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Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) movie poster

Timeline

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2023 · 140 min · English
Echo score 87
JustWatch #497 109
Directed by
Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin K. Thompson, Kemp Powers
Starring
Lauren Vélez, Daniel Kaluuya, Brian Tyree Henry, Flanagan John, Hailee Steinfeld, Issa Rae
Budget
$100M

Miles Morales is back in this exhilarating sequel, where he dives into the vast Multiverse. He partners with Gwen Stacy and a diverse group of Spider-People, facing a powerful adversary that puts all of reality at risk. Their mission takes them on an incredible journey filled with action and unexpected challenges as they work together to protect everything they know.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Where can you watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Disney Plus, fuboTV and FXNow: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Gwen's Secret Identity

    On Earth-65, Gwen Stacy lives a life shrouded in secrecy as Spider-Woman, unbeknownst to her father, Captain George Stacy. The tension of living a double life intensifies as Gwen navigates her responsibilities as a superhero while trying to maintain her relationship with her father.

    Where
    Earth-65
  2. The Murder Accusation

    Gwen becomes embroiled in a serious incident when her boyfriend falls victim to an alien attack. Mistakenly seen fleeing the scene, she finds herself falsely accused of murder by the authorities, deepening the already strained relationship with her father.

    Where
    Earth-65
  3. Encounter with the Vulture

    One fateful night, Gwen encounters a version of the Vulture from an Italian Renaissance-themed universe. His unexpected arrival challenges Gwen's understanding of her own world, as he remains completely unaware of the multiverse's existence.

    Where
    Earth-65
  4. Rescue by Spider-Society

    As the situation with the Vulture escalates, Miguel O'Hara and Jess Drew come to Gwen's aid from various dimensions. Their presence helps Gwen subdue the Vulture, showcasing the importance of collaborative efforts among Spider-themed heroes across the multiverse.

    Where
    Earth-65
  5. The Father-Daughter Confrontation

    In a heated moment, Captain George Stacy confronts Gwen and demands answers about her secretive behavior. During this confrontation, Gwen reveals her identity as Spider-Woman, leading to an emotional struggle as her father grapples with this shocking truth.

    Where
    Earth-65
  6. Acceptance into Spider-Society

    Despite initial resistance, Miguel reluctantly admits Gwen into the Spider-Society, an elite alliance dedicated to protecting the multiverse. This moment is pivotal for Gwen, granting her a sense of belonging and purpose amidst her chaotic life.

  7. Encounter with the Spot on Earth-1610

    On Earth-1610, Miles Morales's life is turned upside down when he encounters the Spot, an Alchemax scientist transformed into a villain due to the fallout from the Alchemax Collider explosion. The Spot confronts Miles about his own involvement in the events leading to his transformation, sowing seeds of doubt and conflict.

    When
    Sixteen months post-explosion
    Where
    Earth-1610
  8. Miles' Aspiration

    Despite the dangers lurking around him, Miles remains focused on his future aspirations, dreaming of studying Quantum physics at Princeton University. He keeps his superhero identity hidden from his parents, intensifying the struggle between his personal ambitions and responsibilities.

    Where
    Earth-1610
  9. Gwen Visits Miles

    Gwen travels to Earth-1610 to reconnect with Miles and discuss their respective roles in the ongoing multiverse crisis. They share a heartfelt conversation about their friendship and the importance of the Spider-Society, with Gwen confiding her inner struggles to Miles.

    Where
    Earth-1610
  10. Spot's Increasing Threat

    Gwen uncovers the Spot's sinister plans as he steals the Collider from her dimension to enhance his powers. This discovery propels Gwen and Miles to team up with other heroes, including Pavitr Prabhakar and Hobie Brown, to confront the escalating threat posed by the Spot.

    Where
    Earth-50101
  11. Visions of Tragedy

    In a startling vision shared between Miles and the Spot, they face foreboding images of upcoming tragedies that threaten both of their lives. The stakes rise as they realize the consequences of their actions could ripple through various dimensions.

  12. Arrival at Spider-Society Headquarters

    Following their perilous adventure, Gwen, Miles, and Hobie are brought to the Spider-Society's headquarters on Earth-928, populated by numerous Spider-People. Here, they meet Miguel and Peter B. Parker, who elucidate vital concepts about the multiverse and the dangers of deviating from established 'canon events'.

    Where
    Earth-928
  13. Desperate Efforts to Save Jeff

    As the threat from the Spot looms larger, Miles learns of his father's impending promotion to captain, which places him in jeopardy. In a frantic bid to save his father, Miles confronts Miguel, who attempts to prevent him from altering the timeline.

  14. The Escape and Revelation

    With Hobie's help, Miles escapes Miguel's grip, determined to save his father and protect his loved ones. As the truth unfolds about how his spider-originated abilities disrupted the multiverse, Miles grapples with the realization of his role in these crises.

  15. Journey to Earth-42

    Upon activating the Society's 'Go-Home' machine, Miles unexpectedly finds himself in Earth-42, an alternate universe where his Uncle Aaron is alive. This reality forces him to confront an alternate version of himself, now known as the Prowler, culminating in a fierce encounter that tests his identity and values.

    Where
    Earth-42

Last updated: November 16, 2024 at 17:03

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Timeline questions answered

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why was Gwen Stacy accused of murder?

Gwen's boyfriend was killed in an alien attack. Although Gwen wasn't responsible, authorities mistakenly saw her fleeing the scene, leading to false murder charges. This strained her relationship with her father, Captain George Stacy, who was unaware of her secret identity as Spider-Woman.

  • gwen stacy
  • murder accusation
  • father
  • spider-woman
Q2

How did the Spot get his powers?

The Spot was an Alchemax scientist who got trapped inside the Collider during its catastrophic explosion sixteen months earlier. This accident gave him the ability to create portals anywhere. The Spot specifically blames Miles Morales for his transformation, claiming Miles' actions during the Collider incident caused his powers to manifest.

  • the spot
  • alchemax
  • collider
  • portal powers
Q3

What are canon events in Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse?

Canon events are pivotal moments that define each Spider-Person's journey, such as losing a loved one or facing a major tragedy. Miguel O'Hara explains that deviations from these events can destabilize entire dimensions. The Spider-Society exists to protect these events from being altered, believing any change could collapse the multiverse.

  • canon events
  • spider-society
  • miguel o'hara
  • multiverse
Q4

How did Miles Morales get his spider powers?

Miles received his powers from a spider that originated from Earth-42, not his home dimension Earth-1610. This was an anomaly, unlike other Spider-People who got powers from spiders native to their own universes. Miguel reveals this caused a ripple effect that led to Peter Parker's downfall and the Spot's creation.

  • miles morales
  • spider powers
  • earth-42
  • origin
Q5

Why is Miles' father Jeff in danger?

Jeff Morales is about to be promoted to police captain, which makes him a target for the Spot. Both Miles and the Spot share a vision of Jeff's impending death. Miguel refuses to let Miles save him, insisting that Jeff's death is a canon event that must happen to maintain multiverse stability.

  • jeff morales
  • father
  • spot
  • canon event
  • danger
Q6

Why does Miguel O'Hara trap Miles in prison?

Miguel imprisons Miles because he believes Miles will try to save his father from dying, which would violate canon events and destabilize the multiverse. Miguel reveals the harsh truth about Miles' anomalous powers and insists that interfering with the timeline will cause catastrophic consequences for all realities.

  • miguel o'hara
  • miles prison
  • timeline
  • canon
Q7

What is Earth-42 and why does it matter?

Earth-42 is the dimension where the spider that gave Miles his powers originated. When Miles uses the Go-Home machine to return home, he accidentally arrives in Earth-42 instead. In this reality, his Uncle Aaron is alive while his father is dead, and Miles encounters an alternate version of himself who became the Prowler.

  • earth-42
  • alternate dimension
  • uncle aaron
  • prowler
Q8

Why does the Spot go after Inspector Singh?

The Spot targets Inspector Singh, who is pivotal to Pavitr Prabhakar's girlfriend Gayatri, as part of his multiverse-wide assault. Both Miles and the Spot have visions of impending tragedies, including Singh's death. The Spot uses these canon events as weapons to destabilize multiple dimensions.

  • inspector singh
  • pavitr prabhakar
  • gayatri
  • spot attack
Q9

Why does Gwen Stacy leave the Spider-Society?

Gwen becomes disillusioned with the Spider-Society's rigid rules and Miguel's willingness to let people die to preserve canon events. She feels conflicted about their methods, especially after seeing how they treat Miles. Gwen ultimately chooses her friendship with Miles over the Society's demands, promising to bring him home.

  • gwen stacy
  • spider-society
  • miguel
  • loyalty
Q10

What is the Spot planning in Across the Spider-Verse?

The Spot steals the Collider from Gwen's dimension to amplify his powers, enabling him to create stable inter-dimensional portals. He plans a multiverse-wide assault, targeting key canon events to cause widespread reality collapse. His ultimate goal is revenge against Spider-Man and destruction of the entire multiverse.

  • spot plan
  • collider
  • multiverse attack
  • villain
Q11

Why does Gwen reveal her identity to her father?

Gwen is cornered by her father, Captain George Stacy, who demands answers about her secretive behavior and recent crimes she's been accused of. Overwhelmed by the pressure, she finally reveals she is Spider-Woman. Her father struggles with this revelation and initially attempts to arrest her before Miguel allows Gwen to escape with the Society.

  • gwen identity
  • father
  • captain stacy
  • reveal
Q12

Why does Miles want to go to Princeton?

Miles dreams of studying Quantum physics at Princeton University because he wants to learn how to traverse between dimensions. After discovering he came from a different universe and meeting other Spider-People, he hopes to understand the science behind the multiverse and potentially control his ability to visit other dimensions.

  • miles
  • princeton
  • quantum physics
  • multiverse
  • dreams

Movie threads

More Movies Like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with Alternate Realities like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Heroes grapple with cosmic responsibility and the meaning of self across multiple worlds. If you enjoyed the multiversal chaos and deep questions of identity in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, explore these movies that dive into alternate realities. These films feature heroes facing cosmic responsibilities, navigating different versions of themselves, and fighting to protect the very fabric of existence.

  • surreal
  • anxious
  • determined
  • adventurous
  • melancholic
  • chaotic
  • Tone: tense, urgent, melancholic
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a central character discovering a wider, more complex reality than they ever imagined, often involving parallel worlds or timelines. They must learn new rules, often under intense pressure, while their core sense of self is challenged by encounters with other versions of themselves or their world. The climax typically revolves around a choice that could save or shatter everything.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared exploration of vast, interconnected worlds, high-stakes cosmic threats, and the intense emotional journey of a protagonist questioning their predetermined path. They blend spectacular visual concepts with heavy themes of destiny versus free will.

Visually Stunning Animated Movies like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Artistically groundbreaking animation that delivers high-octane action and deep emotional stakes. For viewers who loved the revolutionary animation and emotional depth of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, this list features similar stylized animated films. Discover movies that combine breathtaking visual artistry with fast-paced, high-stakes action and stories that carry a heavy emotional impact.

  • adventurous
  • urgent
  • determined
  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • stylish
  • Tone: tense, adventurous, melancholic
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These films often follow a hero's journey that is visually amplified by a distinct and inventive aesthetic. The pacing is typically fast, driven by urgent conflicts and spectacular set pieces. Despite the high energy, the narrative makes room for character-driven drama, exploring themes like responsibility, loss, and identity, resulting in a complex and satisfying experience.

Why they belong together: They are linked by a commitment to pushing the boundaries of animation as a medium to serve stories with high intensity, fast pacing, and serious emotional themes. The visual style is integral to the storytelling, creating a cohesive and immersive vibe of energetic, artistic, and heartfelt action.

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Every angle

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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