This article contains spoilers for Inside Out 2.
Summary
Director Kelsey Mann reveals whyInside Out 2’s post-credits scene was a late addition to the film. While mid-credits and post-credits scenes were popularized by the Marvel Cinematic Universe,Pixar films did this long before the MCU, with 1998’sA Bug’s Lifeand 1999’sToy Story 2featuring a collection of fake bloopers during the credits. Pixar expanded on the tradition with its ensuing movies, includingInside Out 2’s post-credits scenein which Joy returns to the Secret Vault from earlier in the film and learns the truth behind Riley’s Deep Dark Secret.
While speaking withUSA Today, Mann shared thatthe post-credit scene was a last-minute addition after audience test screenings. This meant that the answer to Riley’s deepest and darkest secret – burning a hole in the rug – would’ve remained a secret, as would peeing in the pool, which is what Joy expected the answer to be. This new revelation drives Deep Dark Secret back into the Secret Vault. Read Mann’s explanation of why the scene was ultimately added to the film below:
“I always loved the idea of leaving a little mystery with Deep Dark Secret and having audiences debate as to what the secret was. But the more we showed it, the more people were dying to know what it was.”
Why Inside Out 2’s Post-Credits Scene Doesn’t Directly Set Up Inside Out 3
The Post-Credits Scene Was Simply For Humor.
Pixar has generally leaned into their mid-credits and post-credits scenes being more humorous than to set up the next project, from collections of fake blooper reels to paying off a running joke.
The rise of the post-credits scene has been used to directly tease upcoming films or television series, a tactic commonly used by the MCU, but it’s also been used purely for humorous purposes. Pixar has generally leaned intotheir mid-credits and post-credits scenes being more humorousthan to set up the next project, from collections of fake blooper reels to paying off a running joke. This includes the slug monster student in 2013’sMonsters Universityfinally arriving at class after struggling to make it there throughout the entire film, only to discover that the school year is over.
Inside Out 2 Ending Explained
Inside Out 2’s emotional ending highlights Riley’s character growth and builds on the underlying moral themes of the original Inside Out.
The post-credits scene follows a similar model by paying off the earlier mystery of what Deep Darkest Secret is hiding,a revelation that, while fun, is not essential to the plot of the movie, nor is it likely to be pivotal in apotentialInside Out 3. This is arguably a better approach, as there has been growing frustration with the MCU and other studios featuring post-credits scenes teasing characters and storylines that do not come to fruition.
Pixar did this in 2022 withLightyear’s post-credits sceneteasing that Zurg survived, hinting at his return in a sequel that will likely never happen due to the film’s dismal box office performance. GivenInside Out 2’s opening weekend box office success and the positive critical and audience reception,Inside Out 3will now almost certainly happen, buta post-credits scene wasn’t needed to directly set it up.Inside Out 2tells the complete story of Riley entering her teenage years and a sequel can explore her and her emotions at a different point in her life.
