Poll: Do you wait for the end of the movie credits?

[Asimovian]

[Mods: wasn't sure if this should have been in CS due to the subject matter. Relocate as you see fit.]

Yesterday, we went to see the re-release of "Michael Clayton," as we'd missed it the first time around. Great movie, by the way. During the end credits, I had the pleasure of catching what may be the best name in the history of the film industry: "Chris P. Bacon." I just couldn't stop laughing. I'm thinking of changing my name. But I digress. Quite often, my wife and I go to the movies with a good friend of ours. My wife and I always stay until the end of the credits, but our friend gets up to leave as soon as the credits start and waits for us outside.

I'm not sure what our friend finds so horrid about the credits that he feels the need to get up and leave right away. I would think it would be more boring standing outside alone than to sit with us until the very end. It's not like he's running out to the bathroom. But maybe others will have insight.

On our end, there are several reasons I can think of as to why we sit through the credits. First, we know that every once in a while, there will be just a little something thrown in at the end as a gift to those who sit it out ("Cloverfield" being the most recent example I know of). Second, my godmother works in the industry as a location manager, so I always like to keep an eye out for her name. And last, I guess we're just geeks and like looking at the various information within the credits: cities used for filming, who contributed to the soundtrack, etc.

So, having gone into all that detail -- and please feel free to elaborate as much or as little as you like -- here are my questions for you:

1. Do you stay until the end of the movie credits?

2. Why or why not?

[CalMeacham]

1.) Very Often.

2.)We want to see if they've stuck something at the end of them*. Also, I'm a credit-reader




* The Zucker/Zucker/Abrahams bunch use to stick jokes in their end credits. Grem,lins 2 has animated characters riffing on the credits. So did others, like Robocop, although they were subtler. Then people started sticking in "stingers" at the end of the credits. Extra scenes to "reward you" for sticking around:


The Howling
Young Sherlock Holmes
Adventures in Babysitting
Airplane!
Ferris Bueller's Day Off


Some movies run the credits over ouittakes, like Being There, Grumpy Old Men, and others.

Now, it's really common to stick a little lagniappe at the end of the credits. All the Pirates of the Caribbean movies did it. Pixar movies stick in "outttakes" that aren't really. And so on.


And some movies now have interesting graphics on the close credits, like a Series of Unfortunate Events, or several of the Harry Potter movies.

[Trunk]

I leave when the credits start, unless I want to hear a few bars of whatever song is playing over the credits, or I want to identify a particular cast member.

I really don't get the point of staying for them unless you're waiting for one of those extras that some movies stick in. Do people really care about anyone involved except the actors and the director?

Even if I know there are extras, I'm not staying. No gag is worth sitting through credits for.

And, if I were your friend. . .yes, I would find standing in the lobby less boring than sitting through the credits.

[Ceejaytee]

I always stay (we even watch the credits at home when we rent movies).
I think it's polite to acknowledge all the people behind the scenes who worked so hard. You can also find great names in the credits (Chris P. Bacon is really good!). I like to read the music credits too.

And then there's the fun extras some movies have. Pixar movie credits are required viewing.

[tdn]

I almost always stay through the credits. For one thing, there might just be an Easter egg. For another, I consider the credits, and especially the score, to be an integral part of the movie.

If it has an original score, and not just some pop song, it's worth a listen. It's often the best music in the entire movie, as the composer is not hamstrung by any critical timings.

[«Ðëëp¤F®ïêd»™]

1. rarely
2. usually because I need a smoke.

May favorite credit name is some producer of TV shows: Harley Tat. You just know he is 5'3" and 120lbs. soaking wet.

Oh ya, To add to Cal's list, there is some good stuff over the credits of the new Dawn of the Dead.

[lieu]

Ah, so it's not so strange. Yes.

Sometimes it's to see who played a particular part.
Often times I'll just look for familiar names, those like a Huston, Coppola, whatever.
The titles are always interesting, as is who's the assistant for so and so bigshot.
As much as anything it's to see where much of it was filmed and for what groups or associations are thanked for their support.

[TWDuke]

1. Yes.
2. All of the above reasons.

I'm not the greatest at recognizing people's faces or voices, so I'm sometimes surprised to find out whose performances I've been enjoying. It's not always an obscure character actor in a minor role, either. "So that was Christian Bale? Cool." But I like seeing the names of all the craftspeople too. It helps me appreciate the work that went into the film and rationalize the $10 ticket price.

It also seems like the polite thing to do. I know that's not logical at all because the chances of anybody who worked on the film being in the audience with me at the end of its run in my local theater are slight, but there you go.

[Dante]

I'll usually ask one of the ushers if there's an Easter Egg at the end of the movie. If not, I don't stay.

[glee]

1. I don't normally stay, unless there is a huge crowd all trying to leave too.

2. I love watching Jackie Chan movie credits for the out-takes.

(I also realised that 'Young Sherlock Holmes' had a twist coming at the end, but left anyway because I was sure what it was!)

[Zebra]

Sometimes, it really depends on how badly I need to go to the bathroom vs, if I think there will be something 'neat' in the credits.

I think I like the Ferris one the best because the movie just sort of kept going with a little scene on the bus. "Do you want a gummy bear?" Out takes are OK, the Grumpy Old Men one is hysterical.

[drm]

1. Do you stay until the end of the movie credits?

2. Why or why not?

Yes, because I have done work for movies on occasion and I feel a bit obligated.

Chris P. Bacon is good, but when I was a kid, my favorite name was always Pat Buttram.

[installLSC]

1) no
2) The problem I have with staying for credits is they're so damn long these days. They all seem to run five or six minutes which is silly if the movie itself is two hours long. Plus, the credits still run so fast that by the time I've figured out the name of the actor I'm looking for the actor's name already flew by. I rarely go to kid's movies, where those goofy scenes everybody mentioned seem to pop up. If I really want to find an actor's name, the internet is far more convenient.

[tdn]

Plus, the credits still run so fast that by the time I've figured out the name of the actor I'm looking for the actor's name already flew by.
OK, everyone, be honest.

Have you ever been to a movie theatre, been watching the credits, and reached for a non-existent mouse so that you could click on an actor's name?

I have.

[Nytewatchyr]

1) Usually

2) I like the easter eggs and add-ons, and I also enjoy staying for soundtrack information and film spots. I do, however, have serious back and neck issues and if one or the other is acting up I'm out of the theatre as soon as the credits start to roll. It hurts more to sit than to stand at that point and I need to get the kinks out... Pain is a great motivator!

[Czarcasm]

Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society.

[Nytewatchyr]

PS: I also make it a point to find the "No animals were harmed" disclaimer within the credits. Not that filmmakers can't lie but still...

[MLS]

Rarely. I have a close friend who INSISTS on staying until the very last item. It is annoying. And boring.

[MovieMogul]

1. Always
2. I could list a bunch of reasons--all true (I work in the industry myself, I enjoy listening to the music, I like reading credits, it's a gesture of appreciation for the collaborative effort involved).

But essentially, the most simple answer is--the movie isn't over until the movie's actually over. The closing music cue, the final song, the design of the credits, any additional add-ons: they're all there for a very specific reason. Sure, more often than not, they're simply cursory, but very often, a song or anthem or final plot element will be judiciously placed that can often add to my enjoyment of the film (and if nothing else, it allows me a few minutes to think about the film, processing it before the lights go up).

So yeah, Always.

[Paragod22510]

1. This is not a yes or no question for me.

2. It depends on the movie watched, what movie theatre I saw the film in, etc. Lately its been standard ops to get up as soon as they start because the local movie theatre is actually a torture chamber in disguise. The movie may entertain, but the chairs destroy your back. So I get up as soon as humanly possible. If I am comfortable, I will usually sit through the credits for the song, a continuing story (Better Off Dead, for example), or just so I don't get pushed or prodded by other impatient movie goers.

[CalMeacham]

PS: I also make it a point to find the "No animals were harmed" disclaimer within the credits. Not that filmmakers can't lie but still...


A lot of films I just HAVE to look for this.


In How to Eat Fried Worms they state that "No Worms Were Harmed in the Making of this Film. Including This One" (Over a shot of a worm -- evidently a construction -- being zapped)


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462346/crazycredits

I saw some movie with a title like "Cheerleader Massacre" (not the exact title) that stated "No Cheerleaders were harmned in the making of this film"

[Mycroft H.]

1. Yes, always. (Unless the movie sucked incredibly bad.) I did this before I was married and luckily my wife decided she likes it as well. Usually we are the only people who do stay.

2. For any potential Easter Eggs and also to see details of where the movie was filmed, who is thanked, funny job titles, etc.

[Labdad]

I stay through the credits for many of the reasons above. There's also enlightened self-interest. Two of the things I'm interested in are where the movie was filmed, and who performs on the soundtrack. Those two little bits of info are usually at the very end of the credits.

[Loach]

1. In the past yes. Now no.

2. Looking for extras and to see the actors and maybe the songs. Now I don't because the wife doesn't like it and IMDB works real well. Always happy to hear when there is an extra bit so I can stay. Thanks for the tip on Cloverfield.

[Peter Morris]

I'll usually stay

1) to listen to the music, especially if its an original score by John Williams, or someone. Pop music, not so much.

2) to see any little jokes at the end.

[Mister Rik]

For reasons I no longer remember, I stay at least long enough to read the name of the key grip.

[Gangster Octopus]

I used to stay, but the credits are just so freaking long these days, especially on big-budget movies. With IMDB I can usually find out anything I was curious about.

[zamboniracer]

Sometimes I watch them, sometimes I don't. It depends if I want to see the name of the babe who played the "Third waitress from the right" or something like that. The exception being a Zucker Airplane!/Naked Gun style movie where I know they'll be some good jokes in the credits.

[brewha]

1) Usually no - unless I know that there will be something extra in the credits.

2) I don't find them entertaining - unless there's something extra.

[Mahna Mahna]

I usually do. The Boy works in the CG industry, so we usually sit through the credits to find out who was responsible for the effects, especially if it was a company he's familiar with. Given that they're non-union, the animators always end up right at the very end of the credits, after caterers and accountants and dog-walkers.

It's nice that some filmmakers have started to throw in a couple of goodies to reward those of us who stay all the way to the end. It makes me feel appreciated. :)

[Kyrie Eleison]

1. Do you stay until the end of the movie credits?

2. Why or why not?1. Sometimes.

2. I stay if I was impressed by the performance of an actor I didn't recognize, or if I was impressed by the music, and want to see the song credits. While I could use IMDB for the former, I'm not all that likely to remain interested long enough to do so.

[susan]

Yes, if I liked the movie.

Because I like to see who worked on it, locations, etc.

[Equipoise]

1. Yes, always, unless I'm bursting at the seams, but that's rarely a problem, or we have to scramble to get to another movie before it starts, which happens sometimes. I'd rather miss the credits of one movie than miss the beginning of another.

2. All the same reasons mentioned above (except for the key grip thing) but most especially ArchiveGuy's reason, because a movie is not over until it's over, and the credits are part of the movie and therefore, to us, the movie is not over until the credits are over. Thank goodness my husband feels the same way.

I love directors who put interesting things into or after their credits.

[silenus]

1. Always. The wife was kind of weird with it when we first started dating, but she's gotten used to it.

2. All the reasons above. I like to see if I know anybody listed as one of "the little people." Besides, if you walked out before the credits were over when you watched Wild Things, you saw a completely different movie than those of us who stayed. Completely different.

[Quartz]

If there's an easter egg, I'll stay. If there's a large crowd, I'll also stay: why hurry and be stuck in the throng?

And sometimes I need to come down emotionally from the film.

[whitetho]

I usually sit through the credits, partly to squeeze the last bit of potential entertainment from my amusement purchase.

Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society.
Key Threadmover: Czarcasm Moderator

[Bryan Ekers]

I'll usually ask one of the ushers if there's an Easter Egg at the end of the movie. If not, I don't stay.

To me, a big tip-off is whether or not the house lights come up. If they stay out, I stick around.

[Khadaji]

If the movie is crowded, I wait until it has cleared. Mostly because I hate crowds. If I have to pee real badly, I jump up and run for the door. Sometimes I wait to see if there are any neat scenes. So it all just depends.

[monica]

Sometimes I stay. Depends on who I'm with and if there's something I want to see.

[neorxnawange]

Almost always -

1) because brother, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law are all in the movie business, and I stay specifically to see their names, which is in reality not very often. But I've gotten to know enough of their friends to recognize names every now and then.

2) I hate fighting crowds, it is preferable for me to sit and relax until the lines fade out so I can walk out in peace.

3) Nice music sometimes, and then the occasional short clip at the end.

[Eyebrows 0f Doom]

Depends on the film and if I have to rush out to catch another film. I'll stay if:

1) I want to hear the music
2) There is something in the credits I am looking for (Who played what? Who did the music? What songs were involved? Will my company get a mention?)
3) I suspect there may be an additional scene
4) It's really crowded. Why get up early and have to stand in the aisles waiting when I can just as easily sit and wait.

[Walloon]

1. Do you stay until the end of the movie credits?

Every-freaking-one, until the film stock, sound process, and trade union trademarks roll by as the lights go up in the theater. Those who go to movies with me know this and must accept it.

2. Why or why not?

I am fascinated by the movie-making process, and used to work in the industry. Every credit has meaning and interest to me. I want to know where the movie was shot, what the songs on the soundtrack were, what relatives of the filmmakers appeared in bit parts.

[Baker]

I like to watch the credits, and see the surprises that sometimes come at the end of them, as has already been mentioned.

My favorite one of these was at the end of "The Muppet Movie", when at the end of the credits Animal's face fills the screen and he hollers "Go HOME, go HOME!!!"

[Cunctator]

1. Very rarely. Usually it's because I want to find out the details of some piece of the background music used in the film.

2. As far as I'm concered the film's over when the acting finishes.

[Terrifel]

1. Yeppir. My butt is in that seat until the blue MPAA card.

2. Why? A few reasons. Part of it is simply a Pavlovian response trained into me from the first Airplane! movie-- the entertainment may not be finished until the film is completely unspooled.

Also, I dislike crowding, so I'm in no hurry to shove my way out of the theater along with the rest of the herd.

Third, I am curious about how movies are made, and am often surprised by bits of trivia. How about that, the creature design was done by Crash McCreery! Interesting; music by Mark Mothersbaugh-- so that's what he's up to lately. Oh hey, this movie wasn't filmed in Toronto! Amazing.

Fourth, I confess I have this vague feeling that leaving before the credits are done is somehow disrespectful. I know it makes no sense, but there it is. If I enjoyed it, I want to see who was responsible. It's the least I can do to acknowledge the contribution of all the clapper loaders and grips and gaffers and best boys who would otherwise be completely invisible.

Fifth, a surprising number of moviemaking personnel have genuinely funny names.

[Windwalker]

I usually stay through the credits of any good dramatic movie. I like soaking up that last bit of atmosphere and immersion, and it's a good segway back into the real world. For stupid action movies and comedies, I usually just leave, as I was probably never really immersed in it; it was just a bit of mindless fun that my mind can turn off right quick.

[elfkin477]

1. Usually not. Unless I've heard that there's a scene at the end (like the POTC movies) once the cast list has gone by, I leave.

2. Odds are pretty great that there won't be anything after the credits. So far I've only missed something by not staying twice - a throw away scene at the end of Blade Trinity and a surprising scene (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M2OTtdTnSs&feature=related) at the end of Constantine.

[Musicat]

I watch the opening, the middle and the end. The bitter end. The director made it that way, didn't he?

Seriously, not only are there sometimes interesting credits and gags, but I look for people I know who worked on the movie, especially in the music section.

[shijinn]

what Windwalker said, plus consideration for easter eggs and large crowds.

... I'm not sure what our friend finds so horrid about the credits that he feels the need to get up and leave right away. I would think it would be more boring standing outside alone than to sit with us until the very end. It's not like he's running out to the bathroom. But maybe others will have insight. ... it's a hint to you that he finds it boring to sit through the credits. more boring than standing outside alone.

[Zoe]

I get the feeling that credit watching really separates the sheep from the goats and that at the end of the credits I could jump up and say, "You're all invited to my place for pizza and beer!" and everyone there would get along just fine for years and years of friendship.

I stay because the credits are good. Why leave when you can stay?

Once at the Student Center after a showing of Apocalypse Now, someone made the mistake of turning up the house lights while Jim Morrison had just begun singing 'This Is The End" and the napalm was igniting the palm trees. You have never heard such rowdy calls, stomping and whistles from movie goers. The lights went back off and we could indulge in the horror.

[MrDibble]

I stay - for all the gaffers and best boys who otherwise would go unsung.

[Terrifel]

I stay - for all the gaffers and best boys who otherwise would go unsung.Or as Tom Servo phrased it during the credits for MST3K: The Movie : "I Sing the Additional Grip/Electric!"

Now there was a credit sequence! A ringing endorsement of Movie Credit Observationalism if ever there was one. Crow T. Robot even remarks: "I don't know why people leave during the credits! I always stay during the credits!"

...Of course, the premise of the show established that they'd be blown out into space or something if they ever tried to leave the theater early. Still, the broader point holds... leave early, miss funny credits.

[NDP]

I generally stay long enough to read all the actors' credits. Beyond that, I'll only stay longer if I'm curious about some particular thing I noticed during the movie (e.g., a location that looked familiar or interesting). I only stay through the entire credits if it's the type of movie I know is going sneak some things in (e.g., the ZAZ comedies, the POTC films, or the musical remake of The Producers).

[Sleel]

I usually stay. Particularly for serious films I need some time to decompress before I go back to the real world. Sometimes I want to check the cast list, or find out what music was playing that I liked. Bonus stuff at the end is nice too. Most people here stay through the whole credits. If I remember right (it's been years since I went to a movie in the US) it's the opposite back home.

[JKellyMap]

I always stay. If I'm in New York, I stay because we all stay, and we all stay because we're all hip and cultured.

If I'm in Kansas or Mexico, I'll stay, so I can glare disapprovingly at everyone else as they walk out of the theater.

(I'd add a ;) , except the sad fact is that all the above is true.)

[gwendee]

With the advent of IMDB I don't stay as consistently as in years past. Many of my friends in college were film majors and it's not unusual to see a familiar name as a sound editor or assistant to the 2nd assistant AD and I am tickled to see those on the big screen.

There are a lot of factors that enter into the decision to stay or not stay. Was the film good, very emotional, worth extending the shared experience with my fellow theater patrons? Sometimes there seems to be a collective decision to stay and quietly absorb what we've seen before reentering the real world.

There are also practical considerations. Do I need the rest room? (Depending on how crowded the place is this can either be an argument for or against waiting). Is the entire parking lot about to bottleneck into one lane out onto route 9A? (Who designed that???) Might as well wait. Is there a babysitter at home with the $10/hour meter running? GOTTA GO!!!!!!!!! No Dawdling!!!

Now, as I approach a certain age I often cannot get the later credits into focus as fast as they roll up anyway. But with my sun we stay because "his" movies are most likely to have a bonus for stayers.

[jackdavinci]

Always. Our "official" reason is that for $10.50 we demand to see the entire movie to get our money's worth ;-) But really it's in case there's something interesting after the credits, or to see what songs are on the soundtrack, and because it's a fun tradition.

[recondite]

If I suspect there might be out-takes at the end, like a lot of comedies, then I'll stay.
Also if I'm with my mother. She walks very slowly and people want to push past.

[interface2x]

1. I stay for a while, but usually get bored and leave before it's really over.

2. I like to see the cast, some of the major behind the scenes stuff, and sometimes the music, but to be completely honest, I don't give a shit who the "Assistant to Mr. Pitt" is.

[Chronos]

I stay, for two reasons. First, there are sometimes asorted goodies in, among, or after the credits. If nothing else, there's the music, and many movies nowadays have extra scenes or cool presentation of the credits themselves (as others have mentioned).

Second, it seems only polite. I mean, all of those people were involved somehow in making this work of art I just saw, and I think they deserve at least token recognition for that (even if I can't read nearly fast enough to catch all the names).