Ranking All The Marvel Cinematic Universe Franchises From Worst To Best

4. Iron Man

Marvel Franchises
Marvel Studios

Movies: Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3

Upcoming: None announced.

Iron Man's popularity is almost entirely dependent on Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark. Yes, there's something inherently cool about having your own flying armed-to-the-teeth metal flying suit, but it was the alter ego's effortless cool and hidden vulnerability that made the former B-list hero the head of the MCU. He's the series' biggest draw, appearing in more movies than any other character (at present count seven, with at least two more in the future), effortlessly elevating whichever ones he's in. No wonder people want Iron Man 4.

What makes Iron Man work so well as a character is also what weakens his series. Before you go to the comments to complain, Iron Man is perfectly solid by superhero standards; the first is typical noughties origin, following the refined Batman Begins formula with a humour twist and even though the sequel falls into the pit of trying to setup the future at the detriment of the narrative at hand, Iron Man 3 pulls it back with a pitch perfect Shane Black comedy (I know some people don't like The Mandarin twist, but that's being far too po-faced).

However, they're not really a trilogy so to speak, just three movies that slot in amongst the rest. For Tony Stark that's good - his character develops in a unique way in each appearance, regardless of whose movie it is - but the series is lesser because of it.

Contributor
Contributor

Film Editor (2014-2016). Loves The Usual Suspects. Hates Transformers 2. Everything else lies somewhere in the middle. Once met the Chuckle Brothers.