Spider-Man: Homecoming Review - 9 Ups & 3 Downs

4. The Future Set Ups

Even though there's a very loud ticking clock attached to Spider-Man's time in the MCU (for now at least), the film does a great job spreading seeds that could become stories in possible sequels.

Not only do we get hints of the sequel's big villain in a couple of scenes, but we also meet Donald Glover's Prowler (Aaron Davis) and hear about his nephew (one Miles Morales no less), see a potential future Spider-Man suit and see a map to him becoming an Avenger. Then there's the hints at a future flowering romance with very familiar roots, and a huge narrative point of tension for the sequel at home for Peter.

And it's not just the bigger guys either, if you don't come away wanting to see more of Flash Thompson, Michelle, Hannibal Burgess' Coach or then you weren't watching properly. They made this world feel lived in and they will be welcome components of the sequel.

In contrast to The Amazing Spider-Man 2's scatter-gun approach to seeding, this is how you set up sequels and an expanded universe without pulling away from the core film reductively.