You don’t need to watch Superman’s post-credits scenes and that’s a good thing

Superman has post-credits scenes, but they’re not essential viewing – and it’s the first step to undoing the damage done by the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Cast your mind back to 2008: Iron Man, the first MCU movie, ends with an unexpected post-credits stinger with Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury emerging from the shadows, wishing to discuss the Avengers Initiative.

It was the first in a long, long line of scenes after the credits, with Marvel films eventually incorporating mid-credits and post-credits scenes into nearly all of their projects. There have been notable exceptions (there’s nothing after Avengers: Endgame apart from a special credits reel honoring the main cast), but there’s almost always something to wait around for.

So, with Superman launching James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU, you’re probably expecting post-credits scenes that set up what’s coming. Thankfully, they don’t.

How many post-credits scenes does Superman have?

Superman has two post-credits scenes. There’s a brief scene midway through the initial, visual credits, and then there’s a slightly longer, amusing scene at the very end.

Don’t worry, if you want to stay in your seat and see what happens, I won’t spoil anything (until after release, when this section will be updated – you’ve been warned).

Superman end-credits scenes are a bonus, that’s all

Neither of Superman’s post-credits scenes set up any future projects in the DCU. They are sweet and funny, and you’ll probably enjoy them, but you don’t need to watch them.

Speaking to EW, Gunn said: “I have a philosophy about post-credit scenes. It’s somewhat related to my own mistakes in my time with Marvel.

“I did not like what I did in [Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2] where we set up Adam Warlock and we set up the Guardians of the Galaxy and we set up all this sh*t that I didn’t necessarily plan on… At times when you’re using it just solely to set something up, sometimes you’re screwing yourself over.”

Here’s the thing: Marvel has accidentally altered the brain chemistry of moviegoers across the world, and its post-credits scenes are to blame. Every time a new movie is released, people want to know if there are any scenes after the credits. It could be a three-hour World War 2 drama, and I guarantee people would still pull out their phone and Google it after the credits roll.

I’m guilty of it, and it’s not just because of my job. There’s a sense of obligation and genuine paranoia about missing anything; unfortunately, Sinners has only reinforced that anxiety with its unmissable post-credits reveal.

The genie is out of the bottle, and these habits will probably never be fully corrected. However, Gunn’s vow not to force audiences to wait around for a tease for a project that may never happen is a good start.

Plus, as Gunn says, there’s another reason we should be watching the credits: to thank the massive list of people who worked on the film.

“I do love giving something back to the audience, so I will try to put something in the end credits for audiences to see, because I think it’s great. I love my crew, and I want you to stick around and see who the gaffers were,” Gunn added.

I stayed for Superman’s post-credits scenes. I didn’t feel like they wasted my time, but similarly, if I was bursting for the toilet or simply wanted to leave, I wouldn’t be out of the loop.