In The Heights may leave you desperate to burst forth and perform a socially-distanced dance through the theater aisle, but is it worth staying put for a post-credits scene? Thanks to the success of Hamilton's Disney+ release, Lin-Manuel Miranda is Hollywood's Broadway darling right now, and his influence is increasingly showing in the wider world of cinema. A movie adaptation of In The Heights has actually been in the works since 2008, interrupted by Miranda's sudden interest in Alexander Hamilton, but once Jon M. Chu came aboard as director, the project quickly came together. Following Weinstein controversy and pandemic delay, In The Heights is finally In The Theaters (and on HBO Max).
Set among Manhattan's Washington Heights, In The Heights stars Anthony Ramos as Usnavi de la Vega, who aspires for a better life (in the form of song, naturally), and is ultimately forced to confront the themes of family, community and national identity woven throughout Lin-Manuel Miranda's vibrant songbook. Since In The Heights is a faithful adaptation of the Broadway musical - and an entirely standalone story - you might think it safe to exit once the credits start a-rolling. After all, there's no In The Heights 2 currently in the pipeline, and no In The Heights cinematic universe to set up.
Those assumptions would be wrong, as In The Heights does have a post-credits scene. Without giving away spoilers, the bonus sequence is well worth sticking around for, featuring the reprise of a standout song, a cameo from a very familiar face, and a hint toward character resolution that isn't provided in the main film. The In The Heights' post-credits will be especially appreciated by fans of the Broadway musical, and only serves to embolden that feel-good fire left behind by the film's proper finale.
Viewers certainly won't be disappointed should they wait until the very end, but don't expect the post-credits scene to set up In The Heights 2. While the musical's ending is open enough to potentially continue the stories of Usnavi, Nina, Vanessa, Benny, etc. in the future, In The Heights' bonus scene is more about giving fans a thrill, ending the adventure on a fun note, and bringing closure to two supporting figures who many would've been hoping to see again. That isn't to say In The Heights 2 won't happen, but Samuel L. Jackson isn't rocking up to invite Usnavi into the Washington Initiative.
Attracting positive reviews thus far, In The Heights looks to be another all-singing-all-dancing success story from the mind of Lin-Manuel Miranda. If online reaction is anything to go by, In The Heights' big screen adaptation is a marvel for existing fans of the Broadway musical, while remaining accessible enough to tap into a whole new audience that hasn't yet experienced the magic in person. In The Heights' post-credits scene plays a big part in that, and ranks among the film's highlights.