Fans want to know the watch order for The Spider-Verse before diving into Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Even though Across the Spider-Verse is the first sequel to the acclaimed Into the Spider-Verse animated film, it’s the tenth Spider-Man film released theatrically. The films take place in several different continuities, but fans wonder if there’s a specific timeline they need to follow with the Spider-Verse movies. Is it vital to watch Spider-Man 2 or any of the MCU films before watching Across the Spider-Verse?
Spider-Verse Timeline: Spider-Man Films Watch Order
If you want to have the full Spider-Man experience, watching all the films in the franchise is always a worthwhile investment. The Spider-Verse movies are enhanced by understanding more about Spider-Man’s role in older media.
The three actors who played Spider-Man in live-action had their own moment in Spider-Man: No Way Home. The events of No Way Home got a nice little easter egg in Across the Spider-Verse, suggesting that all versions of the superhero exist within the multiverse of The Spider-Verse continuity.
The best Spider-Verse watch order to watch all the live-action films is release order. Start with the original trilogy, then the two Amazing films, and then the MCU trilogy.
Spidey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
The MCU Spider-Man first appeared in Captain America: Civil War. Though Homecoming works as an introduction to Spider-Man in the MCU, if you’re dedicated to watching every film with a major appearance of Spider-Man, Civil War should be on your watch list. Spider-Man also had big roles in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, both taking place before Far from Home.
Here’s our recommended Spider-Verse timeline watch order:
- Spider-Man (2002)
- Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- Spider-Man 3 (2007)
- The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
- The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
- Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
- Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
What Should You Watch Before Across the Spider-Verse?
Into the Spider-Verse is the only vital film to view before Across the Spider-Verse. While the Spider-Verse films draw plenty of references to past Spider-Man media, with noticeable callbacks to the original film trilogy, none is necessary to understand and enjoy the Spider-Verse motion pictures.
Across the Spider-Verse continues where Into the Spider-Verse left off, with Miles Morales going on more adventures throughout the multiverse. Whereas the first Spider-Verse movie focused on Miles accepting his powers and becoming his own Spider-Man, Across the Spider-Verse centers on Miles opposing the other Spider-Men of the multiverse.
