‘The Punisher: One Last Kill’ Has No Post-Credits Scene, But What Marvel Did Instead Is Way More Interesting
Jon Bernthal’s long-awaited return as Frank Castle has finally arrived, and ‘The Punisher: One Last Kill‘ is already generating serious conversation across the Marvel fanbase. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and co-written by Green alongside Bernthal himself, the Disney+ Special Presentation functions as both a brutal standalone story and a bridge toward the character’s future in the broader MCU. That dual purpose is what makes the creative choices surrounding its ending so worth unpacking.
Unlike many MCU movies and TV shows, ‘Punisher: One Last Kill’ does not have an after-credits scene. Marvel notably uses the credits space for an important message highlighting ways to get support for those struggling with mental health and suicidal thoughts, which fits thematically with the special itself. Viewers are still encouraged to stay for the credits, as the special features a genuinely exceptional soundtrack playing over them.
The absence of a stinger is not the creative gap it might first appear to be. In a sense, the very end of ‘One Last Kill’ plays like a post-credits stinger anyway. The real emotional conclusion sees Frank at his daughter’s grave, where he talks about feeling like she was with him and how he is going to keep going. That transitions into Frank back in full Punisher costume, taking out the criminal responsible for killing a dog earlier in the special. The moment lands with enough finality and catharsis that adding anything after the credits would only dilute it.
There is also a practical reason Marvel held back. Frank Castle is already confirmed to return in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ which has been teased in the film’s trailer. Marvel presumably does not want to give too much of that story away, so it makes sense that none of it appears at the end of ‘One Last Kill.’ Audiences already know where this is heading, which removes the urgency of a tease entirely.
The special has been landing well with both critics and fans since its arrival. Bernthal’s ‘One Last Kill’ currently holds a strong approval rating from critics alongside an explosive audience score on the Popcornmeter, a monumental leap over the 2017 Netflix series ‘The Punisher,’ which ended its run with a significantly lower Tomatometer. Critics in particular have singled out Bernthal’s performance as a career highlight.
Bernthal’s co-writer credit does not feel like a vanity addition. It genuinely comes through in the material, with the special repeatedly emphasizing that violence is not empowerment for Frank Castle but rather trauma turned into routine. That psychological grounding is precisely what has made this version of the character so durable across multiple Marvel properties, and it is what makes the quiet, unadorned ending feel more powerful than any mid-credits cameo ever could.
If you have already watched ‘One Last Kill,’ we would love to hear whether you think the decision to skip a post-credits scene was the right call for Frank Castle’s story, or whether you were left wanting more.
