# What do you call the movie post-credits joke scene **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 14, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223 "2013-08-14T16:30:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/21 "2013-08-14T19:01:50Z")
Credit cookies ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/22 "2013-08-14T19:19:36Z")
They should be called **trash popcorn** after PSXer. Because once people leave and you’re all alone you can go to the trash and pull out an empty tub of popcorn and then take it to go get a free refill. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/23 "2013-08-14T19:44:36Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I call it a stinger, because I’ve got [www.mediastinger.com](http://www.mediastinger.com) bookmarked on my phone. It’s a site that tells you if there’s a stinger or not, so you don’t wait through the credits pointlessly. Thank you, this is going to come in soooo handy. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/24 "2013-08-14T21:06:45Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > Has the proliferation of credit cookies lessened this behavior? I imagine it depends on the movie. Certain types of films (superheroes / sci-fi, Pixar films, etc.) do them fairly regularly, and I would think that many fans who go to those movies regularly have begun to make certain to stick around for a bonus scene. I don’t expect you get too many stingers in period pieces or arthouse films. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/25 "2013-08-14T21:10:40Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > The 2004 remake of **Dawn of the Dead** had some pretty important scenes during the credits. > I’ve never thought about what to call these. But are examples like Dawn of the Dead or Wild Things different from a single “stinger” at the end? In those films, the credits start rolling, but are immediately interspersed with some final epilogue scenes. “Stingers” seem to be literally you are waiting until after the “All characters appearing in this work are fictitious and no animals were hurt” disclaimer and the Dolby sound logos to see some final joke or preview. ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/26 "2013-08-14T21:31:15Z")
I first learned the term “stinger” for the short clip of the movie that MST3K would run at the end each episode, back in the days of USENET and alt.tv.mst3k. (e.g. “Buzz off kid!” - _Mitchell_) Never thought the term was a generic term! First stinger I ever encountered was the one at the end of Ferris Bueller, but that had the whole scene of Rooney on the bus running through the credits, so that encouraged you not to run for the exit at the start of the credits. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/27 "2013-08-14T21:41:44Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > I first learned the term “stinger” for the short clip of the movie that MST3K would run at the end each episode, back in the days of USENET and alt.tv.mst3k. (e.g. “Buzz off kid!” - _Mitchell_) Never thought the term was a generic term! That’s where I got it, and that’s why I use the term to this day. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/28 "2013-08-14T23:47:48Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > But are examples like Dawn of the Dead or Wild Things different from a single “stinger” at the end? In those films, the credits start rolling, but are immediately interspersed with some final epilogue scenes. > > “Stingers” seem to be literally you are waiting until after the “All characters appearing in this work are fictitious and no animals were hurt” disclaimer and the Dolby sound logos to see some final joke or preview. Yeah, those examples probably aren’t exactly what the OP was referring to. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/29 "2013-08-15T00:38:55Z")
I’ve always known them as stingers, and my husband and I always sit through all the credits even when we know there isn’t one. I’m a theatre nerd, so I like seeing who did the tech ops, and we’re both easily amused by interesting names, so it’s fun to see the really exotic or strange combinations. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/30 "2013-08-15T01:55:41Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Never really had a name for it. Until _The Avengers_. . . . we say some version of “do you think there’s shawarma?” After “Pirates of the Caribbean” we call them “Undead Monkey” scenes. > [@runner pat](#): > > Ray Bradbury had a short story titled _The Anthem Sprinters_. It had to do with people running for the exits after a film(in Dublin, Ireland) ended and before the national anthem started playing. Except when Deanna Dubin sings it! Lord, I love that story! ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/31 "2013-08-15T03:04:02Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Never really had a name for it. Until _The Avengers_. > > I have a small side gig reviewing movies and so my wife and I first saw _The Avengers_ at a press/publicity screening about two weeks before it was released. I’d heard there was a post-credits scene and so we waited. And then nothing. Turns out it hadn’t been attached to the print at our screening. > > So it opens and we starting hearing about the shawarma scene that we missed. > > So now, at the end of any movie where we think it is possible we say some version of “do you think there’s shawarma?” I declare you the winner of the thread and henceforth I shall use no other method of referring to the post-credits scene. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/32 "2013-08-15T03:39:03Z")
Modern technology has proven useful - when the credits start I use my Smartphone to go to [aftercredits.com](http://aftercredits.com) to see if I should stick around or not. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/33 "2013-08-15T04:41:08Z")
The wife and I are credit junkies. We stay to the very end regardless. And we’re often the only ones to see any surprises at the end. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/34 "2013-08-15T05:04:27Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Modern technology has proven useful - when the credits start I use my Smartphone to go to [aftercredits.com](http://aftercredits.com) to see if I should stick around or not. Why don’t you do that before the movie. I know it is stodgy of me, but if I’m watching the credits I’d still rather not be bathed in the glow of your phone. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/35 "2013-08-15T05:37:51Z")
it’s not necessary for some of our cinemas here. if some of the lights are turned up to allow a bit of visibility for the cleaners to work, there are no bonus clips; if the cinema remains dark, there are clips or even just credits with fancy artwork and stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/36 "2013-08-15T06:59:20Z")
The “Monk Scene”—a slight variant on Ebert’s term. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/37 "2013-08-15T07:16:38Z")
Stinger I’ve known it from a musical term. Think of the Monty Python TV theme. Actually it’s Liberty Bell March by JP Sousa. At the end of the opening credits you see the foot come down and you hear a squashing noise right where the last note should be. Taht last note is called a stinger. Of course I would only call a scene at the end of the credits a stinger. (It starts after all the credits, and it should be short and have a punch) Something that runs during all the credits is something else. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/38 "2013-08-15T13:33:59Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Why don’t you do that before the movie. I know it is stodgy of me, but if I’m watching the credits I’d still rather not be bathed in the glow of your phone. Oh, I’m sure you can handle it, along with the distraction of 98% of the audience getting up to leave. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/39 "2013-08-15T14:15:03Z")
When the credits start rolling and everyone has started to leave, I’ll ask the usher / cleaner if there are any additional scenes shown during the credits. I figure they’ve probably seen the movie’s credits a dozen times and would know. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223/40 "2013-08-15T15:35:06Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Oh, I’m sure you can handle it, along with the distraction of 98% of the audience getting up to leave. Yes, I can handle. It would still be nice of you to not do it while the movie is still running. But I understand how difficult it would be to know before the movie that you’ll want this information at the end of the movie so couldn’t possibly plan for it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-call-the-movie-post-credits-joke-scene/666223.md?page=3)