The Iron Man Post Credit Scene

The iron man post credit scene is one of the most important moments in Marvel history. At just 36 seconds, it ushered in the idea that superheroes could work together and helped set the stage for 2012’s The Avengers and everything that has come since. The scene also paved the way for future post-credit scenes that tease what’s coming next in the MCU.

But the idea of a post-credits scene isn’t new, with classic comedies like Airplane! and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off incorporating them. And even superhero movies that were released before 2008 often had these extra scenes. What was unique about the Iron Man scene was that it seemed to be the first time a film used a post-credits sequence to tease an ongoing series.

In this case, the teaser was a short scene with Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in which he tells Tony Stark that he’s part of a bigger world. He also hints at the creation of an agency that would bring together different heroes to fight a common enemy. This premise was so compelling that it became the template for most superhero post-credit scenes that followed, and still inspires many today.

While this scene is incredibly important, it’s not the only one that has caused such a stir. There’s also the Guardians of the Galaxy post-credit scene, which introduces a team of aliens that help the heroes in their final battle against Thanos. This is another essential moment because it introduced an entire group of heroes that will play a major role in the MCU’s future.

Interestingly, director Jon Favreau said that he had no idea how significant the Iron Man post-credits scene would be when he was shooting it in 2008. He didn’t know that it would become a staple of Marvel movies and that the studio would build its legacy on it. And yet, he nailed the moment just the same.

As for other great Marvel post-credits scenes, there’s the Avengers Endgame stinger that introduces Eros, an Eternal and Thanos’ brother with the power to control emotions. The scene is a surprisingly touching and exciting teaser that will definitely have you begging for more.

Alex Abad-Santos is a senior correspondent at Vox, where he explains what society obsesses over, from Marvel movies to fitness and skin care. He’s also a former staff writer at the Atlantic. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram.