‘Thunderbolts*’ Has the Longest Post-Credits Scene in the MCU

The content below doesn’t reveal significant plot twists about Thunderbolts beyond what’s already disclosed in the title. Carry on without worry.

It’s unusual when a Marvel movie doesn’t include a post-credits scene; instead, it’s common to find them. In fact, many movies have one, two, or even multiple scenes. So, it’s not surprising that the film “Thunderbolts” has two teases during the credits, one in the middle and one at the end – it’s what we typically anticipate from these films.

It’s quite uncommon that the second of the two credit scenes is so lengthy. IGN measured its duration, and it lasts an impressive 2 minutes and 54 seconds, making it the longest post-credit scene ever in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In my opinion, it’s quite astonishing to compare the length of a typical MCU post-credits scene with that of the Thunderbolts sequence in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.” While a regular post-credits scene typically lasts around a minute, this particular Thunderbolts sequence I’ve seen manages to span nearly three minutes, even when you combine all five of the post-credits scenes from the latter movie.

Without delving into potential spoilers, it’s evident that the upcoming movie, “Thunderbolts* “, holds much intrigue. This film serves as the concluding chapter in the MCU before the introduction of the Fantastic Four in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps“. It seamlessly transitions into next summer’s anticipated blockbuster, “Avengers: Doomsday“.

IGN pointed out that the mentioned record pertains exclusively to films. Remarkably, the last episode of the Disney+ television series “Hawkeye” featured a nearly 4-minute rendition of “Save the City” from the musical “Rogers: The Production,” which interestingly, is not part of any cinematic record.

Currently, “Thunderbolts” is being screened in cinemas near you. For further insights on the after-credit sequences and their implications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s future, I recommend checking out our analysis video titled “Unraveling the Ending”.

The Best Performances in Marvel Movies

15. Jeff Goldblum, Thor: Ragnarok

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are numerous extraterrestrial characters, and one that truly stands out as the most alien-like to me is Jeff Goldblum’s Grandmaster from “Thor: Ragnarok.” He exudes an effortless strangeness with his mystical staffs, space DJ equipment, and peculiar pronunciation of Asgard, which he follows up with a chuckle. The artistry in Goldblum’s delivery when he says, “Time works differently around these parts. On any other world, I’d be millions of years old, but here on Sakaar…” is remarkable.

14. Iman Vellani, The Marvels

Almost the only factor preventing The Marvels from dwelling at the bottom of my rankings for Marvel Cinematic Universe films is Iman Vellani’s stellar portrayal of Ms. Marvel. She becomes embroiled with her superhero counterpart, Captain Marvel, and embarks on a cosmic journey alongside her and space-faring hero Monica Rambeau (it’s high time Monica had a code name). This premise holds great potential, but the execution was tiresome and relied heavily on gimmicky elements, such as the characters repeatedly switching places due to their peculiar powers. However, Vellani seems genuinely excited throughout; in a film as chaotic and disorganized as this one, that’s a testament to her acting skills.

13. Stanley Tucci, Captain America: The First Avenger

In “Captain America: The First Avenger,” an impressive Marvel cast graces the screen, led by Chris Evans as Steve Rogers. Other notable actors include Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, and Toby Jones. While all are excellent, my personal favorite is Stanley Tucci who portrays Dr. Erskine, the scientist responsible for creating the Super Soldier Serum and choosing Rogers as his first test subject. Most Marvel scientists are portrayed as reckless at best and mad at worst. However, Dr. Erskine stands out, serving as a moral compass within the film, and perhaps the entire Marvel Universe. His poignant speech, elucidating the distinction between goodness and power, is one of the most moving quiet moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

12. Michael Peña, Ant-Man

In the first two Ant-Man films, the standout scenes aren’t tied to the main character or his ability to shrink. Instead, these memorable moments come during Michael Peña’s lengthy monologues as Scott Lang’s friend Luis. Each time Peña delivers one of these intricate narratives, with his rapid-fire speech comically lip-synced by other characters, it’s incredibly humorous. The rest of Peña’s performance is equally appealing. The latest film, Quantumania, noticeably lacked his presence.

11. Sam Rockwell, Iron Man 2

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sam Rockwell’s character Justin Hammer has been absent since a short film in 2014. It’s unfortunate because he was my favorite villain from Phase One of Marvel, mainly due to Rockwell’s unique portrayal that embodied the essence of a true villain: an unnatural tan and amusing dance moves. Let’s hope we see Justin Hammer return!

10. Andrew Garfield, Spider-Man: No Way Home

Even though Marvel repeatedly stated otherwise, it wasn’t entirely unexpected when Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield appeared in “Spider-Man: No Way Home”. What was slightly surprising was the extent of their involvement. Particularly, Andrew Garfield seemed dedicated to providing a resolution for his portrayal of Peter Parker, who didn’t get a chance to star in a third “Amazing Spider-Man” film where he could have explored Peter’s reaction to Gwen Stacy’s death more deeply. He poured all those unexplored emotions into “No Way Home”. His emotional moment when he rescues Zendaya’s MJ and becomes visibly moved… that’s some quality acting, isn’t it?

9. Hugh Jackman, Deadpool & Wolverine

Although Deadpool & Wolverine primarily serves to satirize superhero films and self-mock, it showcases an exceptional acting feat by Hugh Jackman. Known as the best actor in comic-book movie history, he delivers another intense, emotional portrayal of Logan, a mutant burdened with immortality and a conscience laden with wrongdoings that he believes renders him irredeemable. It’s unlikely that this performance surpasses Jackman’s best as Wolverine, which can still be found in the movie Logan. However, considering the potential for this role to simply be a money-making scheme, the depth of Jackman’s acting here is truly remarkable.

8. Clark Gregg, The Avengers

In the initial phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it wasn’t one of the superheroes who stole the spotlight; instead, it was the human-like S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Agent Coulson, played by Clark Gregg, who appeared in most of their films, recruiting them for the Avengers Initiative. Agent Coulson added a touch of humanity to every scene he was part of, allowing viewers to relate to him as they watched Marvel’s gods, iron men, and guardians of liberty. It’s no surprise that Marvel chose Gregg as the main character in their first television series, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – even after he was killed in The Avengers.

7. Tom Hiddleston, Thor

Tom Hiddleston’s Marvel performances are consistently excellent, making him one of the most reliable actors in their entire cast roster. This began with his debut as Loki in the first Thor movie in 2011, where he brought Loki’s deceitfulness, jealousy, desire for power, and desperate need to prove himself to his adoptive father to life. Since then, the character has become even more complex, continually causing trouble for his thunderous brother.

6. John Brolin, Avengers: Infinity War

It’s important to acknowledge that the creation of Thanos was a collaborative effort extending beyond just Josh Brolin, who provided the motion capture and voice for the character. Visual effects artists played a significant role in shaping his performance, while the scripting of this complex villain, who accumulates god-like power with the intent to eliminate half the universe to save the other half, is equally crucial. The end result was Marvel’s most compelling antagonist, a character who is both terrifying and intriguingly motivated. While I don’t necessarily endorse his actions, he certainly presents a persuasive argument.

5. Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther

There’s a particular reason why Marvel opted not to replace Chadwick Boseman following his untimely demise in 2020 due to colon cancer. No actor could step into the role of T’Challa, the wise ruler of Wakanda and the superhero Black Panther, as effectively as Boseman did. With a talented ensemble of supporting actors, Boseman commanded the screen in Black Panther with unyielding power. Regardless of who takes on the role of the Black Panther moving forward, there will only ever be one T’Challa and one Chadwick Boseman.

4. Bradley Cooper, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

In his initial three decades, the character Rocket Raccoon only appeared in ten Marvel comics, but he transformed from a secondary figure into a scene-stealer and one of Marvel’s most emotionally profound heroes in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy. Despite his sometimes gruff demeanor, fans adore him, largely due to Bradley Cooper’s exceptional voice acting that adds layers of wounded humanity, particularly in “Guardians Vol. 3.” This movie delves into Rocket’s heart-wrenching past and places him at the heart of the Guardians’ narrative.

3. Florence Pugh, Thunderbolts*

Marvel will persist as long as it discovers fresh, gifted actors to step into the shoes of its original cast. The departure of Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow was tough; however, it hurts a lot less now that Florence Pugh has taken over the role, becoming the new Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). As Yelena, Pugh infuses her character’s transition from a disheartened mercenary to the leader of an outlaw band of anti-heroes with deep emotions. She enhances this transformation with a dark humor that fits perfectly with all those classic Marvel one-liners.

2. Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther

In collaboration, Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan often produce outstanding results. In the movie “Black Panther”, Jordan portrays the antagonist, yet his captivating presence and intricate character make it difficult not to become engrossed in his mission to seize the Wakandan throne from T’Challa as part of his quest for vengeance. Remarkably, Jordan plays this complex role under the name Erik Killmonger. (“Pretty please: Mr. Killmonger was my father. Call me Erik!”)

When Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan team up, great things occur. In “Black Panther”, Jordan takes on the villainous role, yet his magnetic presence and multifaceted character make it challenging not to become involved in his ambition to take over the Wakandan throne from T’Challa as part of his quest for revenge. Impressively, he plays this complex role under the name Erik Killmonger. (“I beg you: Mr. Killmonger was my father. Call me Erik!”)

1. Robert Downey Jr., Iron Man

Is it reasonable to wonder: If director Jon Favreau hadn’t been able to persuade Marvel Studios to cast Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark (and they initially resisted him for quite some time), would the movie have succeeded at all? And if the movie had failed, would that have marked the end of the Marvel Cinematic Universe right there and then? Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Tony Stark laid the groundwork for the entire MCU, with his quick wit serving as a protective shield for his troubled soul throughout his transformation from reckless arms dealer to selfless superhero. Even though Tony is no longer present, Downey Jr. continues to be the benchmark against which all other MCU actors are compared.

2025-05-02 22:55