Phase 1 - The Avengers Initiative (2008 - 2012) · MCU timeline #5
Iron Man
- runtime with credits
- 2h 6m
- release date
- May 2, 2008
- #19 in release order
- #5 timeline
- Movie
- Essential
Why it is here
The film that started the connected universe by not planning to. Tony Stark builds the suit in a cave, and the post-credit scene introduces the idea everything since runs on.
What it sets up
Show spoilers for Iron Man
Tony reveals he is Iron Man on live television. Nick Fury mentions the Avengers initiative.
Position in the MCU timeline
6h 23m of Marvel screen time comes before this. Another 13d 2h 55m follows it in this sequence. It sits inside Phase 1 - The Avengers Initiative, alongside everything else released in 2008.
Where to stream it
Currently on Disney+. Availability shifts by region; our data notes say when this was last checked.
Viewers rate it 7.7/10 across 28,464 votes on TMDB.
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Open the trackerCommon questions
Where does Iron Man fit in the Marvel timeline?
Position #5 in the MCU timeline, inside Phase 1 - The Avengers Initiative (2008 - 2012). It is #19 in factual release order.
Is Iron Man essential watching?
Yes. The main timeline does not work without it.
How long is Iron Man?
2h 6m including credits.