a tease of a frozen Steve Rogers in Greenland, and Thor landing in New Mexico. Then there’s the hotspot in Africa that could be Wakanda, and the one in the Atlantic Ocean that’s not too far away from Talokan, Namor’s underwater kingdom. It’s impressive how they foreshadowed characters who wouldn’t appear until years later.

#14: “The Incredible Hulk” TV Series

“She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” (2022)

Marvel clearly hasn’t shied away from paying tribute to its TV and film predecessors. In the finale to “She-Hulk,” we get a show opening that is straight out of the seventies. Complete with retro visuals and dramatic narration, this is a clear reference to the iconic opening titles of the “The Incredible Hulk” series. Everything from the film grain to entire recreated shots make this a clever gag for fans of the original show. Tatiana Maslany even has a male body double, echoing Lou Ferrigno’s role as the jade giant.

#13: Missing Arms

All of Phase Two (2013-15)

Have you noticed that somebody loses an arm in every Phase Two movie? While viewers know that Bucky lost his arm to become the Winter Soldier, there are even more severed limbs in this phase. The villains Killian, Malekith, and Klaue all suffer this violent fate. Yellowjacket also loses his right arm to the Quantum Realm, and even Groot and Nebula experience similar losses, although with Nebula it’s not a whole arm. So why did this keep happening? Well it’s Feige’s way of honoring “The Empire Strikes Back” and its impact on the franchise. Just like how Luke lost his hand to Vader, various characters in phase two have the same kind of injury.

#12: Xavier’s Words of Wisdom

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” (2022)

There was a time when Fox’s X-Men were the biggest superhero team in cinema. While Marvel Studios could have started fresh, they’re honoring the old guard in their own way. When Wanda attacks the Illuminati, Charles Xavier delivers some advice. The line he uses is from “Days of Future Past,” where Xavier talks to his younger and more cynical self. This moment captures the heart that Stewart brought to the role over twenty years ago. It’s only fitting that he uses this quote to show his trust in Stephen, and it’s reassuring that his faith in others remains constant throughout the multiverse.

#11: “Imperius Rex”

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022)

Namor was long thought to be a character too difficult to adapt for the MCU, mostly due to rights issues with Universal. Fortunately, “Wakanda Forever” finally did the character justice. The film captures everything we love about the anti-hero – his signature intensity, regality, and winged feet. They even included his comic book catchphrase in his fight with Shuri. The line “Imperius Rex” roughly translates from Latin to “Empire King.” Though it doesn’t quite fit his MesoAmerican roots, it’s still a great nod to the comics that showcases his arrogance and power.

#10: Netflix Theme

“She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” (2022)

After his return in “No Way Home,” it was just a matter of time before we saw Matt Murdock show up in another project. Since “She-Hulk” also features a superhero lawyer, it made perfect sense for him to appear. Their team-up brought thrilling fights, electric chemistry, and a recognizable piece of music. Amid some banter between Jen and Matt, the opening theme to Netflix’s “Daredevil” plays. This was a cherished callback to one of Marvel’s best shows, and a reassuring sign that the elements that made it work were not being forgotten.

#9: Previous Champions

“Thor: Ragnarok” (2017)

When Thor gets stranded on Sakaar, he’s forced to fight the Hulk in the Contest of Champions. But who held the title of Champion before Bruce? As Thor is brought to the Grandmaster’s palace, you can see sculptures of previous contest winners. Among them are the Hulk villains Bi-Beast and Dark-Crawler, suggesting that they may have been defeated by him in the arena. The more recognizable faces include Ares, a former Mighty Avenger, and Beta Ray Bill, an ally of Thor who’s worthy of lifting his hammer. The creature known as ‘Man-Thing’ also has a sculpture. Looks like he had adventures beyond escaping monster hunters in “Werewolf by Night.”

#8: Hulk vs. Wolverine

“Deadpool & Wolverine” (2024)

This movie is packed with easter eggs related to Wolverine’s history, and the best one is this blink-and-you-miss-it moment. As Deadpool explores the multiverse, he runs into a Logan who is about to face the Hulk. Wolverine’s classic brown and tan suit is already a visual treat, but if you look closely, you can also spot the Hulk’s reflection in his claws. This image recreates Todd McFarlane’s cover of “Incredible Hulk” #340. The art has become iconic to Marvel fans, and seeing it brought to life on the big screen is nothing short of thrilling.

#7: The Original Guardians

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (2017)

More so than perhaps any other director working for Marvel, James Gunn has a deep, deep love for the source material from which he’s drawing upon. While Peter Quill and company are the line-up that have seen the greatest success both in terms of comic book sales and in making it to the big screen, they are in fact the second group of oddball characters to use the label “Guardians of the Galaxy.” As a nod to Guardians who came before his, Gunn brought to life some of the original crew for one of his post-credit scenes. We got to see StarHawk, Charlie-27, Martinex, Mainframe, Aleta, and Krugarr. Oh, and let’s not forget the original Guardians’ first enemy, Taserface!

#6: The Prowler & Miles Morales

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017)

When Tom Holland donned the tights, he became the third big-screen Spider-Man, but the FIRST to join the MCU. He received a warm welcome from audiences and MCU devotees, but with “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” he also raised a few questions. Like... will Tom Holland be the only Spider-Man in this universe? Donald Glover played a small-time criminal known as the Prowler, who, in the comics, is none other than the uncle of Miles Morales - who took on the role of Spider-Man after Peter’s death in the Ultimate universe. Glover also happened to voice Miles on the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon, making this small moment truly fascinating.

#5: “I Can Do This All Day”

“Captain America: Civil War” (2016)

You know that a cinematic universe is doing well when it’s expansive enough that it can start making references back to its early films. In “Civil War,” Captain America’s third solo outing and fifth appearance in the franchise, he comments to friend-turned-enemy Tony Stark “I can do this all day.” Does the line sound familiar? That’s because Steve Rogers is quoting a much younger version of himself from many decades back. Before undergoing the experimental treatment that turned him into the super soldier he is today, he uttered those exact words to a jerk beating him up behind a theater. A lot changes over time, but not the fighting spirit and optimism of Steve Rogers.

#4: Mutant Musical Cue

“The Marvels” (2023)

This mid-credits scene was a mind-boggling development for the MCU. When Monica wakes up on another Earth, we quickly learn that her mother is not only alive in this universe, but that she’s also an ally of the X-Men. Kelsey Grammer’s Beast appears as well, hinting that this could be taking place in the timeline of the original X-Men movies. As Monica starts to realize what’s happened, a nostalgic piece of music likely confirms the theory. The score that plays softly in the background is unmistakably John Ottman’s “X-Men” theme, hinting at the possibility of a future crossover.

#3: The Amazing Spider-Man #33

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017)

There are many ways in which Marvel has paid homage to Spider-Man’s co-creators. In addition to borrowing Steve Ditko’s classic costume, an important moment from the comics was brought to life here. When Peter is trapped under a collapsed building, he’s left defeated and crying for help. This is a live-action take on a scene from “The Amazing Spider-Man” #33. Although the stories are different, both feature Spider-Man finding the strength to free himself. The comic has since become famous for highlighting Peter’s ability to overcome self-doubt. With that context, “Homecoming” perfectly captures the spirit of Lee and Ditko’s creation.

#2: Andrew Garfield Gets Closure

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” (2021)

When Spider-Man came to the MCU, we thought we’d never see Andrew Garfield as the character again. But not only did he make a triumphant return, he also found some closure. Fans will recall that Peter failed to save Gwen Stacy in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2.” His chance at redemption eventually came in the final act of “No Way Home.” When MJ falls from the Statue of Liberty, Peter 3 immediately springs into action and saves her. He then takes a beat to recover, reflecting on Gwen’s heartbreaking death. It’s one of the film’s most emotional moments, especially for those who have followed Garfield’s journey as Spider-Man from the beginning.

#1: All Stan Lee Cameos Are the Same Character

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (2017)

There was a time when an appearance from the man himself was a guarantee in every Marvel movie. But even then we wondered how all of his characters could exist within the same universe. Thankfully we got an answer to this question. In “Guardians Vol 2,” Lee cameos as an informant for the Watchers, a race of beings who observe the multiverse. We catch him in the middle of telling a story about his time as a delivery driver. This is a reference to his cameo in “Captain America: Civil War.” If those two are the same character, it’s likely that all his characters are the same person. Yes, even the barber who cut Thor’s hair.

Are there any exciting MCU easter eggs we missed? Launch an investigation down in the comments!