Iron Man
2 Oscar Nominations·National Film Registry
Rent/Purchase
After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.
What critics thought
Robert Downey Jr.'s performance drew near-universal admiration, and most critics found Favreau's blend of character work and spectacle refreshingly grounded for the genre. Where critics diverged was on whether the film transcends its origin-story formula — some saw genuine wit and emotional substance, while others felt it coasted on autopilot through obligatory plot beats, with a climactic villain showdown that struck several as particularly thin.
“At the end of the day it's Robert Downey Jr. who powers the lift-off separating this from most other superhero movies”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“an unusually good superhero picture. Or at least – since it certainly has its problems – a superhero movie that's good in unusual ways.”
A. O. Scott·The New York Times
“a slightly depressed, going-through-the-motions feel to the entire show”
David Denby·The New Yorker
“functions on autopilot, providing requisite story developments and character details to fill in this default 'origin story' while the actors successfully breathe life into their otherwise conventional roles”
Todd Gilchrist·IGN
“emotional truth ... pitch-perfect casting and plausibly rendered super-science”
Frank Lovece·Newsday
Genres
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Cast & Crew
DirectorJon Favreau
StarringRobert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leslie Bibb
ComposerRamin Djawadi
Iron Man
2 Oscar Nominations·National Film Registry
After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.
What critics thought
Robert Downey Jr.'s performance drew near-universal admiration, and most critics found Favreau's blend of character work and spectacle refreshingly grounded for the genre. Where critics diverged was on whether the film transcends its origin-story formula — some saw genuine wit and emotional substance, while others felt it coasted on autopilot through obligatory plot beats, with a climactic villain showdown that struck several as particularly thin.
“At the end of the day it's Robert Downey Jr. who powers the lift-off separating this from most other superhero movies”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“an unusually good superhero picture. Or at least – since it certainly has its problems – a superhero movie that's good in unusual ways.”
A. O. Scott·The New York Times
“a slightly depressed, going-through-the-motions feel to the entire show”
David Denby·The New Yorker
“functions on autopilot, providing requisite story developments and character details to fill in this default 'origin story' while the actors successfully breathe life into their otherwise conventional roles”
Todd Gilchrist·IGN
“emotional truth ... pitch-perfect casting and plausibly rendered super-science”
Frank Lovece·Newsday
Genres
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Cast & Crew
DirectorJon Favreau
StarringRobert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leslie Bibb
ComposerRamin Djawadi
Rent/Purchase