The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is jam-packed with vital moments that bridge together each movie within the franchise. Though they can all work as standalone films, they're part of a bigger picture. Once a new Avengers movie is released, the previous characters and synopses are blended together, creating an epic reunion.

That said, some of the most vital moments aren't in the films themselves, but stowed away in the credits. Assuming fans stay long enough (is anyone else super frustrated whenever people leave right when the movie ends?), they'll experience the gift of the mid—and end-credit—mini scenes that either exist for laughs or to actually propel the plot.

So, now with Avengers: Infinity War hitting theaters, it may help getting a handle on which ones are actually worth fans' time. Keep reading to check out MCU Credit Scenes Ranked from Most Important to Least Important.

20 Thor And Jane Kissing — Thor: The Dark World

Via: Tumblr

Romance in the MCU hasn't been handled particularly well. Though there have been attempts to give the Avengers love interests from time to time, the payoffs are usually weak and uninspired. Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Age of Ultron tried shoehorning romance between Steve and Sharon, and Bruce and Natasha, respectively, but to no avail.

The same goes for Thor and Jane (which would explain why her character was written out of the movies). So, when the credits for Thor: The Dark World end with Thor returning to Earth just to share a kiss with Jane, calling it "underwhelming" is an understatement. It was completely unnecessary.

If nothing else, though, it led to Marvel Studios acknowledging the MCU's weaker story elements (please don't take it personally, Natalie Portman).

19 Dancing Groot, Etc...

Via: Giphy

While most of the end credit scenes in the MCU are doing their best at teasing the audience with various plot elements, some don't even bother trying. Sometimes, the MCU just wants to be funny, and they're given the most freedom to do so once the movie actually wraps itself up (sometimes a good joke doesn't jive well in the context of a story). So, in terms of purely comedic end-credit scenes, we're just going to list them all here for the sake of brevity.

These scenes include Tony Stark opening up to Bruce Banner as though he were undergoing therapy in Iron Man 3. Groot dancing in his flower pot at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy. A glimpse at Howard the Duck (also at the end of GotG). Kraglin accidentally shooting Drax with Yondu's arrow in GotG: Vol. 2. Teen Groot, also in GotG: Vo. 2. Stan Lee's cameo as the informant (ALSO in GotG: Vol. 2). Captain America breaking the fourth wall in Spider-Man: Homecoming. And the Grandmaster calling a draw against the citizens of Sakaar in Thor: Ragnarok.

18 Shawarma — The Avengers

Via: Giphy

Having just listed a bunch of comedic credit scenes from the MCU, you might be wondering why this one gets its own spot on the list. It's played for laughs and it doesn't push the plot forward, and yet here it is — rocking independence. So, why wasn't it just added to the previous entry? Well, while this scene may not tease any game-changing moments in the MCU, it succeeds in one essential undertaking: humanizing the Avengers.

Though audiences have already seen these characters fleshed out, it definitely helps seeing them come down to Earth (so to speak). In most superhero movies, everything is business as usual once the day is saved. In this case, the Avengers are as tired and hungry as anyone would assume they'd be; so, for that reason, their trip for shawarma earns an individual nod.

17 Been There, Done That — Ant-Man/Doctor Strange

In the credits for both Ant-Man and Doctor Strange, there are two scenes that aren't nearly as vital in the long run as they might have seemed in the moment. Why? Because both of these scenes are taken directly out of other future movies with the MCU (for the most part, at least).

Clearly worried that audiences might not understand that Ant-Man was part of the MCU, there is a scene taken directly out of Captain America: Civil War, which wouldn't be released until a year after Ant-Man. In Doctor Strange, the titular Doctor has a chat with Thor, and though it's not word-for-word, it's essentially the same exact scene that the two share in Thor: Ragnarok.

With this being the case, any level of importance audiences would want to gain from these scenes, they could just as easily get in future films.

They're a bit repetitive.

16 Making It Official - Captain America: Civil War

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When audiences are introduced to Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War, it's an exciting moment for the MCU. With rights issues preventing Marvel Studios from adding him to the roster, it was a breath of a fresh air seeing the teenage Peter Parker show up to join the team.

However, his sting in the end credits doesn't really do much to further the plot. He's showing some more technology that Tony Stark gave him (this one shows off the Spidey signal), but it's nothing new. Up to this moment, we've already seen plenty of Stark's gifted tech, so this moment really doesn't do anything more than remind audiences that Spider-Man will be back in a later film. So, if you were hoping to get something a little more substantial in this scene, you may as well just go watch him in his feature length Homecoming.

15 White Wolf — Black Panther

Via: Pinterest

At the end of Captain America: Civil War, Bucky Barnes (aka: the Winter Soldier) is willingly placed inside a Cryostasis Chamber (aka: freezing pod) so as to prevent him from causing any more harm than he already has. The Chamber is in Wakanda, meaning it was only a matter of time before Bucky showed up alongside T'Challa (aka: the Black Panther). As it turns out, Bucky does show up in Black Panther — only, it doesn't happen until after the credits have already rolled.

In this scene, it's discovered that he's earned a new moniker (finally putting the villainous Winter Soldier name to rest): White Wolf. It's exciting to see Bucky back in action, but anyone who had seen the first Infinity War trailer was already well aware this would happen.

It's fun, but nothing to write home about.

14 Stakar Ogord Team Assemble — Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2

Via: DigitalSpy

Tattered relationships in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a major theme. Between the Guardians themselves, Peter and Ego, and even the informant and the Watchers, the drama is laid on thick. That said, some of the most potent relationship drama stems from Yondu alone. His relationship with Peter, his relationship with his crew, and especially his relationship with Stakar Ogord (played by Sylvester Stallone) plays a major role in his character arc. So, when he dies, the fact that it inspires Stakar to reassemble his team speaks volumes.

They may not be the classiest crew of individuals, but they definitely serve as foreshadowing for the roles they'll inevitably play in future films. In fact, Guardians director James Gunn explained to the Toronto Sun that Stallone's character will play a major role in the future of the MCU.

13 Loki Lives — Thor

Via: Rebloggy

At the end of Thor, Loki dies. He is knocked off of the Bifrost Bridge, and falls to his evident doom. Only, he doesn't. Not really. In a scene after the credits, Doctor Erik Selvig is invited into a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility by none other than Nick Fury. Fury hopes that Selvig might help them better understand the secrets behind the Tesseract, and Selvig is down to help. Only, there's one problem. Not only is Loki still alive, he's controlling Selvig's mind, meaning that S.H.I.E.L.D. now has a spy in its midst.

This scene exists to setup the main baddie in The Avengers (hint: it's Loki), and it also drives home the importance of the Tesseract, as well as showing how important it is to someone like Loki.

12 Bucky Goes Cold — Captain America: Civil War

Via: Pinterest

At the end of Captain America: Civil War, Bucky has finally come back to reality. The Winter Soldier is long gone (assuming no one triggers his inner slayer again), and he's ready to be BFFs with Steve Rogers again. Still, though, he's not 100% satisfied. Not completely trusting himself, he is frozen inside a Cryostasis Chamber in Wakanda (thanks to T'Challa), only to be released once he's positive he won't be a threat to anyone.

This scene is important for the fact that it's starting to tie together more characters, while also broadening the MCU map. Audiences don't only get to the see the evolution of Bucky, but they also get their first glimpse of Wakanda, which they'll see a lot more of in Black Panther. A lot of ground is covered in this brief scene.

11 Harboring The Infinity Stones — Thor: The Dark World

Via: MTV

By now, audiences are more than familiar with the Infinity Stones. Naturally, longtime Marvel fans were pretty much in the know from the very beginning, but it took a few movies for casual viewers to catch up.

In Thor: The Dark World, audiences are introduced to the second Reality Stone, referred to as "The Aether." It's a dangerous-enough object, but it's not until the mid-credit scene that its significance is truly addressed.

First, Sif and Volstagg enter the Guardians of the Galaxy universe, meeting The Collector, and then he officially addresses how vital these are to the MCU. Once the Asgardians leave, he says, "One down, five to go." Is he trying to help Thanos collect the stones? Is he trying to stop him from getting them? The plot thickens, people. The plot thickens.

10 Wakanda Forever-yone — Black Panther

Via: Polygon

In Black Panther, T'Challa is fighting many battles, but one of them doesn't require brute strength. For years, Wakanda's technological advancement has been deep under the radar, and according to his father, that's how it ought to remain. So, as king, T'Challa assumes that's how things ought to stay. Only, certain things come to light, inspiring an inner struggle.

If you stay 'till the end of the movie, this uncertainty is left unresolved. However, if you stay for the credits, you'll see that T'Challa ultimately finds some closure in this struggle, making a decision that exposes Wakanda to the rest of the world.

His intentions are obviously good, but could this spell danger for Wakanda? Time will tell. In the trailer for Infinity War, the characters do battle in what appears to be Wakanda, but it's anyone's guess as to how the country will fare by the end.

9 'Too Many Sorcerers' — Doctor Strange

Via: Wikia

There is a massive twist in Doctor Strange, but you have to watch through the credits to see it. Fans of Marvel (and anyone who Googled spoilers beforehand) will have already seen this coming, but to the casual viewers, this was a whopper.

Karl Mordo is seeking balance. After he discovers that the Ancient One "betrayed" their order by drawing power from the Dark Dimension, he is ultimately pushed to fixing what's been broken — even though that ultimately pushes him to becoming more of a villain than a hero (Fun Fact: he'll likely be the main baddie in Doctor Strange 2, assuming Marvel Studios actually confirms it sometime soon).

So, had you skipped these credits, you'd have completely missed the movie's biggest twists, as well as a setup for the sequel.

8 The Sinister Six Is Born – Spider-Man: Homecoming

via: ign.com

In Spider-Man: Homecoming, there are two villains: Vulture and Shocker. (There are three if you want to count the Tinkerer.) However, by the end of the movie—assuming you stay for the credits—you'll have seen the introduction of more. Many more.

After Adrian Toomes (aka: Vulture) is sent to prison, he is confronted by an inmate who's heard through the grapevine that he knows Spider-Man's true identity. Toomes ultimately says that he doesn't (either he's doing Peter a favor or he's just saving him for himself), but that's not the scene's biggest reveal. The scene's biggest reveal has to do with the inmate's tattoo, which just so happens to be a scorpion.

In the Spider-Man universe, Spidey faces off against a crew of baddies known as the Sinister Six. As it so happens, not only is Vulture part of this group, but a villain know as—wait for it—Scorpion.

7 Adam — Guardians Of The Galaxy: Vol. 2

Via: io9

After Rocket Raccoon decides it'd be cool to not only throw shade at The Sovereign, but rob them, he unleashes a Domino-effect of calamity — pretty much leading to war. Stemming off of this Sovereign vs. Guardians war is the creation of a perfect being, referred to only as Adam. Naturally, he's going to play a vital role in helping terminate the Guardians, but audiences unfamiliar with the source material ought to keep that Adam (officially know as Adam Warlock) is actually a member of the Guardians.

So, either Adam will eventually switch sides, will be pro-Guardians from the get-go, or simply won't adhere to the source material's allegiances at all. Time will tell.

Now you see why skipping out out on the credits is such a major loss, don't you?

6 The Wasp — Ant-Man

Via: CheatSheet

A major issue in the MCU is how few female heroes there are. With every movie that's released, men are front and center, taking the reins and relishing in their superiority. That's not to say that there haven't been strong female characters (hello, Black Widow), but there haven't been many. Not for a while, at least. So, when Hope Pym finally discovers a suit designed for her, the audience couldn't agree more when she says, "It's about damn time."

This scene doesn't just highlight her strengths and potential as a character, but the fact that she'll be teaming up alongside Ant-Man himself in the sequel (not just as a sidekick, but as a partner). What's more is that her character's name appears in the sequel's title — which is a first for female characters in the MCU.

About time, indeed.

5 Bucky Remembers — Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Via: Wikia

The entirety of Captain America: The Winter Soldier revolves around the relationship between old friends Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes. There are plenty of plot points and MacGuffins to keep audiences (and the runtime) busy, but the central focus is definitely between these two. So, with that being said, if you don't stick around for the credits at the end of this movie, you're missing out on some major details.

After Bucky flees, he ends up at the Smithsonian Museum, at an exhibit dedicated to Captain America. There, he discovers a memorial dedicated to himself — not the Winter Soldier, but Bucky Barnes. This marks a major turning point for his character, where he finally starts to see proof of his true identity, not the one HYDRA created in a lab.

Miss this scene, and his role in Civil War is far less satisfying.

4 The Twins — Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Via: MTV

In setting up Age of Ultron, the Phase Two movies within the MCU plant plenty of seeds leading up to the second Avengers. One of these seeds shows up during the end credits for The Winter Soldier, and if you miss it, you'll have missed the introduction of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver — formerly referred to as "the twins."

Though their abilities aren't given much of an explanation, it's clear that their superpowers are relatively new (otherwise, they wouldn't seem so entranced by them or as incapable of controlling them). Later, they'll join forces with the Avengers, helping take down Ultron; and it's at this point that audiences are starting to see real growth in the franchise. More and more characters are being added to the roster, which also signals at the fact that some older characters may have to go away to make room.

3 Thanos' Interruption — Thor: Ragnarok

Via: Medium

At the end of Thor: Ragnarok, some serious damage has been dealt to Team Asgard, but the heroes ultimately came out on top. Thor is in charge, and he's leading the Asgardian survivors, as well his teammates (and untrustworthy brother), to Earth. Unfortunately, though, the trip isn't successful. They're encountered by a ship in a mid-credit scene, and—though they're not sure who they're up against at first—they are completely screwed.

Though it hasn't been officially confirmed, the ship belongs to Thanos and his Black Order. This means that events from Infinity War have already been set in motion as early as Thor: Ragnarok.

Just when you think there's hope, a massive spaceship shows up out of nowhere to wreck everything. *I'm crossing fingers that everything turns out okay in the end*

2 Thanos And Thanos — The Avengers/Age Of Ultron

There are two major Thanos-specific moments that mark major moments in the MCU. First, he makes his debut in a credit sting on The Avengers. There's a figure facing against the camera, and once he turns around, revealing himself as the Mad Titan Thanos, he grins. After playing a larger role in Guardians of the Galaxy, he shows up in yet another credit sting — this time at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron. Frustrated by the fact that no one can seem to successfully collect the Infinity Stones for him, he places his hand into the Infinity Gauntlet and says, "Fine. I'll do it myself."

*chills*

So, given the importance of both these moments, as well as how it's difficult labeling one "better" than the other, they earn a tied spot on this list.

1 Avengers Initiative — Iron Man

Via: Giphy

If ever there was an important end-credit scene in the MCU, it'd have to be anytime there was a reference made to the "Avenger Initiative."

As early as the very first film in the MCU, Marvel Studios was going all-in on the Avengers. After the credits roll in Iron Man (which was released 10 years ago, in case you didn't already feel old as it is), Nick Fury shows up out of the blue, revealing to Tony Stark that S.H.I.E.L.D. has a plan to bring together some of the universe's mightiest heroes — starting with Stark.

After Iron Man, this pre-Avengers Avengers introduction continues with The Incredible Hulk (where Stark himself spreads the news to Thaddeus Ross), and after that, Agent Coulson shows up at the end of Iron Man 2 to hint at the future of Thor, another addition to the Avengers. Finally, in Captain America: The First Avenger, Fury makes yet another sneaky reveal as he explains to Steve Rogers how exactly he might benefit from living in the modern era (hint: it's becoming an Avenger).