Iron Man
Movie, 2008, Phase 1, Set in 2010
Iron Man is #1 of 69 in release order and #4 of 69 in chronological order in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The story
After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.
Iron Man recap
Tony Stark, a billionaire weapons maker, is ambushed in Afghanistan after demonstrating his Jericho missile and wounded by shrapnel. The Ten Rings hold him in a cave and order him to build the missile; instead, with fellow captive Ho Yinsen, he builds an electromagnet to keep the shrapnel from his heart, powered by a small arc reactor, and a crude armored suit. Yinsen dies covering the escape. Back home, Tony announces that Stark Industries will stop making weapons, which angers his partner Obadiah Stane. He builds a sleek new suit, uses it to attack the Ten Rings in the village of Gulmira, and finds that Stark weapons are being sold to terrorists under the table. Pepper Potts uncovers proof that Stane arranged it all, including the ambush. Stane tears the arc reactor out of Tony's chest and puts on his own giant armor, the Iron Monger.
Iron Man ending explained
Tony, running on his old reactor, fights Stane on the roof of Stark Industries, and Pepper overloads the building's large arc reactor, killing Stane. At a press conference the next day, Tony is supposed to read a cover story prepared by S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson; instead he tells the world, "I am Iron Man."
Post-credits scenes
Yes. In the post-credits scene, Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D., is waiting in Tony's house. He tells Tony he is not the only superhero in the world and that he has come to talk about the Avengers Initiative.
Where to watch Iron Man
Iron Man is streaming on Disney+ in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.9/10, Rotten Tomatoes 94%
Where it fits
- Release order: first, before The Incredible Hulk.
- Chronological order: after Captain Marvel, before The Incredible Hulk.
What to watch before Iron Man
Nothing. Iron Man is the first of the Marvel Cinematic Universe essentials, so it's the place to start.
Cast
- Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark
- Terrence Howard as Rhodey
- Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane
- Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts
- Leslie Bibb as Christine Everhart
- Shaun Toub as Yinsen
- Faran Tahir as Raza
- Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson
- Bill Smitrovich as General Gabriel
- Sayed Badreya as Abu Bakaar
- Paul Bettany as Jarvis (voice)
- Jon Favreau as Hogan
Directed by Jon Favreau.