Spider-Man: No Way Home is the 27th movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the third film starring Tom Holland as Peter Parker, the titular webslinger. This movie has been heavily anticipated for months, not just as the return of Holland’s iteration of the character (especially after the events of Spider-Man: Far From Home), but the marketing teased and revealed its connections to other onscreen iterations of the character. However, is this movie just another forgettable big-budget blockbuster, or is it worth your time and money?

No Way Home starts up immediately after the end of Far From Home where Spider-Man’s identity was revealed and he was accused of the murder of that movie’s antagonist, Mysterio. Peter’s life and the lives of his best friend, Ned (Jacob Batalon), his girlfriend, MJ (Zendaya), and those closest to him, drastically change in a matter of minutes. Suddenly, Peter’s reputation is getting destroyed by the Daily Bugle on a daily basis. He and his Aunt May (Marissa Tomei) have to relocate and Ned and MJ’s college dreams are dashed by their connection to Peter and his heroic activity. As a result, Peter consults Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) about casting a spell that would make everyone forget his identity as Spider-Man. The spell collapses because of Peter’s tampering with it to keep Ned, MJ and Aunt May in the loop, but is stabilized by Strange’s wizard abilities. However, we soon find out that the failed execution of the spell has opened the barriers of time and space just enough to let the enemies of Spider Mans from other universes invade Peter’s.

It’s a confusing setup, but the movie does a decent job of packaging it in a way that’s pretty easy to understand. Buckle up, though, because that’s just the beginning of the multiversal shenanigans in No Way Home. If the ending of this movie is any indication, it will not be the last we see the multiverse feature prominently in the goings on of the Marvel universe.

Unlike Homecoming or Far From Home, this is really a movie about sacrifice and what Peter Parker has to lose to keep being Spider-Man. Homecoming and Far From Home have very different ideas of the sacrifices necessary to maintain his heroic persona, though. Peter isn’t having to miss the school dance or alter his plans to ask out the girl he likes on a summer trip across Europe. Things happen in No Way Home that can’t be taken back or reversed that feel like they’ll heavily inform and influence the Spider-Man we’ll see going forward.

No Way Home accomplishes the impossible in ways I wouldn’t even begin to explain as to not spoil the experience of getting this watch movie unfold on its own terms. Every part of this movie lived up to and exceeded my sky-high expectations, as it is a thrill ride from beginning to end packed with surprises and pathos that lays the groundwork for an uncertain and exciting future for Spider-Man in the Marvel universe. There are so many ways this could’ve floundered, but with No Way Home, Director Jon Watts is responsible for one of Marvel’s finest films yet.