5 Post-Credit Scenes That Were Exciting & 5 That Were Totally Pointless

5 Post-Credit Scenes That Got Us Excited & 5 That Were Totally Pointless

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the five most engaging post-credit scenes and the five that went nowhere. This doesn’t include the funniest ones as they deserve their own list. Spoilers ahead for the following films.

#5 Pointless: Superman is Back

“Black Adam” (2022)

Not without its problems, the adaptation of “Black Adam” left some audiences feeling strange. The credits scene doesn’t seem to save the experience either. After the hero talks to Waller, he finds himself confronted by a DC legend. Superman’s appearance fails to win us over though. All these years later, it only makes us sad to see the wasted potential. The Man of Steel only makes us pine for a better adventure. There’s also only the brief conversation instead of the fight we all want. The cameo could’ve been a much happier occasion, but instead it feels too little and too late.

#5 Exciting: Fantastic Four Incoming

“Thunderbolts*” (2025)

At the end of “Thunderbolts,” the ragtag group might be closer than ever. This makes the inclusion of another team all the more interesting. How will these anti-heroes deal with the incoming Fantastic Four squad? It’s a fun idea that this credits scene explores with an amusing cliffhanger. We might not know what happens next, but we sure hope the current Marvel phase lets them clash. The tension is palpable and the spaceship makes us wonder about the future. With any luck, this enjoyable teaser starts a better trend. At the very least, it makes you want to watch “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”

#4 Pointless: Shooting Scene

“American Gangster” (2007)

You might not remember that “American Gangster” even has one of these scenes. The Denzel Washington drama covers the title criminal’s life, but then it decides to give viewers one last glimpse at the character. Lucas walks into a room and fires one shot of the camera. It might look cool, but it does nothing for the narrative. It could’ve been better to give audiences another scene that alludes to the man’s later life. The quick moment is reminiscent of the “The Great Train Robbery” and the “Goodfellas” ending. More time with Washington is nice, but they could’ve called it quits earlier.

#4 Exciting: Roy & Nyles

“Palm Springs” (2020)

Throughout the film “Palm Springs,” Nyles finds himself stuck in a time loop. His complicated relationship with Roy only makes matters worse. Given their strange history, this last scene is all the more satisfying. The hero is approached by J.K. Simmons’ gruff character only to be confused. Without explaining everything, the movie has a clever way of telling the older man what happened. There’s also some hope that he’ll find his way out of the “Groundhog Day” scenario. For giving us one last reason to smile, this subtle finale feels more exciting than we could have expected.

#3 Pointless: After the Fight

“The Grey” (2011)

In one of his tough-guy roles, Liam Neeson becomes an outdoor survivalist in “The Grey.” The plane crash survivor ends the movie by preparing to fight a wolf. With an unclear result, this credit scene gives viewers one more tease. It would’ve been nice to know who came out on top rather than continuing the mystery. Considering the two fighters and the elements, we’re pretty sure that neither party is doing all that well. You could theorize for days, but it all feels like a pointless exercise. If anything, it seems to be a frustrating cliffhanger that’s not super helpful.

#3 Exciting: Blues Reunion

“Sinners” (2025)

At the end of “Sinners,” viewers might be exhausted in a good way. The only thing left to do is jump into the future. We revisit the blues player Sammie Moore as an older man, with a meeting between former associates. Buddy Guy lends authenticity to the film as a legend in his own right. In a nod to music history, director Ryan Coogler manages to give these characters a worthy sendoff. He also explains one more mystery before showing the musician play. Whether or not it gets a sequel, the movie makes us invested in where these people might go next.

#2 Pointless: Going to Valhalla“Thor: Love and Thunder” (2022)

Jane Foster makes the ultimate sacrifice in “Thor: Love and Thunder,” forgoing her health to help defeat Gorr. This makes for an emotional moment that doesn’t need revisiting. After the movie is over, the filmmakers choose to show her in Valhalla. You can imagine her going on your own without this obvious visual. Viewers get to see Idris Elba’s character Heimdall again, but it’s not all that important. It might have been more worthwhile to show Foster again if she survived. You could’ve set up the next Thor adventure or made a decent joke, but this ending leaves us bored.

#2 Exciting: Wedding

“Napoleon Dynamite” (2004)

The ending of “Napoleon Dynamite” is nothing short of triumphant, but filmmaker Jared Hess includes one more incredible scene. For those wondering about Kip and his relationship, they get to see him get married to LaFawnduh. It’s an amazing ceremony filled with all the awkwardness and laughs you can hope for. If that isn’t enough, Dynamite shows up on a trusty steed. It’s all played with some fantastic performances and a few extra lines to make fans happy. You might even be quoting this scene before it’s all over, with another awesome sendoff for these iconic characters.

Before we unveil our top picks, here are a few honorable mentions.

Exciting: Closing In, “John Wick: Chapter 4” (2023)

Akira Has the Jump on Caine, Making Viewers Wonder Which One Might Survive

Exciting: Believing in Ghosts, “Fast Five” (2011)

This Wild Franchise Features One More Twist About Letty’s Fate

Pointless: Spider-Man Crossover, “Morbius” (2022)

There’s No Point in Bringing Michael Keaton into This Messy Affair

#1 Pointless: Harry Styles

“Eternals” (2021)

It had its fans, but “Eternals” wasn’t the most beloved Marvel entry. You could argue whether or not this scene makes it even worse. The main focus is Harry Styles’s reveal as Eros. He’s not on screen for long, nor does he add much other than a few moments of distraction. His appearance presents plenty of questions that might not be answered anytime soon. It also makes you wonder if this movie really needs more characters, or if it could’ve waited to set them up later. The same could be said for another moment where Whitman hears Blade speak. With so much uncertainty surrounding the property, you might wonder if the franchise should do a complete reset.

#1 Exciting: Nick Fury’s Invitation

“Iron Man” (2008)

This wasn’t the first post-credit scene ever, but it certainly got the ball rolling for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The stellar “Iron Man” comes to a close with parting words from Nick Fury. He invites Tony Stark to join the team, making history and starting off a hugely successful franchise. The scene itself gets right to the point with only a few lines needed. It also helps that two legends like Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson are present. We can’t imagine a world where the MCU doesn’t exist, but moments like this and the “Age of Ultron” teaser helped make the franchise iconic.

Did we forget another credit scene worth checking out? Let us know in the comments below.