Does Monkey Man Have A Post-Credits Scene?

The following contains light spoilers for Monkey Man, now playing in theaters

Monkey Man is an impressive new action film directed by and starring Dev Patel, with some already clamoring for a follow-up that could justify a post-credits tease. Taking place largely in Mumbai, Monkey Man follows the Kid, a dedicated fighter who works to locate the people who took his mother away from him as a child. Co-produced by Jordan Peele, Monkey Man was able to gain a theatrical release that highlights just how visually impressive Dev Patel’s Monkey Man really is.

In the modern era of filmmaking, it’s common to see movies effectively pitching themselves as possible franchises. As a result, plenty of movies have featured post-credits sequences that either advance the story, expand the world, or even poke fun at some of the characters within the film. Considering the clear influence other action films from around the world have had on Monkey Man visual styling and action beats, audiences might go to watch Monkey Man curious if there will also be a tease of Kid’s future in a post-credits scene.

Monkey Man Does Not Have A Post-Credits Scene

Monkey Man Doesn’t Have A Post-Credits Or Mid-Credits Scene

Monkey Man does not have a post-credits scene. Instead, the film ends after the Kid’s assault on Queenie’s Club. This allows the film’s final moments to stand more on their own, with the credits instead featuring more of Jed Kurzel’s score. Considering the quietly ambiguous nature of Monkey Man‘s ending, audiences might be left wanting more. However, the film closes out without a post-credits scene. This actually works in Monkey Man‘s favor, as the climax of the film doesn’t leave much room for expansion.

Why Monkey Man Not Having An End-Credits Scene Is Smart

The Ending Of Monkey Man Gets To Stand On Its Merits

Monkey Man is an incredibly tight film, with a specific character focus and a greater thematic throughline about class divide in India. By not having a post-credits scene, Dev Patel keeps the focus on Kid and allows the film to close out on his final mission. It doesn’t distract the audience with teases of the future or some gag that would undercut the drama of the film’s finale. Instead, Monkey Man closes out on a somewhat ambiguous beat that works to its favor. In many ways, Monkey Man is a throwback to an earlier pre-franchise-heavy era of action films.

At its core, it’s a straight-forward revenge film. This strong basic skeleton allows Patel and the rest of his team to focus on the visuals, action, and themes of the film instead of building a full universe. The result is a lean film that doesn’t feel like it has any wasted bloat or squandered potential. While the ending of Monkey Man could be seen as leaving the door open for a sequel, the lack of any post-credits scene speaks to the confidence that Patel and his team had in the film and its final moments.