Doctor Strange
Movie, 2016, Phase 3, Set in 2016–2017
Doctor Strange is #17 of 69 in release order and #18 of 69 in chronological order in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The story
After his career is destroyed, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under her wing and trains him to defend the world against evil.
Doctor Strange recap
Stephen Strange, an arrogant neurosurgeon, destroys his hands in a car crash. When Western medicine fails him, he travels to Kathmandu and finds Kamar-Taj, where the Ancient One and her student Mordo teach him the mystic arts. Strange learns fast and reads forbidden texts, including the Book of Cagliostro, and learns to use the Eye of Agamotto, which holds the Time Stone. Kaecilius, a former student, has stolen pages from the book to summon Dormammu, a being from the Dark Dimension who wants to absorb Earth. Kaecilius attacks the sanctums that protect Earth in London, New York and Hong Kong. Strange defends the New York sanctum with the Cloak of Levitation, and Kaecilius kills the Ancient One. Before dying, she tells Strange she has been drawing power from the Dark Dimension to live longer, which disgusts Mordo.
Doctor Strange ending explained
In Hong Kong, Strange uses the Time Stone to reverse the destruction, then goes into the Dark Dimension and traps himself and Dormammu in a time loop, dying again and again until Dormammu agrees to leave Earth and take Kaecilius with him. Mordo, disillusioned, walks away. Strange returns the Eye to Kamar-Taj and takes over the New York sanctum.
Post-credits scenes
Yes. In the mid-credits scene, Strange meets Thor, who is looking for Odin with Loki, and agrees to help. In the post-credits scene, Mordo takes the magic from Jonathan Pangborn, the man Strange went to for help, saying there are too many sorcerers.
Where to watch Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange is streaming on Disney+ and YouTube TV in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes 89%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Marvel's Luke Cage, before Marvel's Iron Fist.
- Chronological order: after Black Widow, before Black Panther.
What to watch before Doctor Strange
In release order, 12 Marvel Cinematic Universe essentials come before Doctor Strange (2016), from Iron Man (2008) to Captain America: Civil War (2016).
Cast
- Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange
- Chiwetel Ejiofor as Mordo
- Rachel McAdams as Dr. Christine Palmer
- Benedict Wong as Wong
- Mads Mikkelsen as Kaecilius
- Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One
- Michael Stuhlbarg as Dr. Nicodemus West
- Benjamin Bratt as Jonathan Pangborn
- Scott Adkins as Lucian / Strong Zealot
- Zara Phythian as Brunette Zealot
- Alaa Safi as Tall Zealot
- Katrina Durden as Blonde Zealot
Directed by Scott Derrickson.