Does Aquaman Movie Have a Post-Credits Scene?

CBR

Does Aquaman Have a Post-Credits Scene?

By Kevin Melrose

Published Dec 19, 2018

Post-credits scenes in Warner Bros.' DCEU have been few and far between, raising the question obvious question: Does Aquaman have one?

Marvel Studios is almost single-handedly responsible for the renewed popularity of post-credits scenes, dating back to that pivotal moment in 2008's Iron Man when Nick Fury paid a visit to Tony Stark's home. Since then, every Marvel Cinematic Universe film has included one such stinger, and as many as five. But while Warner Bros. has attempted to replicate its rival's success with the so-called DC Extended Universe, the studio hasn't gone all in on one of the MCU's defining elements: Of the first five DC releases, only two have included end-credits sequences. So, what about the sixth, director James Wan's Aquaman?

Arriving this weekend in theaters nationwide after blockbuster early success overseas, and record-breaking U.S. previews, Aquaman isn't entrenched in established DCEU continuity, nor does it provide building blocks for any of the 2019 DC releases, Shazam!, Wonder Woman 1984 and Joker. Therefore, there's no need for a tip of the hat to the next film, as in the mid-credits of 2016's Suicide Squad, or to set up a potential overarching story, as 2017's Justice League did with its post-credits scenes.

That would seem to leave a humorous callback, a staple of the MCU; a crowd-pleasing sequence tailored to the core fan base, as with the Flash/Superman race in the Justice League mid-credits; or a potential foreshadowing of the inevitable sequel. Aquaman opts for the latter.

There is, indeed, a mid-credits scene that sets up twin threats to Jason Momoa's Arthur Curry, and to Atlantis itself. We'll leave it at that, for now. Needless to say, it's worth remaining seated in the cinema for a few minutes longer; resist that urge to sprint to the parking lot, or to the restroom.

Aquaman has already grossed $266.4 million at the international box office, driven by a record-breaking performance in China, the world's second-largest film market. The film shows little signs of slowing down as it begins domestic release nationwide, where it's projected to earn anywhere from $120 million to $150 million in the five-day Christmas holiday frame, well ahead of Disney's Mary Poppins Returns and Paramount's Transformers prequel Bumblebee.

Directed by James Wan, Aquaman stars Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Amber Heard as Mera, Patrick Wilson as Ocean Master, Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, Temuera Morrison as Thomas Curry, Dolph Lundgren as Nereus and Nicole Kidman as Queen Atlanna. The film opens Friday nationwide.