Welcome to our Colossus Movie Guide for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. This guide contains our detailed library of content covering key aspects of the movie’s plot, ending, meaning, and more. We encourage your comments to help us create the best possible guide. Thank you!
What is Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse about?
Into the Spider-Verse is about finding your spark. Which is essentially self-confidence. In Mile’s regular life, he feels overwhelmed by his new school and the next stage of life as a teenager. The doubt he feels leads him to self-limit and self-sabotage. His journey as Spider-Man mirrors this. The confidence to wear the mask, to be the “one and only” Spider-Man, translates to his regular life. He finally starts to excel. It serves as a message to kids that life is a process. One that you won’t always feel comfortable going through. But by putting in the time and effort, connecting with people along the way, you’ll get there. And for adults? Peter B. Parker serves as a reminder that your spark still exists. It’s just waiting on you to re-ignite it.
Movie Guide table of contents
Cast
- Miles Morales – Shameik moore
- Jefferson Davis – Brian Tyree Henry
- Rio Morales – Luna Lauren Vélez
- Uncle Aaron – Mahershala Ali
- Peter B. Parker – Jake Johnson
- Gwen Staacy – Hailee Steinfeld
- Peni Parker – Kimiko Glenn
- Spider-Man Noir – Nicolas Cage
- Spider-Ham – John Mulaney
- Spider-Man – Chris Pine
- Kingpin – Liev Schreiber
- Vanessa Fisk – Lake Bell
- Doctor Olivia Octavius – Kathryn Hahn
- Spider-Man 2099 – Oscar Isaac
- Lyla – Greta Lee
- Written by – Phil Lord | Rodney Rothman
- Directed by – Bob Perischetti | Peter Ramsey | Rodney Rothman
The ending of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse explained
Recap
The end of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse begins after the final fight with Kingpin. Miles hits us with the “Okay, let’s do this one last time” character introduction that we saw for the other Spider-people throughout the movie.
Okay, let’s do this one last time, yeah? For real this time. This is it. My name is Miles Morales. I was bitten by a radioactive spider. And for like two days, I’ve been the one and only Spider-Man. I think you know the rest. I finished my essay. I saved a bunch of people. Got hit by a drone. Did this with my dad. Met my roommate finally. Slapped a sticker where my dad’s never going to find it. And when I feel alone, like no one understands what I’m going through, I remember my friends who get it. I never thought I’d be able to do any of this stuff. But I can. Anyone can wear the mask. You can wear the mask. If you didn’t know that before, I hope you do now. Cuz I’m Spider-Man. And I’m not the only one. Not by a long shot.
During the speech, we see him confidently acting as Spider-Man. He web-swings all over the place. Does crazy aerial maneuvers. But we also see him in class. As competent and confident as he is as Spider-Man. He has a better relationship with his dad. And makes friends with his roommate.
We briefly cut to Peni as she successfully repairs her spider’s damaged robot. Then Spider-Man Noir in his black and white world—but he brought a Rubix cube with him and solves the colorful puzzle. Then we see Spider-Ham with a hot dog and quite happy. Gwen Stacy smiles as she looks at a photo of her and Miles. Then Peter B. Parker, in way better shape, in a suit, with flowers, starts to make amends with his Mary Jane Watson.
The last shot is of Miles in bed, listening to music. It brings us full circle to the film’s opening. Except a portal appears and we hear Gwen’s voice.
The post-credit scene is a conversation between Lyla and Miguel O’Hara, Spider-Man 2099. Miguel uses a multi-dimensional portal device to travel to Earth-67. There, he descends into a pointing showdown with another Spider-Man—a play on a popular meme.
Meaning
All the Spider-Man stuff in Into the Spider-Verse is really just a fun metaphor for growing up. That’s why “How is Miles doing in school?” segments bookend the film. In the very beginning, he’s nervous and self-sabotaging. Instead of embracing this next chapter, he wants to retreat to what was familiar—his old school, his old friends, his old life. Then spider-42 bites him. And what do we see? Miles suddenly has new powers and responsibility that he doesn’t want. He’d rather retreat to his old life. So the journey of growing into wearing the mask and being Spider-Man is the same journey to get comfortable in his new school and be the best version of himself.
That’s why we also have the speeches. Into the Spider-Verse opens with the legend himself giving the intro. “Alright, let’s do this one last time. My name is Peter Parker.” And he lists out classic and hilarious details of his time as Spider-Man. When Miles does the same at the end, it’s a sign that Miles has gained the confidence and experience to give a similar speech. The line about getting hit by a drone is seemingly just a humorous call-back to Peter’s speech, but it actually shows just how “Spider-Man” Miles already is.
Formally speaking. The opening is the Spider-Man speech given by someone else. Then a new scene where we meet Miles and learn about his struggles. At the end, Miles gives the speech while we get the montage of his successes. The movement from “these two things are separate” to the conclusion where “these two things are one-in-the-same” is one of the sneaky reasons Into the Spider-Verse has such a strong and satisfying conclusion that’s made it one of the most popular movies of the 21st century. It embodies that idea of the mask being on someone else but then being on Miles. And the difference the mask makes.
Into the Spider-Verse isn’t asking kids to literally put on a mask and go fight crime. It represents having the courage to become a new version of yourself. To not shy away from your unique gifts. There’s a moment early on where Miles is in math class and knows the answer to a problem. He’s the first to raise his hand. Except he hesitates. The rest of the class all throw their hands up with conviction. But at the end, during that final montage, Miles, who now “wears the mask”, has no problem raising a hand ahead of everyone else. His confidence finally matches his capacity.
The real-world stuff we see in the final montage—school, friends, hobbies, progress—is Into the Spider-Verse wants its audience to translate to their own lives. And we see how the other Spider-people have benefited from their time with Miles, just like he benefited from them. So it’s not just a single individual doing it all themselves. Community and family are important, too.
The themes and meaning of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Part 1: Taking a leap of faith
In the case of Miles Morales in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, he didn’t choose to have a radioactive spider bite him and grant him superpowers just in time for a potentially multiverse ending event. Just a normal, confused teenager, Miles was swept into something that was larger than himself and outside of his control. And that can happen to any of us.
For example, I didn’t want my dad to die when I was 20. I wasn’t ready for it. But it happened, and, as an only child, I had to find the strength to support my mom, turn grief into power, and more. Five years later, when my mom died…my goodness. That was a kind of personal “multiverse ending” event.
These kinds of sudden, uncomfortable demands that you didn’t actively pursue are what I call “passenger” challenges. You’re not in control of what’s happening, but you’re riding shotgun and have to navigate as best as you can. Otherwise the car will probably crash.
On the flip side, we have driver challenges. While passenger challenges tend to be more negative in nature, driver ones are more positive. Typically, they’re your hopes and dreams. Maybe you want to play professional baseball. Or get a novel published. Or lose 100lbs. Or start a business that supports you and your family. Or be a congresswoman/congressman. Draw comic books for Marvel. Make movies. Move to a big city. Ask someone out. Meet Kanye West. Create a movie analysis website that changes film criticism forever.
Any of the above situations are ones that don’t happen if you’re a passenger. You have to drive the car to get to one of those destinations. That can be scary. Because the bigger the goal, the longer the trip, the greater the demand for a confidence and agency many of us are unsure we possess, despite our desire.
The good news is that whether the situation is passenger or driver, the process for finding the confidence to make it through is largely the same. To understand that process, we have to understand the battle between your belief in yourself and your doubt, your fear.
Into the Spider-Verse is an ignition story. And while its circumstances are extraordinary, the process is the same for Miles Morales becoming Spider-Man as it is for you and me and anything we want to do.
Just look at the final words of the film:
“Anyone can wear the mask. You could wear the mask. If you didn’t know that before, I hope you do now.”
I think one of the reasons Spider-Verse was such a breakout and breakthrough film, going so far as to win the Academy Award for Animated Feature, is because it’s not just an entertaining Spidey movie, but a how-to for finding the confidence to “wear the mask”. Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately), having to be Spider-Man is a problem no one in reality will probably ever have. But when you re-contextualize it… the journey Miles goes on is no longer such a foreign, out of this world thing. Miles goes from a normal teenager to a passenger of circumstances that demanded a confidence of him he didn’t believe he had. How does he find that confidence? How do any of us?
The answer, at least in Into the Spider-Verse, is ignition. What is ignition? Well, I’m glad you asked! The term comes from Daniel Coyle, an author who wrote this breakthrough book The Talent Code: Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s Grown. Here’s How.
Coyle’s point is in-line with Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers and Robert Greene in Mastery. Talent isn’t inherent—successful people are successful because of time and effort. Gladwell discusses how external elements influence our greatness. Greene reveals how the greats synthesize information/experiences overtime and thus carve a unique path to greatness that seems “out of nowhere”. Coyle deconstructs the neuroscience and mental processes that lead to greatness.
Ultimately Talent Code boils down to a trio of factors. Deep practice, coaching, and ignition. For our purposes we need to explore ignition.
Ignition
Let’s start with two examples. One macro, the other micro.
In 2002 the Houston Rockets used the 1st overall pick of the NBA draft to select Chinese-born Yao Ming. It was a historic moment. No one from China had ever been drafted in the first round, much less number one. Maybe even more incredible, he was only the third Chinese NBA player EVER. At 7’6″, a mix of grace and power, Yao quickly became one of the most popular players in the league. If he was that beloved in America, you can imagine the response back in his homeland.
“Walking around China with Yao Ming,” said Carroll Dawson, once general manager of the Rockets, “is like walking through New York with The Beatles.”
While basketball had always been popular in China, Yao’s success caused a revolution. And suddenly the NBA became the most watched organized sport in the country. The impact of which has lasted beyond Yao’s career (which ended in 2011), as the NBA now plays multiple preseason games in China and has opened elite training academies in three cities.
The Yao-effect caused the Chinese Basketball Association to become a far more competitive and lucrative league, with many former NBA players opting to join the CBA rather than retire from the game completely. Beyond the professional league, it’s estimated that 300 million regularly play basketball in the country. That’s the population of the United States.
While there are many other factors that helped set the stage for Chinese basketball’s revolutionary surge, there’s one clear moment of ignition.
Another brief example. Spike Lee just won his first Academy Award after 5 nominations and 30+ years of movie making. During his acceptance speech he shouted out the New York University film program at Tisch. There are students in that program right now thinking, “If Spike could do it, I can too.” Also, Spike proudly reps Brooklyn. You know there are kids in Brooklyn right now saying, “I’m going to be the next Spike Lee.”
But ignition doesn’t always have to be at such a large scale. When I was growing up I never liked school. From 1st grade to 6th grade, I was always an A/B student. I just didn’t care enough to listen to the teachers, much less apply myself. Then, in 7th grade, something changed.
It was the end of the first quarter. Report cards had just been passed out. There was a novelty to the whole thing because we had never had grade-point averages before. This was a serious change that signaled, silly as it may seem, that we weren’t kids anymore. We were middle schoolers, with high school and the rest of life looming on the horizon.
My GPA? 3.2! At first, I didn’t think much of it. But then I overheard someone mention their 4.0. It was this kid, Josh. I had never talked to Josh, had never been in the same class or on a baseball team together (though we had played against each other). I had always thought of him as an average person, like me. Neither of us were particularly popular, or in any of the advanced classes, or an all-star player.
There he was, though, with a 4.0. And it was this incredible moment of realization for me. “If he can do that, I can do that.” Ignition.
There wasn’t some monumental shift that followed. I didn’t study more. I didn’t work extraordinarily harder. I just expected more of myself, knew this was something obtainable for someone like me. Gone was the ceiling that I had always thought existed between me and better grades. Between me and the “smart kids”. The expectation of a 4.0 was enough to increase my performance, to remove the doubt and fear and self-defeating actions. Better habits were a natural byproduct (like sitting in the front row instead of the back).
I got all A’s for the rest of middle school. Then like 87.5% of high school—a stint of boredom my junior year broke the streak. The result was a merit scholarship to the #1 ranked university in Ohio (at the time). Had it not been for Josh and that moment of ignition, I honestly don’t think that would have happened.
We all need someone or something to ignite us to break through our self-imposed limits. But it also helps to understand where those limits come from. Let’s return to Miles and Into the Spider-Verse.
Part 2: Fear
For so much of Spider-Verse, Miles can’t get over his fear. Whatever confidence he should have, could have, might have had…is compromised by guilt, by confusion, by feeling overwhelmed, and the lack of ignition.
The guilt comes from his inability to save the Peter Parker of his universe. In that scene, Miles was his most helpless. As Spider-Man’s trying to stop Kingpin and the monstrous Green Goblin, to save the day, Miles finds himself getting in the way. When Spider-Man’s eventually injured, then killed, Miles can’t help but feel his presence was part of the problem. Here Spider-Man had never failed…until Miles showed up. That can weigh on a kid.
The confusion comes from the new Spider powers. Why Miles? He wasn’t special. He wasn’t particularly even good at anything. Why should he have these abilities? Not only that, how does he even use them? A good portion of Spider-Verse is Miles struggling to do basic Spider things. There’s the whole scene where he sticks to Gwen Stacy and can’t let go. Then when he wants to stick to a wall…he can’t.
If the guilt and confusion weren’t enough to overwhelm Miles, there’s the whole multiverse thing, with other Spider-People being present. Then Kingpin on the brink of creating a universe ending event. One that Miles promised a dying Peter Parker that Miles would help stop. The situation is pretty blunt: save the world or lose everything. That’s enough to break the spirit of most people, regardless of their age.
The lack of ignition comes from Miles’s strained relationship with his dad, his missing uncle, and the fact Peter Parker died. Two issues there. One, if the only other person like you just died in front of you…it probably doesn’t make you want to follow in their footsteps. Two, if the only other person like you just died…then who will teach you anything? Who is there to learn from? Who is your role model? Where do you find inspiration?
Guilt, confusion, feeling overwhelmed, and lacking ignition—any and all of these create a sense of fear that can keep you from your confidence—whether you’re a passenger or a driver. You might have a moment of inspiration, only for guilt to show up and stop it. You may take an important step forward, only for confusion to set you back. You might know exactly what you need to say…but keep silent.
You know fear is winning if you find yourself avoiding action. Making excuses. Allowing bad habits to dominate. Hiding. All things we witnessed Miles do during his lowest points.
The details of your situation won’t be what Miles or really anyone else has gone through or will go through, your life is so unique to you. But it can be comforting to know that when you step back and look at things in general, that your situation is no different than anyone else. And if others found their way to ignition (then success), so can you.
Part 3: The support of loved ones
I’m sure you can already pinpoint the moment of ignition in Spider-Verse. Miles has reached his lowest point in the movie. Rejected by the other Spider-Peeps, told he doesn’t have what it takes by the closest thing to a mentor he’s had, left tied to a chair. There’s such self-loathing and pain and helplessness.
That’s when Miles’s dad shows up. Up to this point, the film’s set-up the strained dynamic between father and son. They love each other, but struggle to communicate it as their personalities contrast so much. That strain multiplied 10x by Miles being the new Spider-Man and his dad’s hatred of Spider-Man.
Tied to the chair, Miles can’t come to the door. A reinforcement of how weak he is. His dad, instead of feeling rejected and leaving, opens up to his son. A vulnerability we hadn’t seen from him.
Miles, uh, Miles it’s your dad. Please open the door. Miles I can see your shadow moving around. Yeah, okay, I get it. Still ignoring me. Can we talk for a minute? Something…Something happened… Look, sometimes people drift apart. And I don’t want that to happen to us, okay. Look, I know I don’t always do what you need me to do, or say what you need me to say. I see this, this spark in you and it’s amazing. It’s why I push you. It’s yours. Whatever you choose to do with it you’ll be great. Call me when you can, okay? I love you. You don’t have to say it back though. [I’m crying]
Miles already had everything he needed to not be tied to that chair. He only lacked confidence in himself. His dad’s words put the pieces into place that allow Miles to get out of his own way. He doesn’t have to be afraid of being his best self. He can embrace it. Not just for himself, but for his parents, his friends, and his city. That used to overwhelm him. But he’d rather take the leap of faith than stay tied down in a chair, metaphorically speaking, for the rest of his life.
Why is the movie called Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse?
The word “into” is a preposition defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “Expressing movement or action with the result that someone or something becomes enclosed or surrounded by something else.” In the literal sense, that’s like walking into someone’s house. Then into a room. Then you leave that room and walk into another one. Then walk out of the house altogether and back into the world at large.
We also have more symbolic uses of “into”. A crime movie might involve someone who gets themselves “into” trouble. “Trouble” isn’t a physical space like a house or car or cave or a forest that you physically move into. “Trouble” is an intangible situation. It’s like someone who says “I’m into running” or “I’m into history.” These are unique worlds that people can step into and out of.
So Into the Spider-Verse on the simplest level is just introducing us to the notion that the Spider-Verse exists. Miles and the audience get to be part of the multiverse for a little bit.
But in this case the Spider-Verse is more of a metaphor for any “world” that feels overwhelming to us. That’s why the movie cross-cuts Miles not being ready to start life in this new school with him not being ready to take on the mantle of Spider-Man. The Spider-Verse represents his school situation. Which represents growing up and having to face new situations.
So the title Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse could be Marie: Into Learning a New Language. Lionel: Into Making the Varsity Baseball Team. Cindy: Into a New Job in a New Field. It captures that sense of newness and the associated uncertainty and excitement that comes with it.
Important motifs in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
The different Spider-People
One of the most important ideas of the movie is that “anyone can wear the mask.” If Miles was the only Spider-Man in the movie, that can still get the point across but it doesn’t necessarily hammer it home. But by literally having different Spider-people from multiple universes, it drives home the idea that “in your own world, you can be the superhero.” Whether that’s the superhero of your school or even just a particular class or a hobby or within your family or at work. Or all of the above. If Spider-Ham can be a hero, why can’t you?
Miles tied to the chair
The fear and hesitation Miles feels is something that comes up throughout the movie but is mostly internal. We only really witness it through brief moments of dialogue or when Miles is unable to use his powers on command. When Peter B. Parker challenges Miles by knocking him into a chair and webbing him so he can’t move or talk, it’s a challenge he hopes Miles will overcome. Except Miles doesn’t. He gives up. And that image captures so much of what he had been feeling throughout the movie. Emotionally tied to a chair. Afraid to stand up and step into whatever comes next. That’s why it’s so powerful when his spark ignites and he uses his venom shock to break free and finally make his leap of faith.
The glass break
Arguably the most hype moment in the film and the most iconic image in the movie. Miles, in his full custom for the first time, hangs onto the side of a skyscraper. He remembers Peter B. Parker saying that you never know when you’re ready, you simply make a leap of faith. So he leaps (as the song “What’s Up Danger”) plays. As he jumps, the glass where his fingers had been breaks. We see the fragments in the air, in slo mo, for just a second, then it cuts to Miles falling, recovering, and becoming Spider-Man.
When Miles first got his powers, he gained the sticky fingertips. And it didn’t go well. He got caught in Gwen’s hair and couldn’t relax so they had to cut him free. He had issues sticking to walls and not being able to unstick. Which coincided with his fear of moving forward. Of embracing his powers. And the whole “Tied to the chair” motif we just talked about.
So the glass break is important because it shows Miles physically unsticking in the aftermath of his emotional breakthrough. So you get the mixed symbolism of the hand coming off the building (unsticking) and the glass shattering (breakthrough).
The upside down fall
Also arguably the most iconic image from the movie. After Miles takes his leap of faith, there’s a shot where the camera inverts. Instead of Miles being above the skyline and falling towards it, the skyline’s above him and he’s rising up to meet it.
This could be a purely aesthetic choice. It does look awesome. But it coincides with Miles rising to meet the moment. This leap wasn’t about him “falling” so much as it was about him finally reaching to be the best version of himself. To face the responsibility and potential he’s been afraid of. The inversion captures that sense of the individual finally prepared for everything the world will throw at him.
Questions & answers about Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Who are the villains of Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse
Kingpin, Tombstone, Scorpion, Prowler, Green Goblin, and Olivia Octavius.
Kingpin is pretty on-brand.
Tombstone is a less known villain but was part of the DLC for Sony’s first Spider-Man game, so is probably a little more well-known after that.
Scorpion is a different version than the typical green suit that people are used to. In this version, it seems like he’s suffered some horrible injuries and is now mostly mechanical. This seems to be an original design and not from any previous comic or media.
Green Goblin is also pretty different. The basic design is a mix of classic Green Goblin and the version from the Ultimate-world where the comic book version of Miles originated. Ultimate Green Goblin is more an actual “goblin” rather than a guy in a costume, like an evil version of the Hulk.
Liv is an original character but there is a Lady Octopus who took over the mantle from Doc Ock in the 90s. She was just a student of Octavius. But there was a whole storyline where a clone of Peter killed the Doctor so Carolyn Trainer put on the arms and decided to get revenge. As far as I’m aware, that was the height of her use. Now she appears here and there.
It’s not necessarily clear that Earth-1610 had a male Doc Ock. So instead of Olivia being the daughter or wife or some relation to him, it’s more likely she’s just that world’s Doctor Octopus.
Prowler in the comics was originally this teenager named Hobie Brown. Hobie was introduced as a would-be criminal but quickly turned good after an encounter with Spider-Man. He never really had a time to shine but would pop up in various stories now and then. If the name “Hobie Brown” is familiar, it’s because that’s Spider-Punk in Across the Spider-Verse.
In the Ultimate universe, Aaron Davis, Uncle Aaron, was the Prowler. And actually unintentionally responsible for the spider biting Miles. He still fulfills his Uncle Ben role but is a pretty big jerk to Miles the entire time. As characters often do in comics, he suddenly returns to life and is better. Then sacrifices himself to save Miles. Then ends up alive again. It’s a wild ride.
What universe does Miles live in?
Earth-1610. In Marvel comics, 1610 was known as the Ultimate universe, and, for a good chunk of time, Marvel created a whole slew of comics set in that world. It was an entirely original continuity and reimagining of many characters. They had a big story called “Ultimatum” where a sad Magneto caused a bunch of death and destruction. People didn’t like that. So Marvel decided to end the entire series by destroying the universe. Two characters made it out alive. The Maker. And Miles Morales.
In 2023, Marvel started a storyline where The Maker does some stuff and now there’s a new 1610.
The Spider-Verse 1610 is very different from the comic version but is a direct nod to the origin of its main character.
What was the number on the Spider?
The number represents that the spider was from Earth-42. A plot point that isn’t relevant until the sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Now it’s your turn
Have more unanswered questions about Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse? Are there themes or motifs we missed? Is there more to explain about the ending? Please post your questions and thoughts in the comments section! We’ll do our best to address every one of them. If we like what you have to say, you could become part of our movie guide!
