That 'Superman' Post-Credits Scene Might Mean More Than You Think

Ever since the Marvel Cinematic Universe popularized the usage of post-credits scenes to tease future projects, viewers have come to associate them with superhero movies in general. As a result, viewers highly anticipated Superman’s post-credits scene, hoping it would include a tease for the relatively new DC Universe’s future. However, the scene was quite ambiguous, with many accepting it as a lighthearted moment meant to depart from the expectations that post-credits scenes set up something else.

Still, viewers can’t help but wonder if Superman’s post-credits scene is a subtle tease of something more important.

What Happens In The Superman Post-Credits Scene?

Superman has two post-credits scenes. One is simply Superman (David Corenswet) and Krypto watching Earth from the moon in a sweet, quiet moment. The second features a brief, humorous interaction between Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) and Superman. During the movie, Lex Luthor (Nicholas Holt) opens an enormous rift that splits through Metropolis, though Mister Terrific succeeds in closing the fissure and restoring Metropolis to its former state. The post-credits scene reveals that Metropolis survived, but not without some scars.

In the scene, Superman surveys large cracks in Metropolis’s buildings where the fissure closed unevenly. He remarks to Mister Terrific that his work was just “a little off.” Naturally, Mister Terrific is quite indignant, considering he saved the entire city, and storms off after asking in exasperation what Superman wants him to do about it. Superman beats himself up a little bit for bringing the matter up and being a “jerk,” and the scene ends.

Is There More To Superman’s Post-Credits Scene?

At first glance, Superman’s post-credits scene doesn’t appear to be anything more than a fun scene to establish the dynamic between Superman and Mister Terrific. Upon second thought, though, one can’t help but think that giant fissures in the foundation of Metropolis might be significant in the future. In the film, the fissures that tear through Metropolis are a trans-dimensional rift from Luthor’s pocket dimension. Although Mister Terrific repaired the rift, the fact that it’s several inches off seems like it could cause more problems than just an imperfect appearance.

The two major possibilities that come to mind about the cracks are that they indicate the rift isn’t wholly mended or that Metropolis is weakened. When the trans-dimensional rift opened, many viewers were likely reminded of the MCU, particularly Spider-Man: No Way Home, where Spider-Man (Tom Holland) accidentally opens a rift in the multiverse through which variants come through. Superman is quite different since the rift comes from a pocket universe, not the multiverse. 

Still, the imperfect fissures raise the possibility that they could still serve as entryways into the DCU. Given that Peacemaker Season 2 will deal with the pocket universe, it almost seems like Superman is keeping the pocket universe door open just a crack for the future, perhaps allowing it to function a bit like the MCU’s multiverse to blend timelines and universes.

Meanwhile, the cracks in Superman hint at Metropolis’ weakened state. As mentioned above, it appears the two halves of Metropolis were put together a few inches off. So, the anomaly runs through skyscrapers, sidewalks, roads, bridges, etc. One can’t help but wonder just how structurally sound the city is with such fissures. The cracks could be a hint at the rift opening in the future, or perhaps of Metropolis coming under further destruction, with its weakened state inspiring other Superman villains like General Zod or others to make a power play.

Regardless of their meaning, the cracks in Superman are now an official part of the DCU. Either they can remain a mere imperfection, or they could be used to do something more with the pocket dimension and Metropolis.