Since his introduction to the MCU in 2016's Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man has become one of Marvel Studios' most important superheroes, and audiences have seen him grow throughout his teenage years. After Marvel Studios and Sony negotiated a deal in 2015, Tom Holland was cast as the MCU's official version of Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man, taking over the role from Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, who'd portrayed the wall-crawler in Sony's prior franchises. Holland made his first appearance as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War, but has since been involved in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, has completed his first solo MCU trilogy, and Spider-Man 4 is in development.
As one of the MCU's youngest heroes, Peter Parker was introduced in Civil War as a 15-year-old student who had only recently been gifted his superhuman abilities after being bitten by a spider. Marvel Studios chose not to retell Spider-Man's origin story in the MCU, as it had previously been adapted twice at Sony, so Parker was instead thrown straight into the action. Over the last seven years, audiences have watched Peter Parker grow from a teenager into a young adult, with Spider-Man: No Way Home setting him up to embark on a new adventure in the MCU's future. Here's a breakdown of Spider-Man's entire timeline in the MCU.
16 Peter Parker's Early Life & Parents' Absence (2001-2010)
Not much is known about Peter Parker's childhood in the MCU, other than the fact that he was born on August 10, 2001, and at some point in his youth, his parents became absent. This left him in the care of his Aunt May and Uncle Ben, which follows Parker's backstory laid out in Marvel Comics and in Sony's previous Marvel films. Some theories have suggested that Spider-Man's parents may still be alive in the MCU, which could be revisited in the future, though there has currently been no mention of them in the MCU.
15 Peter Parker Meets Iron Man At The Stark Expo (2010)
2010's Iron Man 2 released years before Spider-Man joined the MCU, but after Peter Parker's debut, theories began to arise suggesting the child seen taking on a HAMMER Drone wearing an Iron Man mask could have been a young Peter Parker. While this was purely speculation, Tom Holland himself confirmed this theory while speaking to The Huffington Post, showing that Parker had been a fan of Iron Man long before the armored Avenger recruited him. This connection would later see Tony Stark become a mentor to Peter Parker, and demonstrates the brilliance of the MCU's interconnectivity.
14 Peter Parker's Uncle Ben Is Killed (Between 2010-2015)
In a change from the widely-accepted backstory for Spider-Man, Uncle Ben died prior to Peter Parker being bitten by a spider in the MCU. While Marvel Studios has never shown Uncle Ben on screen, he was mentioned during 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming, with his death being noted as being one of the main reasons Parker chose to keep his identity as Spider-Man a secret from everyone, including Aunt May. Uncle Ben's death left a lasting legacy on Parker's actions as Spider-Man, and made his connection with Aunt May even stronger, as the pair only had each other from then on.
13 Peter Parker Is Bitten By A Spider & Becomes An Internet Sensation (2015)
At the age of 14, Peter Parker was bitten by a spider and gained spider-like abilities overnight. These meant he was able to stick to walls and ceilings, adjusted his eyesight, and gave him enhanced strength, reflexes, agility, and senses. As a young genius, Peter Parker used his scientific mind to create synthetic webbing that he could shoot from utensils on his wrists, allowing him to operate as the vigilante Spider-Man. His actions as a "friendly neighborhood Spider-Man" caught the attention of many fans in Queens, and saw him quickly become an internet sensation, with videos showing him catching speeding cars and saving bystanders.
12 Tony Stark Recruits Spider-Man To His Team (2016)
After learning of Spider-Man operating in Queens, Tony Stark tracked him down and recruited him to join his team in Captain America: Civil War, marking Peter Parker's MCU debut. Parker traveled to Berlin with Stark and Happy Hogan, was gifted a new, streamlined suit, and fought alongside Team Iron Man against Team Cap, who had drifted apart over disputes caused by the Sokovia Accords and the framing of Bucky Barnes. During this battle, Spider-Man fought Captain America, Bucky Barnes, the Falcon, and Ant-Man, proving his worth as a new hero in the MCU, but was dropped back home after the events of the film.
11 Spider-Man Protects His Friends & Battles The Vulture (2016)
Back in Queens, Spider-Man longed to officially joined the Avengers, but in the meantime, dealt with smaller threats, such as retrieving a stolen bicycle, stopping a carjacker, and thwarting a bank robbery. In investigating strange technology in the neighborhood, Spider-Man learned of Adrian Toomes' Vulture, witnessing his robbery of tech acquired by Damage Control. Parker scaled the Washington Monument to save his friends, and intercepted the Vulture's crew on the Staten Island Ferry, but almost caused catastrophe. Spider-Man later battled the Vulture at Coney Island, incapacitating the villain and earning Stark's trust, though he would refuse Stark's offer to become a member of the MCU's Avengers.
10 Spider-Man Travels To Space With Iron Man & Doctor Strange (2018)
During a field trip to the MOMA, Parker's Spider-Sense alerted him to alien activity in New York during Avengers: Infinity War. He arrived to help Iron Man and Doctor Strange handle Ebony Maw and Cull Obsidian, but found himself inadvertently traveling into space after stowing away on Maw's ship. Luckily, Parker was on hand to help save Doctor Strange, and his bravery in these moments prompted Tony Stark to finally christen Spider-Man as a member of the Avengers. Parker helped Stark land Maw's ship on Titan, and prepared to battle the Mad Titan Thanos once the Guardians of the Galaxy arrived.
9 Spider-Man Fights Thanos With The Guardians Of The Galaxy (2018)
After meeting the Guardians of the Galaxy, the team, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and Spider-Man devised a plan to retrieve the Infinity Gauntlet from Thanos once he arrived on Titan in search of the Time Stone. Spider-Man put up a strong fight against the Mad Titan with the help of Strange's portals, but was ultimately no match for Thanos, who proclaimed him to be an "insect." Parker saved the Guardians of the Galaxy after Thanos hurled Titan's moon at the planet, but soon found himself trapped on Titan with the other heroes after Thanos acquired the Time Stone and departed for Earth.
8 Peter Parker Is Snapped By Thanos (2018)
Unaware of Thanos' actions in Wakanda in the final moments of Avengers: Infinity War, the surviving heroes on Titan waited and watched as most of them turned to dust following Thanos' snap. All the Guardians of the Galaxy, except for Nebula, disappeared, followed by Doctor Strange, which left Spider-Man as the last hero to suffer the same fate. In an emotional moment, Parker apologized to Stark before turning to dust, leaving the armored Avenger distraught and unsure of what to do next, though he would return to Earth and battle in Peter Parker's name during Avengers: Endgame.
7 Peter Parker Returns For The Battle Of Earth (2023)
Five years after being snapped away by Thanos in Infinity War, the Hulk's snap in Avengers: Endgame brought back all the dusted heroes, including Spider-Man. Peter Parker joined the Avengers for the Battle of Earth, returning to his homeworld through one of Doctor Strange's portals. Parker was key to protecting the Avengers' Infinity Gauntlet in Endgame's final battle, though would eventually hand the artifact over to Captain Marvel. After Iron Man gathered the Infinity Stones and eradicated Thanos and his army, Peter Parker had a moment to say a final farewell to his friend and mentor, and turned up to Stark's funeral with Aunt May before returning home.