The Avengers (2012) - After the Credits

Movie Details

In Theaters: May 4, 2012

On Video: September 25, 2012

Director(s): Joss Whedon

Actor(s): Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Hiddleston, Cobie Smulders

Genre(s): Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Production Co.: Marvel Enterprises

Distributor(s): Disney, Marvel Studios

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Website(s): Official Site

Our Review: 4.5 out of 5

Running Time: 143 minutes

Credits Running Time: 10 minutes

During the Credits

There is an extra scene during the credits of The Avengers that sets up a potential sequel. Check out more details and spoilers below.

Spoiler

The film ends with a closing credits sequence featuring close-up shots of the various Avengers’ equipment and costumes (e.g. Chris Evans’ name comes up over Captain America’s shield, while Mark Ruffalo’s name is over some torn clothing and a broken pair of glasses).

After the graphics, there is an extra half-minute-long scene in which the camera zooms out into outer space, where the Other (the commander of the Chitauri army that assisted Loki in the invasion of Earth) is seen reporting to someone. The Other says, “Humans… they are not the cowering wretches we were promised. They stand. They are unruly and therefore cannot be ruled. To challenge them… is to court death.” At this, the person he’s been reporting to turns towards the camera and smiles. It is Thanos.

After the Credits

The rumors have turned out to be true and there is in fact a second additional scene shown after the credits. Check out more details and spoilers below.

Spoiler

The extra scene after the credits shows the entire team sitting down after the final battle and eating shawarma. The scene only lasts for about 15 seconds and features no dialogue, just prolonged silence as they sit around tired in a damaged restaurant. The scene is a callback to a joke Tony Stark made earlier in the movie.

Early screenings of The Avengers overseas and for critics didn’t have a stinger after the credits; however, there were many rumors that Marvel shot an additional extra scene around the time of the premiere and attached it to the end of the final cut for its debut in North American theaters on May 4. Marvel did the same thing with the original Iron Man by leaving Samuel L. Jackson‘s surprise appearance as Nick Fury off the original cut that was first screened to critics and the press before the film debuted in theaters. The Avengers‘ director, Joss Whedon, also shot Thor‘s stinger months after the filming of Thor had ended with the film’s original director, Kenneth Branagh.