Venom: The Last Dance hasn't received much in the way of critical acclaim, but for the most part, fans do appear to be enjoying Sony Pictures' latest Marvel movie.
Despite taking some major liberties with the comic books - something that's been a sticking point for many since Venom's release in 2018 - the threequel features plenty of fun Easter Eggs, references, and cameos. Some pay homage to the source material and others tie this movie to the wider Marve (Cinematic?) Universe.
In this feature, we're taking a deep dive into those, including nods to Ghostbusters, Spider-Man, and the King in Black's comic book history.
Check out Venom: The Last Dance's Easter Eggs by clicking the "Next"/"View List" buttons below.
8. Ray's Occult Books
Ghostbusters is another famous Sony franchise and when Venom: The Last Dance takes us to Area 51, there's a very interesting mailbox you'll want to keep an eye out for.
It's covered in stickers, one of which is advertising "Ray's Occult Books."
As you're no doubt already aware, that's a nod to the New York-based bookstore of the same name from Ghostbusters which is owned by Dan Aykroyd's Ray Stantz. Given the crazy goings on in this threequel, it's an appropriate Easter Egg.
7. Eddie Brock's History In New York
Having been framed for the apparent murder of Detective Pat Mulligan, Eddie Brock decides that he and Venom should head to New York City.
The former reporter has some dirt on a judge and hopes to blackmail him into helping clear his name. The first Venom movie also mentioned that Eddie was forced out of the Big Apple, something this movie once again references.
On the page, Eddie ran a series of stories about the Sin-Eater for the Daily Globe but didn't check his sources. So, when Spider-Man outed the real killer, his career was left in tatters. That's why he initially hates Spidey so much.
6. Spider-Man
Venom: The Last Dance opens on Earth-616 before Eddie is set back home. What's weird about this, though, is he's flung back through a portal identical to the ones Knull uses rather than the glowing effect seen in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
No explanation has been offered for this apparent retcon, though it feels like a deliberate move to separate Venom from the MCU seeing as he immediately says he's sick of this "Multiverse sh*t."
Another apparent nod to Spider-Man comes when Venom hangs upside down before taking out the bad guys at the start of the movie. That sort of imagery hasn't been overly prominent in this franchise, unfortunately.
5. The Symbiotes
There are a total of eight Symbiotes in the Imperium Project's Area 51 base; among those we can identify are Agony, Lasher, and quite possibly Phage.
Fans are divided on whether Pat Mulligan is Toxin, though we'd imagine he isn't when this movie makes a point of revealing that his Symbiote abandoned him shortly after Carnage's death (his snake-like alien suit is never named).
We also see a white Symbiote, a two-headed alien, and a red one with fire powers...which seems a tad contradictory when that's supposed to be one of their main weaknesses! All but Agony are killed by the invading Xenophage.
4. Tom Hardy's Stunt Double
When Eddie arrives in Las Vegas, he soon learns that he can't get into any casino in his current state of undress. So, when a drunk guy in a tuxedo approaches him, Venom wastes no time in knocking the guy out and stealing his clothes.
Jacob Adam Tomuri plays that unnamed character, but what you might not know is he served as Tom Hardy's stunt double in Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and Venom: The Last Dance.
Filmmaker Kelly Marcel has also said that putting Hardy in a tux was a nod to the James Bond rumours that have long seen him named as a contender to play 007.
3. The King In Black
Knull's screentime may be limited, but it would be unfair to say Venom: The Last Dance's take on the powerful villain isn't comic-accurate.
He's shown wielding All-Black the Necrosword (a blade which ended up in Gorr the God Butcher's hands in the comics), and later declares himself the King in Black in the threequel's mid-credits scene, the same moniker he goes by on the page.
When Pat's Symbiote says "The End is Knull," that's a reference to the tagline used during Marvel Comics' King in Black crossover event. As for the Codex, it's the same spiral which appears on Knull's corrupt Symbiotes.
2. Some Big Comic Book Changes
While Venom: The Last Dance pays homage to the comic books, it also makes some noteworthy changes. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Rex Strickland, though this version never bonds with a Symbiote or becomes Tyrannosaurus, Eddie's guide to all things Knull.
As for Teddy Payne, she appears to be a gender-swapped version of the character Thaddeus Paine who is combined with Agony's host on the page, Leslie Gesneria.
Finally, scientist Sadie Christmas appears to be a new take on Lasher's comic book host, Sadie, who first donned the alien costume in Absolute Carnage: Separation Anxiety #1.
1. The Symbiote Is Still In The MCU
Venom: The Last Dance may go some way in retconning Spider-Man: No Way Home, but even if Eddie is no longer sent home via Doctor Strange's spell, we see nothing to suggest that piece of the Symbiote isn't still on Earth-616.
This could be crucial for Spider-Man 4, particularly if Peter Parker finally dons the alien suit.
Having Venom return to his reality via one of Knull's portals might also be a hint that the King in Black is sending his Xenophage across the Multiverse, not just Eddie's world. If so, that too could have major ramifications down the line...