Spider-Man No Way Home Ending Explained

Spider-Man: No Way Home - Ending Explained

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re explaining the ending of “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

For this video, we’ll be looking at what this ending means for Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, and the MCU as a whole. Naturally, this essay is crawling with spoilers.

What did you think of “No Way Home?” Let us know in the comments.

The ending of “No Way Home” shares some similarities to the 2007 comic storyline, “One More Day.” Unlike that infamous chapter in “Spider-Man” history, though, “No Way Home” earns its bleak ending while also making some welcome alterations. In “One More Day,” Peter arranges a deal with the demon Mephisto. In exchange for saving May Parker, Mephisto undoes Peter’s marriage to Mary Jane, her knowledge of him being Spider-Man, and the future daughter they would’ve had. This also results in Harry Osborn’s resurrection.

“No Way Home” doesn’t retcon May’s tragic death. It doesn’t straight-up rewrite history either. Rather, Peter allows Doctor Strange to execute the spell that will erase everyone’s knowledge that he was Spider-Man, including MJ and Ned. What’s more, everyone forgets Peter Parker in the process. Although Peter attempts to remind his friends, he finds that they might be safer and better off without him. Thus, Peter carries the weight of being Spider-Man on his shoulders with nobody to share the burden.

The ending may be a downer, but it feels like an appropriate stepping stone in Peter’s journey. The original “Spider-Man” ended with Tobey Maguire’s Peter turning down MJ and keeping his secret. Andrew Garfield’s Peter lost Gwen, but found the strength to carry on by himself. Tom Holland’s Peter has almost always had a support group to confide in, be it friends, family, fellow Avengers, or Happy. Loneliness is an essential part of Peter’s character arc. So, in order for Peter to fully mature from boy to man, he needs to be alone… at least for now.

Peter’s decision suggests that the fourth MCU “Spider-Man” film will be the darkest yet. The first post-credits scene also hints at dark turns to come. At the end of “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” Eddie was transported from his universe to the MCU. This raises a few questions. We now know that Doctor Strange’s spell caused people who know Peter’s secret identity to cross over between universes. As far as we know, though, there isn’t a Peter Parker or a Spider-Man in the ironically entitled “Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.” So, why would the spell affect Eddie and Venom?

When Venom looks at the TV screen in “Let There Be Carnage,” it almost seems as if he knows Peter from somewhere. Before crossing over, Venom was preparing to share the symbiotes’ knowledge of the Multiverse. The Symbiotes are connected through a Hive-Mind, which transcends space and time. So, even if this Venom doesn’t know Peter personally, he might have picked up his secret identity from the hive. Topher Grace’s Eddie learned Peter’s secret in “Spider-Man 3.” Maybe Venom recognized Peter through him or another variant.

Still at the beach, Eddie and Venom receive an MCU recap from a bartender. It might just be us, but we think the bartender has a variant who plays for AFC Richmond. After hearing Bruce Banner’s superhero name, Venom argues that “Lethal Protector” suddenly doesn’t sound so lame. “Lethal Protector” was notably the name of the limited series that saw Eddie take center stage and further his evolution to antihero. Before they can book a flight to New York, Venom and Eddie disappear, presumably returning to their universe. Tom Hardy’s cameo isn’t a mere throwaway gag, however.

Part of the symbiote is left behind and it’s hungry for a host. We all know what that means. Dani Rojas is getting superpowers! Okay, that’s our last “Ted Lasso” joke. Chances are the symbiote will make its way to New York, meaning the “Alien Costume Saga” is totally coming to the MCU. Considering that Peter has never been more isolated, this is the perfect time to bring the black suit into the equation. Peter was almost driven to take Norman Osborn’s life before Maguire’s Spider-Man intervened. Without guidance or support, Peter could succumb to the symbiote and fully embrace his dark side.

Peter’s experiences with the alien costume could also show him the importance of friendship and why Spider-Man can’t keep doing this by himself. He may even get help from another red-clad superhero who understands the hardships of keeping a secret identity. Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock is officially part of the MCU and Wilson Fisk is the big bad in “Hawkeye,” a Spider-Man/Daredevil team-up seems inevitable.

While we’ll have to wait a while for the next Spider-Man film, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” is coming in 2022. “No Way Home’s” second post-credits scene is essentially a trailer for the “Doctor Strange” sequel. In a voiceover, we can hear somebody telling Strange that his “desecration of reality will not go unpunished.” This is more than likely Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Mordo, who vowed to leave the world with fewer sorcerers at the end of the first “Doctor Strange.” The “desecration of reality” line could be alluding to Strange’s spell in “No Way Home,” the Time Heist in “Endgame,” Strange’s bargain with Dormammu, or something that hasn’t happened yet.

A blast from Strange’s past also pops up in the trailer: Rachel McAdams as Christine Palmer. With the exception of a “What If…” episode, we haven’t seen Christine since the first “Doctor Strange” film. She’s getting married in the clip and while Strange is in attendance, he may not be the groom. It looks more like Strange is just a guest. We don’t know if Christine got blipped along with Strange. If she wasn’t, Christine might have moved on after five years. Even at the end of Strange’s first movie, their relationship status was kind of iffy.

There’s no time to dwell on romance, as Strange seeks help from Wanda Maximoff. Following the events of “WandaVision,” she’s still living in isolation and repenting for her actions in Westview. Strange offers her a shot at redemption, recruiting the Scarlet Witch to help restore the multiverse. Wanda isn’t the only one seen helping Strange in the post-credits scene. We get brief glimpses of Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez, aka Miss America. Chavez knows a thing or two about dimension-hopping. In the comics, she visits Earth-212 where a teenage Loki tries tricking her into doing his dirty work. Given Loki’s role in unleashing the multiverse, we may see him and Chavez interact in “Multiverse of Madness.”

Mordo and his sick new haircut aren’t the only enemies Strange will face. A green tentacled creature is briefly seen fighting Strange. This could be Shuma-Gorath, an enemy of Strange in the comics and an extra-dimensional “multi-angled one.” The biggest bombshell comes as Strange encounters “the greatest threat to [his] universe”: himself. This sinister variant is most likely Doctor Strange Supreme, who caused his universe to collapse in episode four of “What If…?” Despite initially ignoring his calls for help, the Watcher later enlists Strange Supreme to help take down Infinity Ultron. Season One seemingly ends with Strange Supreme being redeemed as he agrees to look after a pocket dimension. Strange Supreme might be up to his old tricks again in “Multiverse of Madness.” Christine could also play a key role here, as it was Strange Supreme’s inability to save his love that resulted in his universe’s undoing.

Several other things remain up in the air. Now that Ned has forgotten Peter, will he ever remember his magic connection? Will Peter tell MJ the truth or could the MCU’s Gwen Stacy enter the mix? Is that Michael Keaton’s Vulture in the “Morbius” trailer or what? Whatever awaits, Doctor Strange will return, Spider-Man will return, and we’ll return when the next MCU movie arrives!