Iron Man 3 (2013)
Unleash the power behind the armor.
When Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 18 April 2013 |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Science Fiction |
| Director | Shane Black |
| Starring | Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle |
| Runtime | 130 min |
| Rated | PG-13 |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 7/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 79% · Metacritic 62/100 · TMDB users 6.9/10 |
| Budget | $200 million |
| Box office | $1.21 billion worldwide |
Where to watch Iron Man 3
Iron Man 3 is streaming on Disney+ ($15.99 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Disney+ is $15.99 at list price.
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What kind of watch this is
Shane Black took the wheel for this 130-minute entry, swapping the global spectacle for a story about a man who cannot stop building things. The Mandarin, a formidable terrorist who tears Tony Stark’s world apart, serves as the catalyst for an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution. It is less about saving the world and more about the mess left behind when you do. The armor becomes a shield against anxiety rather than a weapon against evil. It is a loud, kinetic film that treats its protagonist’s trauma as an engineering problem. If you want to see how a superhero movie navigates the aftermath of victory, this is the place to look.
What the critics said
Critics leaned toward approval, though not unanimously. Rotten Tomatoes reported a 79% approval rating as of May 2026, based on 327 reviews, with an average score of 7/10. Metacritic’s weighted average sat at 62 out of 100 as of February 2025, signaling generally favorable reception. Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times noted the film was "darker and more serious," crediting the director for shifting the franchise’s tone. Dissent emerged in the details. Nick De Semlyen of Empire gave four stars but found the villains' motivations murky. A high score with a nitpick attached.
How it did with audiences
A $200 million budget against a $1.2 billion worldwide total is not a subtle financial strategy. It is a loud one. The film pulled in $409 million in the United States, a number that might make a studio accountant smile before the legal team walks in. On TMDB, users give it a 6.9 score, which suggests the audience enjoyed the spectacle but kept their receipts. For a movie that turns every explosion into a line item, the math checks out.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Iron Man 3.
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Sources
- Iron Man 3 on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q209538 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Iron Man 3” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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