Ah, and so the great post-credits sequence debate rages on.
During Audi's 2018 Writers Guild Association Beyond Words Panel in Los Angeles last night, LOGAN director James Mangold delivered some choice words regarding post-credits sequences in film, referring to the as an "embarrassing" gimmick too commonly used in modern filmmaking. While giving a statement on the types of films he'd rather not be involved with, Mangold stated:
"The idea of making a movie that would fucking embarrass me, that's part of the anesthetizing of this country or the world. That's further confirming what they already know and tying in with other fucking products and selling them the next movie while you're making this movie, and kind of all that shit that I find really fucking embarrassing. Like, that audiences are actually asking for scenes in end credits when those scenes were first developed for movies that suck, so they put something extra at the end to pick up the scores when the movie couldn't end right on its own fucking feet."
Ah, so I suppose this explains why fans who were clamoring for a post-credit scene at the close of LOGAN were left wanting. As it goes, Mangold could have shot something extra for the film, but it turns out that he's vehemently opposed to the practice. Go figure.
In continuing to air his grievances about post-credit sequences, Mangold turned his attention to the fandom, who in time have come to expect post-show stingers to be packaged with their big-budget entertainment:
"Now we've actually gotten audiences addicted to a fucking bonus in the credits. It's fucking embarrassing. It means you couldn't land your fucking movie is what it means. Even if you got 100,000 Twitter addicts who are gambling on what fucking scene is going to happen after the fucking credits it's still cheating. It's just cheating, but there's all sorts of bad habits like that that fucking horrify me, man, that have become de rigueur in the way we make movies and I think the fear of being one of them that did that end then everyone's patting me on the back and I feel like shit inside because I know I cheated, is probably the greatest thing that scares the shit out of me."
Personally, I can take of leave post-credit sequences in film. In my estimation, only a handful of them have been entertaining, and I don't mind sitting through the credits as is. As a matter of fact, I usually make it a point to stay, regardless of there being an additional scene or not. Also, let's not forget that Mangold himself is responsible for a post-credits scene that was included at the end of THE WOLVERINE. The stinger ultimately paid off in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, but was then waved-off as it created confusion regarding the resurrection of Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) after X-MEN: THE LAST STAND, as well has how Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) managed to regain the use of his adamantium claws.
What are your thoughts on post-credits sequences? Do you enjoy them? Are you baffled by the fact that, after so many years, a portion of the audience still leave the theater before the additional footage can play out? That last one gets me every time. It's like, what rock have you been hiding under, all this time?