Co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, the character of Iron Man first appeared in Tales of Suspense #39 in 1963. The armour-plated hero received his own comic title in 1968 and shortly after, he became a mainstay in The Avengers series of comic books.
In 2008, Iron Man became the first superhero to enter Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. Two sequels followed his debut film as well as appearances in The Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man: Homecoming and several team-up movies with the other Avengers.
In this article, we list all of the movies that have featured the Armored Avenger. Which of these is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.
Iron Man
US Release Date: May 2, 2008
Worldwide Box Office: $585.8 million
Director: Jon Favreau
Metascore: 79
Main Cast:
Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts), Terrence Howard (Rhodey), Jeff Bridges (Obadiah Stane), Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson), Jon Favreau (Hogan), Shaun Toub (Yinsen)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armour to fight evil.
Tony Stark Soundbite:
I am Iron Man!
The Incredible Hulk
US Release Date: June 13, 2008
Worldwide Box Office: $264.8 million
Director: Louis Leterrier
Metascore: 61
Main Cast:
Edward Norton (Bruce Banner), Liv Tyler (Betty Ross), Tim Roth (Emil Blonsky), William Hurt (General Ross), Tim Blake Nelson (Samuel Sterns), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Bruce Banner, a scientist on the run from the U.S. Government, must find a cure for the monster he turns into whenever he loses his temper.
Tony Stark Soundbite:
(To Ross) You know, I hate to say “I told you so,” but that Super-Soldier project was put on ice for a reason.
Iron Man 2
US Release Date: May 7, 2010
Worldwide Box Office: $623.9 million
Director: Jon Favreau
Metascore: 57
Main Cast:
Robert Downey Jr (Tony Stark), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts), Mickey Rourke (Ivan Vanko), Don Cheadle (Rhodey), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff), Sam Rockwell (Justin Hammer), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
With the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must contend with both his declining health and a vengeful mad man with ties to his father’s legacy.
Tony Stark Soundbite:
(To Nick Fury) I told you I don’t want to join your super-secret boy band.
The Avengers
US Release Date: May 4, 2012
Worldwide Box Office: $2.798 billion
Director: Joss Whedon
Metascore: 69
Main Cast:
Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Clark Gregg (Phil Coulson), Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Paul Bettany (Jarvis)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Earth’s mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.
Tony Stark Soundbite:
(To Loki) The Avengers. That’s what we call ourselves; we’re sort of like a team. “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” type thing.
Iron Man 3
US Release Date: May 3, 2013
Worldwide Box Office: $1.215 billion
Director: Shane Black
Metascore: 62
Main Cast:
Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), Guy Pearce (Aldrich Killian), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts), Don Cheadle (Rhodey), Rebecca Hall (Maya Hansen), Jon Favreau (Hogan), Ben Kingsley (Trevor Slattery)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
When Tony Stark’s world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
Tony Stark Soundbite:
(narrates) My armour was never a distraction or a hobby, it was a cocoon, and now I’m a changed man. You can take away my house, all my tricks and toys, but one thing you can’t take away – I am Iron Man.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
US Release Date: May 1, 2015
Worldwide Box Office: $1.403 billion
Director: Joss Whedon
Metascore: 66
Main Cast:
Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Clark Gregg (Phil Coulson), Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Paul Bettany (Jarvis), James Spader (Ultron), Don Cheadle (James Rhodes), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Quicksilver). Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
When Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, things go horribly wrong and it’s up to Earth’s mightiest heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plan.
Tony Stark Soundbite:
(To Maria) I just pay for everything and design everything, make everyone look cooler.
Captain America: Civil War
US Release Date: May 6, 2016
Worldwide Box Office: $1.153 billion
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Metascore: 75
Main Cast:
Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), Tom Holland (Peter Parker), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton), Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner), Marisa Tomei (Aunt May)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Political involvement in the Avengers’ affairs causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man.
Tony Stark Soundbite:
(To Steve) Manchurian Candidate, you’re killing me!
Spider-Man: Homecoming
US Release Date: July 7, 2017
Worldwide Box Office: $880.2 million
Director: Jon Watts
Metascore: 73
Main Cast:
Tom Holland (Peter Parker), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), Michael Keaton (Adrian Toomes), Marisa Tomei (Aunt May), Jon Favreau (Happy Hogan), Zendaya (MJ), Jacob Batalon (Ned)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Peter Parker balances his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, and finds himself on the trail of a new menace prowling the skies of New York City.
Tony Stark Soundbite:
(To Peter) Previously on “Peter Screws the Pooch”, I tell you to stay away from this. Instead, you hacked a multi-million dollar suit so you could sneak around behind my back doing the one thing I told you not to do.
Avengers: Infinity War
US Release Date: April 27, 2018
Worldwide Box Office: $2.052 billion
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Metascore: 68
Main Cast:
Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Sebastian Stan (Bucky), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
Tony Stark Soundbite:
(To Thanos) You throw another moon at me and I’m gonna lose it!
Avengers: Endgame
US Release Date: April 26, 2019
Worldwide Box Office: $2.798 billion
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Metascore: 78
Main Cast:
Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Sebastian Stan (Bucky), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos’ actions and restore balance to the universe.
Tony Stark Soundbite:
(Final words) And I am Iron Man.
Which is your favourite Iron Man movie? Let us know in the comments below.