Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

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Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a 2022 American superhero film with fantasy and horror elements based on the Marvel Comics character Doctor Strange. It is the sequel to Doctor Strange and the 28th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is directed by Sam Raimi, with Benedict Cumberbatch reprising the eponymous role.

'WARNING: In addition to all previous MCU works involving Strange, this film also involves Late Arrival Spoilers for WandaVision. WARNING! There are unmarked Spoilers ahead. Beware.'

An unknown time after Spider-Man: No Way Home, Strange and Wong (Benedict Wong) rescue America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), a girl with the ability to travel through the multiverse, from a demon that wants her power. An odd detail on the demon leads to Strange seeking the aid of Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen). What he learns leads to him travelling the multiverse hoping to thwart a grave threat.

Tropes used in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness include:

All Your Base Are Belong to Us: Happens twice, both by Maximoff. First to Kamar-Taj, and then to the Illuminati base.
Alternate Self: A whopping three Strange variants appear, as well as an alternate Black Bolt, Captain Marvel (here being Monica Rambeau instead of Carol Danvers), Carter, Maximoff, Mordo, Palmer, Richards and Xavier.
Anyone Can Die: A lot of named characters die.
Apocalypse How: Usage of the Darkhold can cause a universe-destroying incursion. 838's Strange caused one while trying to defeat Thanos. We also see another Darkhold-corrupted Strange left in the ruins of what is implied to be an incursion involving that universe.
Be Careful What You Wish For: Maximoff is defeated when Chavez gives her exactly what she wants by creating a portal to Earth-838 and letting her meet that universe's version of her boys while still in her own physical body. They are scared of her and want their real mother, the 838 version of her, instead. This causes her to have a Heel Realization.
Brick Joke: Early on, Wong reminds Strange that there's a proper protocol to greet the Sorcerer Supreme, which Strange is initially dismissive of. It's not till the end that Strange bothers to use it.
The Cameo: Frequent Raimi collaborator Bruce Campbell appears as a street food vendor.
Dreaming of Things to Come: A Flash Sideways version; dreams show what's happening to your variants. Chavez knows that she's unique in the multiverse because she's never dreamt before.
Eye Scream: Strange kills Gargantos by spearing it in the eye with a lamppost.
Face Death with Dignity: 838 Strange knelt calmly awaiting his execution without attempting defiance.
Gory Discretion Shot: Unless most of the others, the death of Captain Carter is depicted this way. We are shown her shield sent flying back at her, her face changing expression, followed by the now-bloodstained shield, but not the state of the corpse.
Heroic Suicide: Maximoff, finally come to a Heel Realization, brings down Mount Wundagore, destroying all copies of the Darkhold across the multiverse and apparently killing herself in the process.
Hope Spot:
- Xavier gets into Maximoff's head while she's dream-walking in the 838 her's body and attempts to get the 838 her back in control. Then the 616 her tracks him down in the mindscape and kills him.
- Chavez, Strange and 838 Palmer manage to reach the Book of Vishanti through the waypoint 838 Strange left. Then Maximoff catches up and destroys it.
I Never Told You My Name: Maximoff mentioning Chavez's name before Strange introduced it to her is both his and the audience's clue that she's the one sending demons after Chavez.
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Both Defender and Darkhold-corrupted Strange are killed by impalement, Defender by a demon chasing him and Chavez and Darkhold-corrupted after 616 Strange blasts him out a window onto a fence.
Mama Bear: How far is it justifiable to go for your children? This question in relation to Maximoff and her boys drives the film.
More Expendable Than You: A survivor of Maximoff's attack on Kamar-Taj destroys the Darkhold instead of letting Wong do it, dying in the process.
Mythology Gag:
- Strange now has spells that summon creatures to do his bidding, which is portrayed similarly to the Strange Supreme variant from What If...? A Darkhold-corrupted Strange variant has a Third Eye also similar to what Strange Supreme eventually developed, and is found in a destroyed universe too.
- When Professor X first appears, a rearrangement of the X-Men cartoon's theme plays. This Xavier variant, while still played by Patrick Stewart, also has clothing and a hoverchair resembling said cartoon's depiction.
Power Nullifier: Earth-838 has special handcuffs powered by the Sands of Vishanti that prevent Strange from using magic.
The Stinger: Two as is now usual with MCU films. First, an unnamed sorceress approaches Strange to tell him that his actions have triggered an incursion that he must fix, before cutting open a portal to the Dark Dimension. Second, the street food vendor played by Bruce Campbell finally has stopped hitting himself.
Third Eye: A Darkhold-corrupted Strange variant has this, though he can hide it initially. 616 Strange develops this as well after using the Darkhold himself.
Treachery Cover-Up: 838 Strange did not die fighting Thanos as the statue of him states. In truth, his use of the Darkhold to try to defeat Thanos caused a universe-destroying incursion. After Thanos's slaying, the Illuminati executed him.
Walking Spoiler: It's very hard to go into detail about this film's plot without spoiling the fact that Maximoff is the villain.
The Worf Effect: Maximoff kills off the 838 Illuminati. Black Bolt, Mr Fantastic and Professor X die quite easily. Captains Carter and Marvel give her more of a fight, but ultimately don't do any real damage.
Your Head Asplode: Maximoff kills Black Bolt by making his mouth disappear while he's using his power, causing it to backfire and blow up part of his head instead.