Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame doesn’t have a post-credits scene, breaking from Marvel Cinematic Universe tradition, but that’s actually a good thing for the movie. Although Marvel didn’t invent post-credits scenes, the studio did popularize using them more frequently, especially to build up an interconnected cinematic universe. Ever since 2008’s Iron Man kicked off the franchise, installments in the MUC have used post-credits scenes to tease what’s to come - even teasing movies completely unrelated to the film they’re attached to.

However, Avengers: Endgame marks the end of an era for the MCU, bringing the story of the franchise thus far - called the Infinity Saga by Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige - to an end. Avengers: Endgame picks up after the events of the cliffhanger ending to Avengers: Infinity War, wherein Thanos won the day by using the Infinity Stones to wipe out half of all life in the universe. With the original six Avengers left alive, along with some of their closest friends and newest allies, they plot to reverse Thanos’ Decimation by bringing back those who were dusted, then defeat the Mad Titan once and for all. Based on Avengers: Endgame reviews, it’s a satisfying ending to the Infinity Saga, but it is missing one MCU staple.

As fans who’ve seen the movie know by now, Avengers: Endgame doesn’t have a post-credits scene - nor a mid-credits scene, which has become another oft-used slot for Marvel movie stingers. While fans may be disappointed by the lack of a credits scene, it’s actually a strong way to conclude Avengers: Endgame. Now, we break down why Avengers: Endgame not having a post-credits scene is good for the movie and the MCU.

Why Avengers: Endgame Doesn’t Have A Post-Credits Scene

Since the beginning in Iron Man, MCU post-credits scenes have set up what’s to come. That very first stinger paved the way for The Avengers in 2012, and ever since, Marvel movie credits scenes have given fans hints about what to expect next from the MCU. However, Avengers: Endgame is the end of the MCU so far. It’s the conclusion to the story that began in Iron Man as well as multiple other character arcs that started in Phase 1.

As such, the filmmakers were more focused on bringing the Infinity Saga to an end, not about setting up what’s to come. Endgame is arguably about the end of an era, not the beginning of a new one. So with that being the case, the structure of Avengers: Endgame doesn’t allow for a post-credits scene setting up future movies. A post-credits scene would undermine the finality of Endgame, even if we know there’s more to come.

Certainly, fans know that there are future Marvel movies in the works, but those involved in Endgame have been vehement about it being an ending. Avengers: Endgame is a conclusion to the MCU as we know it, and Marvel clearly wants to preserve a sense of finality with the movie, which explains why it doesn’t include a post-credits scene.

Avengers: Endgame’s Lack Of Post-Credits Scene Makes Its Ending Stronger

Although Marvel Studios executives and the Avengers: Endgame filmmakers have touted the movie as the end over and over again, fans know there’s more to come. Fans have seen Marvel continue to tease future movies despite the ending of each phase, so it was expected that even though Endgame was an ending, it would still pave the way for the future of the MCU. But it doesn’t.

Avengers: Endgame subverts expectations by not including a post-credits scene and it truly sets the film apart from all those that came before in the MCU. Even when the MCU as we know it today was just a pipe dream during the making of Iron Man, Marvel took the risk of including a post-credits scene that set up a movie that couldn’t have been made if Iron Man, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger and Iron Man 2 weren’t successful. Marvel established expectations in its fans by always including post-credits scenes, then flipped those expectations on their head for Avengers: Endgame to give it a real sense of finality.

Avengers: Endgame is all the stronger for it, making sure everything about the film cements it as the conclusion to the Infinity Saga and the MCU so far. Although that means Endgame needed to sacrifice a post-credits scene setting up Spider-Man: Far From Home or another Phase 4 movie, it was the right call to make on Marvel’s part. A post-credits scene would have weakened the sense of finality to Avengers: Endgame and made the ending itself less effective in its emotional weight. Without a post-credits scene, Avengers: Endgame really feels like the end.

Avengers: Endgame’s Credits Are Better Than A Tease

Instead of including a scene within its credits, Avengers: Endgame chooses to honor the legacy of the MCU. At the very end of the initial credits - when a mid-credits scene would typically play - Endgame includes a very special sequence highlighting the actors who portray the original six Avengers: Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark aka. Iron Man, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers aka. Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor Odinson, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner aka. Hulk, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff aka. Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton aka. Hawkeye. Then at the very end, the Avengers: Endgame credits include a surprise audio cue that calls back to Iron Man.

Altogether, the cast sequence and final credits surprise work to honor the faces of the MCU who have been a huge part of the franchise’s success and honor not only their journeys, but the journeys of the fans who watched their characters’ stories play out on screen. The MCU has come a long way since Iron Man, becoming a multi-billion dollar-earning franchise and shooting its cast members to super-stardom (and inspiring the fan debate about the best Marvel Chris). Avengers: Endgame is the end of an era for the MCU, hopefully one of many eras for the franchise. But as an ending, it makes sure to look back at what came before and give the cast and the films of the MCU the recognition they deserve in making the franchise the success that it’s become.

Considering how emotional Avengers: Endgame is as the concluding chapter in this decade-spanning saga, honoring the actors and the very first MCU movie is a better way to cap off the film than a stinger setting up a future movie. So Marvel and the filmmakers choosing to conclude Avengers: Endgame without any credits scenes was a good choice both for the film itself and for its place in the larger context of the MCU.

Next: Avengers: Endgame’s Ending & Marvel Movie Future Explained In Detail

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