Iron Man 3

An attack leaves Tony Stark’s personal world in ruins. Searching for the people responsible, he must rely on his instincts and inventiveness to survive and protect those closest to him. Shane Black directs this 2013 adventure, with Robert Downey Jr. returning as Tony alongside Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle.

Watch for the inventor as much as the armor. The story puts pressure on Tony’s ability to solve problems when his usual advantages cannot be taken for granted. If you have followed the first two films, this offers a more personal reason to return: seeing what remains of his confidence when familiar protections fall away.

The previous solo film

Iron Man 2 ↗

2010 · 2h 4m

If you are following Tony’s solo films, revisit Iron Man 2 before this one. New to the character? Begin with Iron Man for his origin, then follow the films in order. This is our suggested character route.

For a focused Tony Stark route, follow Iron Man and Iron Man 2 before this third solo film. For the wider sequence, consult the Phase 2 release-order guide. You can also explore The Avengers for an ensemble story featuring Tony; the links here let you choose between a character route and the larger film series.

Allow about 2h 10m (130 minutes), matching this catalog and the Disney Movies listing. Disney+ lists 2h 12m (132 minutes). The catalog release date is April 18, 2013; Disney Movies gives May 3, 2013 for the US release.

This film is not on the current reviewed Doomsday preparation list. That is separate from its value as a film or a starting point.