Post-credits scenes are an essential part of the MCU. There have been so many in the last decade that we’re here to highlight the eight best ones.
A decade into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you know that when the movie ends, it’s not really over. You stretch in your seat and watch as the credits roll. You laugh at all of those poor suckers who are headed out the door.
“Sit down!” you want to yell. “You should know by now that it’s not over yet!”
Because … every single Marvel film has had at least one post-credits scene. And they usually key into one of the upcoming films, giving you a quick glimpse at what’s in store.
They make you excited for the possibilities. They make you leave the theater discussing everything it could have meant. And they’ve been a heck of a lot of fun.
So as we reach what feels like a finale to this first part of our MCU journey (since it won’t really end with Avengers: Infinity War, not at all), we thought back on all of the post-credits scenes. Some are silly, some are downright excellent. We want to give you a highlighted look at the 8 best ones (in our opinion) of the MCU so far.
And before you ask, these are not ranked in any way. That would be way too difficult.
Iron Man post-credits scene: Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
I mean, how can this one not be on the list? It’s the very first post-credits scene. The one that tried to be super-secret while filming and failed. And the world speculated on it like crazy.
It was done more as a coy wink to comic book fans at the possibility of the Avengers. None of us really thought it would ever happen.
Except that it did. And it’s been glorious. Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury is near perfect casting, oozing authority and an air of mystery that so fits into SHIELD. He is Nick Fury. A decade later, Fury still shows up in the unlikeliest of places.
Avengers mid-credits scene: Introduction of Thanos
This one introduced the overarching villain of the whole universe. It gives us who exactly gave Loki that spear and that he has his eyes set on Earth. Because now we have two Infinity Stones running around down here. It was our first glimpse of many of the Mad Titan.
Avengers post-credits scene: Shawarma
This was the perfect silly ending to our first team-up outing. Everyone’s exhausted in the aftermath. Tony takes off to stop the nuke outside this particular shop. Thor takes a bite and literally eats half of the wrap. There’s no talking. Steve just plays with his food (covering up the prosthetic hiding his beard for Snowpiercer). Hawkeye and Black Widow share one chair. It’s perfect in its simplicity and silliness.
Heck, I tried shawarma because of this scene. It is delicious.
Guardians of the Galaxy mid-credits scene: Dancing Baby Groot
Guardians of the Galaxy was a box office hit that no one expected from a bunch of comic book characters not very well known. And one of the main things everyone took away from it?
Dancing Baby Groot.
Don’t deny it. You left the movie theater complaining that you needed a Dancing Baby Groot toy that actually dances to the Jackson 5. He’s adorable! He dances! And he freezes in place when he knows someone is looking!
It’s the perfect amount of adorable and hilarious.
Ant-Man post-credits scene: Cap, Falcon and Bucky
This one got everyone excited because it showed a glimpse at Captain America: Civil War. We had no idea what to expect from Civil War.
With the reveal of Bucky trapped and in the hands of Falcon and Cap, what the heck is going on? Why are they in an abandoned building? Why can’t they ask Tony for help? What the heck are the Accords?!
It got you super pumped for the next Captain America film, just to see where it would lead us.
Doctor Strange post-credits scene: Thor and the Doctor
This one makes our list because it felt so unexpected. Doctor Strange didn’t include any sort of ties or cameos to any other Marvel films. It kind of stood on its own, more or less.
So when Thor of all characters shows up in the post-credits scene, you immediately perk up. Plus, he was absent for Civil War, so the fact that he’s back on Earth (and with Stephen Strange!) seems odd. These two unlikely characters teamed up together made a lot of people happy (Strange magically refilling Thor’s glass of beer is a highlight).
Plus Strange’s mention of Loki definitely made some people happy (myself included).
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 mid-credits scene: Adam Warlock
This one makes the list because fans have been theorizing about Adam Warlock’s arrival since… oh geez, can I pinpoint an exact time? When Guardians of the Galaxy was announced? Since that post-credits scene in Thor: The Dark World where it looked like his cocoon behind Lady Sif and the Warriors Three?
GotG Vol. 2 had like 12 post-credits scenes, so they honestly felt a little less impactful that any other Marvel film. But this one still managed to stand out.
After suffering defeat and humiliation, Ayesha plans on making her greatest creation. “I think I shall call him… Adam,” she says, staring at the terrifying looking cocoon. Heaven knows when he’ll show up in an actual Marvel film, but man, did hearing his name create shockwaves.
Spider-Man: Homecoming post-credits scene: Captain America
This one makes the list because it pretty much sums up post-credits scenes in general. And our fatigue with having to deal with them for the last decade. Just watch it and that’s all the explanation you’ll need as to why it made our list.
(Plus it’s fun to see Cap get visibly flustered/annoyed…)
Next: The MCU movies ranked by hilarity
Let us know of your favorite Marvel post-credits scene we may have missed in our best-of roundup!