Iron Man began the Marvel Cinematic Universe all the way back in 2008, and I find it incredible to see how well the movie scored with critics compared to all of the other celebrated installments in the franchise. The MCU’s complex and wonderful timeline began years ago with Robert Downey Jr. starring in the Jon Favreau film as Marvel’s now-iconic on-screen Iron Man. The ending of the movie gave the first hint of the Avengers Initiative, and the story quickly expanded from there, bringing in some of the most beloved heroes in movie history.

Not all Marvel projects are created equal. Looking at the Rotten Tomatoes ranking of Marvel movies reveals critical disparity between reviews for some of the films. Still, while Eternals and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania have taken the bottom two spots, I’d argue that even their scores are not terrible, at 47% and 46% respectively. Considering the overall quality of the franchise, it is actually surprising to look back on the first film in the series, and to see how favorably it compares to the plethora of sequels that have followed.

Iron Man Still Holds A Vital Place Almost 2 Decades Into The MCU

The First MCU Film Remains Important To The Story Of The Franchise

Iron Man began the MCU, and remains an important part of its overall story. The film began the story of Tony Stark, who was arguably the most important figure in the franchise throughout the Infinity Saga. That film’s Robert Downey Jr. casting, story, and even dialogue were impactful all the way through to Avengers: Endgame, which saw the character’s death. This was done in a powerful scene that harkened back to Iron Man, with Downey repeating his iconic “I am Iron Man” line before he sacrificed himself in the fight against Thanos.

So many details of the film have gone on to influence the shape of the MCU even after Tony Stark’s pᴀssing. Iron Man‘s way of dealing with his secret idenтιтy became the standard in the franchise, and the hero went on to influence other characters, including Spider-Man. With Robert Downey Jr. set to appear as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, it now appears that details from the first Iron Man will still be instrumental to the larger MCU story moving forward, making Iron Man an even more important film.

Iron Man’s Rotten Tomatoes Review Score Looks Pretty Impressive Today After Many Other MCU Movies Have Released

The Film Holds An Impressive 94% Critic Score

Iron Man was beloved upon release, and has only grown in esteem. However, reviewing the film’s Rotten Tomatoes score goes to show exactly how well-loved Iron Man has been. Iron Man holds an incredible 94% rating from critics, with 279 reviews. This excellent result gives the film the third-highest rating of any movie in the MCU, behind only Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame. Thor: Ragnarok and Spider-Man: No Way Home follow just behind, which are some of the most loved movies of recent years.

Considering the ranking of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, and how so many of these films have gone on to be among the most popular and adored films of the last two decades, it is incredible to see Iron Man‘s high score and just how well it holds up in many regards. While I loved seeing the film in 2008, I had no idea how important the film would wind up being. Seeing its place in the larger MCU now makes sense, and it is genuinely impressive that the first film in the franchise could rank so highly among so many wonderful films.

Why Iron Man Has Such A High Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score

The 2008 Film Reset The Superhero Landscape

Iron Man created the Marvel Cinematic Universe, launching one of the most beloved characters in recent memory with an excellent and acclaimed performance by Robert Downey Jr. The film was released in a landscape of dark and gritty superhero films, with The Dark Knight releasing that same year. Iron Man, instead, brought humor, action, charisma, and great effects in, telling an excellent character story that was accessible and fun for audiences of all ages. The film stood on its own, but teased an incredible future.

Simply, Iron Man holds such a great Rotten Tomatoes score because it created the MCU style and tone. The film felt special and unique when it was released, and it has gone on to be incredibly influential throughout the franchise even in its more recent installments. Everything about the film worked, from its designs, to its great Iron Man villain, to the larger world that it set up, making audiences hungry for even more. As something genuinely new and special for its time, the film went on to become one of the most important superhero movies ever.

I’m surprised to see how well Iron Man holds up compared to the rest of the franchise, but thinking about it, it makes sense. The building blocks of the larger, interconnected universe had to begin somewhere, and there are few stronger individual films within the larger franchise. Setting the stage for one of the greatest franchises in cinematic history, Iron Man remains a genuinely fun and exciting entry in the MCU that can also stand alone as one of the best contained stories in superhero cinema.

Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

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  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday

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  May 1, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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  July 31, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

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  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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