5 Post-Credits Movie Scenes From the Pre-Marvel Era

The latest in a long line of Star Wars rumors entered circulation last night, when a staffer over at Schmoes Know snagged a juicy bit of intel alluding to a post-credits scene attached to The Force Awakens. The site’s ‘trusted source’ reveals that two codas — a clip and a teaser — for the Star Wars anthology story Rogue One will be tagged onto its final reel.

Lucasfilm’s parent company, Disney, is a seasoned pro at the end credits sequence, linking together the vast Marvel Cinematic Universe via these connective teases of future movies. They’ve evolved into such a key part of the moviegoing experience that they’re now equally as newsworthy as the film itself — the above rumor proves. While Marvel receives plenty of credit for kickstarting this sensation, post-credits scenes had been around for decades before Nick Fury appeared in Tony Stark’s Malibu pad at the end of Iron Man.

1. ‘The Muppets Movie’ (1979)

The one that started it all. The furry Henson creations sit around a movie theater as the credits roll by, chatting about the film and grilling one another on their performances. Animal smashes the fourth wall to smithereens when he shouts “Go home! Go home! Bye bye!” at the screen.

2. ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ (1986)

Wrapping up a funny series of pre-credits scenes featuring Ed Rooney is Ferris’ ode to fourth-wall breaking. “You’re still here?” he asks, before encouraging us to make our way to the exit, keeping in line with all the advice he delivers straight to the camera earlier in the flick.

3. ‘Masters Of The Universe’ (1987)

Who knew Skeletor understood the fourth wall? Shame his cautionary “I’ll be back!” wasn’t taken seriously. A schlocked-up sequel would be a hoot.

4. ‘Airplane!’ (1980)

Never has the post-credit tag been used so brilliantly to illustrate the strengths of a genre’s codes and conventions. Airplane! drops in a quick scene of Striker’s cab still idling curbside outside the airport. His patient passenger checks his watch, promising to give the buffoon another 20 minutes. Awe-some.

5. ‘Crank’ (2006)

Appreciating the shoot-‘em-up style of the movie just as much as audiences, Crank’s director Mark Neveldine orchestrated this closing 8-bit animation. It mimics Chev’s earlier antics like a glorious, pixellated videogame.