Every Marvel Movie That Doesn’t Have a Post-Credit Scene

As a seasoned moviegoer and critic who has spent countless hours in dark theaters, I can confidently say that the absence of a post-credits scene doesn’t necessarily equate to a lackluster film. In fact, some of the most memorable movies I’ve seen have ended without the promise of an extra tidbit at the end.

The film Iron Man didn’t merely initiate the trend of cinematic universes in contemporary movie-making; it also breathed new life into the post-credit scene tradition. This technique had been around for quite some time prior to Tony Stark revealing his identity as Iron Man, as films like The Muppet Movie, Airplane!, and Space Jam (to name a few) have shown. Nevertheless, Iron Man made it commonplace to hint at sequels and additional adventures in Marvel superhero movies by way of post-credit scenes. From then on, viewers would eagerly wait after any Marvel adaptation to catch a sneak peek of a small sequence – often featuring a final joke or a preview of upcoming films – hidden within the credits.

Despite the popularity of Marvel movies, not all films based on Marvel Comics have followed suit with a post-credit scene. For instance, even after blockbusters like The Avengers and Iron Man, some movies have skipped credit scenes entirely. This trend is evident in the December 2024 box office disappointment Kraven the Hunter, which marked Sony’s second Spider-Man Universe title without a credit sequence following Madame Web. In this article, we will examine all Marvel films released after May 2008 that do not feature a post-credit scene. Although it’s unusual for these movies in the post-Iron Man era, there have been Marvel Comics adaptations that have taken risks by abandoning traditional end credits and focusing more on the main storyline.

The Incredible Hulk

In contrast to most Marvel Cinematic Universe films, which usually have post-credit scenes, “The Incredible Hulk” presented its stinger featuring Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and General Ross (William Hurt) discussing the formation of a team before the main credits began rolling. This is unusual for an MCU title as the scene appeared before the words “directed by Louis Leterrier” on screen, making it one of the few Marvel movies without a credit sequence.

Punisher: War Zone

The December 2008 film “Punisher: War Zone,” which paid tribute to grindhouse action movies and stood apart from Marvel Studios, didn’t include any post-credit scenes. Given its focus on the gruesome sound of bones cracking rather than setting up numerous “Punisher” sequels, such scenes wouldn’t have been fitting.

X-Men: First Class

Prior to the release of “Iron Man”, “X-Men: The Last Stand” was the first X-Men movie to include a scene after the credits (hinting at Charles Xavier’s survival). Unlike this, “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” presented different credit scenes during its initial screening. In contrast, “X-Men: First Class”, released in 2011, didn’t have any credit sequence. This might be because the film’s ending (with Erik Lehnsherr freeing Emma Frost from prison and announcing himself as Magneto) was already a tantalizing hint about potential future storylines.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

As a film critic, I must confess that the second solo outing of Ghost Rider failed to sow the seeds for any potential sequels. The lackluster reception and unfortunate demise of this franchise have effectively placed the live-action rendition of this Marvel anti-hero on an indefinite hiatus. In Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider rode off into the sunset (or should I say, blue flames) to embark on new journeys, but the audiences were never treated to a tantalizing post-credits scene hinting at the specific escapades he would undertake with his enhanced abilities.

Fantastic Four

Following the release of “The Avengers” in 2012, every subsequent Marvel adaptation, whether from Marvel Studios or not, included some sort of credit scene. However, this consistent pattern ended in August 2015 with the debut of “Fantastic Four.” Unlike its predecessors, it didn’t feature any hints at a sequel in its end credits. This was surprising given that a follow-up was initially slated for a June 2017 release. The production of this Josh Trank film was fraught with so much trouble that the executives at 20th Century Fox probably prioritized getting the movie out first rather than firmly setting up any sequels in the end credits.

Logan

It’s not surprising that Logan didn’t have any kind of post-credits scene, as the movie was more like a Western or dramatic film rather than a typical superhero movie, concluding on a decisive, emotionally impactful note that would have been weakened by a post-credits sequence. Additionally, its cinema showings were preceded by a Deadpool short titled No Good Deed, which served to set up future Fox/Marvel films without the need for a potentially disruptive post-credits scene.

Dark Phoenix

Simon Kinberg, director of “Dark Phoenix”, shared during the film’s opening weekend that the absence of a credits sequence was intentional, as the movie itself offered enough resolution to 19 years of X-Men stories. Additional scenes in the end credits would have been unnecessary. The Disney/Fox merger likely played a significant role in this decision, as Marvel Studios at Disney had their own plans for the mutants, which any “Dark Phoenix” credits scene could have disrupted.

The New Mutants

Before it hit theaters, there was an abundance of speculation and gossip surrounding the end credits scene for The New Mutants, particularly who would be appearing in it. However, all that online buzz proved to be misplaced. Eventually, The New Mutants premiered in August 2020, a significant delay from its original release date. The movie was shown in mostly vacant theaters and did not have an end credits sequence. This Fox/Marvel production, which came from the pre-Disney/Fox merger era, had an extremely understated ending.

Madame Web

The director of Madame Web, S.J. Clarkson, has mentioned that the absence of a credit sequence in the movie is due to it already conveying everything the filmmakers intended. A more plausible explanation could be that Madame Web serves as a precursor for upcoming female superhero films, and including additional teases during the end credits might have been unnecessary, given the movie’s heavy emphasis on hinting at future female heroes. Furthermore, the film subtly suggests that Peter Parker’s mother and uncle are characters in the storyline, but adding even more teasers in the closing credits may have been repetitive.

Kraven the Hunter

According to reports, Sony’s Spider-Man Universe may be winding down with “Kraven the Hunter,” much like “Madame Web.” Unlike other movies in this series, it didn’t have a closing credits sequence. Fans hoping for a brief cameo of Kraven interacting with Morbius or Venom would find themselves feeling let down after leaving the theater. If the disappointing box office performance of “Kraven” offers any consolation, at least there weren’t many viewers left feeling underwhelmed by the lack of a closing credits scene. Not even an exciting post-credits scene like Iron Man’s could have saved “Kraven the Hunter.

2024-12-25 03:10