Robert Downey Jr Was The MCU"s Best Casting, And These 10 Iron Man Scenes Prove It

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Robert Downey Jr"s time as Iron Man in the MCU cemented him as the franchise"s best casting, and there are many scenes from across his tenure which illustrate that fact. From the very beginning of the MCU’s movie timeline, Robert Downey Jr took the limelight as the franchise’s most important character, Tony Stark. The actor’s time as Iron Man not only revitalized his career, but it cemented him as one of the most popular and beloved figures in Hollywood.
Even years after the character’s death, it is widely maintained that Robert Downey Jr’s turn as Tony Stark was the best piece of casting in the entire franchise. Though it was once seen as something of a risk due to the actor’s personal and legal troubles, his time in the movies of the MCU cemented him as a superhero movie legend. With that in mind, here are 10 Iron Man scenes that prove Robert Downey Jr was the MCU’s best casting.
10 Heading Into Space Avengers: Infinity War (2018) Downey Jr’s penultimate appearance as Iron Man came in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, which began the epic two-part conclusion to the MCU’s Infinity Saga. The movie saw the many heroes of the MCU join forces to resist Thanos’s attempts to gather the last of the Infinity Stones in one of the most ambitious cinematic spectacles ever created. Despite the huge roster of stars in its cast, Robert Downey Jr was able to stand out, especially in an early scene depicting him leaving Earth.
After a battle with Thanos’s forces sees Stark stuck on the Mad Titan’s fleeing ship, he shares an exchange with Pepper Potts while leaving Earth behind. The simple yet emotional delivery of his lines outlines the nuances of the actor’s performance, using humor to mask his own unease due to his heroic responsibilities. Downey Jr’s performance captivates even in a relatively mundane exchange, highlighting how great his casting truly was.
9 Meeting Thor For The First Time The Avengers (2012) Even though Phase 1 of the MCU has long been left in the franchise’s past, there are still many examples of its excellence to be gleaned from the earliest MCU movies. The last movie of Phase 1, 2012’s The Avengers, saw the heroes meet for the first time, with Iron Man assuming something of a leadership role within the team. The scene in which Iron Man first meets Thor also stands out as an example of why Downey Jr was so perfect for the role.
The scene combines action with humor, with Iron Man in particular offering up several memorable and hilarious lines. The organic nature with which this levity is delivered is a testament to Downey Jr’s ability, with the scene continuing to stand out as one of the MCU’s funniest even years after The Avengers’ release. As such, it’s a great indicator of how Downey Jr’s casting lent an added spark to the chemistry of the franchise’s original Avengers team.
8 Lecturing Peter Parker Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) Though the MCU’s Tony Stark was most notably characterized by his sense of humor, the character was also seen undertaking many other roles in the franchise other than its resident joker. One of the hero’s most important relationships was with Peter Parker, who he took under his wing and mentored after Spider-Man was introduced. One scene in Spider-Man: Homecoming showed an entirely different side of the character of Tony Stark, with Downey Jr demonstrating another aspect of his performance.
The scene shows a disappointed Iron Man lecturing the young hero on his irresponsible actions. It not only shows how far Stark had grown over Iron Man’s MCU story, but also his ability to inspire and guide other heroes, acting as something of a father figure to Peter Parker. Blending humor with a slightly more serious aspect, Downey Jr’s delivery of this other side of Stark was absolutely perfect.
7 Mid-Air Plane Rescue Iron Man 3 (2013) Though Iron Man featured in many memorable action sequences in his time in the MCU, there are some that are all too often overlooked. One such scene comes in Iron Man 3, in which the hero rescues several passengers from a crashing plane in mid-air. Despite being in his Iron Man suit for the entire scene, Downey Jr’s performance helps make the scene truly exceptional.
The scene itself is well-crafted and appropriately tense, but Downey Jr’s ability to inject Tony Stark’s personality into proceedings is what helps it stand out. The use of humor and one-liners perfectly combines the drama of the moment with Stark’s own characteristic wit, elevating it from a simple action sequence to a great piece of cinema. The actor’s ability to communicate desperation, exasperation, and tension through in-suit close-ups and voice acting alone is especially commendable.
6 Post-Avengers Anxiety Attack Iron Man 3 (2013) Iron Man 3 may not be considered one of the hero’s best outings, but it does feature a number of scenes that perfectly illustrate why Robert Downey Jr was the perfect choice to play Tony Stark. As well as serving as a solo Iron Man story, the film also explores the fallout from the events of The Avengers, especially for Stark himself. This leads to a moment in which Tony Stark has a public anxiety attack as a direct result of his near-death experience in the Battle of New York.
The scene carries huge significance for the character of Tony Stark, as it offers a glimpse of the more human side of the usually arrogant and unflappable billionaire. Despite Stark’s general bravado, his very human vulnerability is laid bare in the scene, with Downey Jr’s sensitive performance perfectly capturing the character’s response to the events of The Avengers. The way that Downey Jr brings the scene to life is touching and powerful, and unexpectedly shows a very different side of the hero.
5 Mark II Test Flight Iron Man (2008) When it comes to MCU moments that never get old, there are few as noteworthy as the first time Tony Stark takes flight as Iron Man. The scene captures the character’s impulsive but well-meaning nature, and features humor, excitement, and visual spectacle all in one. As well-made as the scene may be, however, Robert Downey Jr still deserves some credit for how it turned out.
The actor’s measured performance brings the scene together perfectly. He’s able to communicate Stark’s gleeful excitement at taking to the sky in the Mark II, while also demonstrating his impressive ability to improvise and quickly adapt to situations. It’s a scene that cemented Iron Man as one of the most exciting movie heroes of all time, and that’s thanks in part to Downey Jr’s excellent performance, even from inside Iron Man’s suit.
4 Revealing His Identity To The World Iron Man (2008) Despite being one of the earliest moments in the entire MCU, Iron Man’s ending also stands out as a hugely pivotal moment in the history of the franchise. The scene in question shows Tony Stark attending a press conference to address the events of the movie’s climactic battle, armed with a speech explaining away the action and protecting his identity. Instead, he opts to announce himself to the world as Iron Man, making MCU history in the process.
The scene was reportedly the result of improvisation on Downey Jr’s part, further highlighting why he was a perfect choice for the role. The impulsive and slightly reckless nature of the choice fit Stark perfectly, and proved to be one of the best decisions regarding the character in the MCU. The way in which the actor influenced the character’s story even from the beginning perfectly demonstrates the synergy between the hero and the actor playing him.
3 Dogfight With The Raptors Iron Man (2008) Another regularly overlooked moment in the history of the MCU, one of Iron Man’s action scenes helped cement Tony Stark as one of the franchise’s most likable heroes. The scene follows Iron Man attacking a group of terrorists invading a village, and sees him come up against US forces while flying away from the action. The hero ends up being engaged by the Raptor aircrafts, and one of the movie’s most subtly enjoyable scenes ensues.
The scene not only shows Iron Man attempting to escape the encounter without harming the innocent pilots, but doing so while speaking with his friend, Colonel James Rhodes, on the phone. Rhodey watching the events unfold while Stark denies his involvement is comedically brilliant, and sold excellently by Downey Jr’s performance. The back and forth between the characters remains some of the best dialogue in the movie, with Downey Jr deserving significant credit for how entertaining a scene it is.
2 Learning The Truth About Bucky & The Starks Captain America: Civil War (2016) Tony Stark might have delivered some of the MCU’s funniest lines, but that’s not what made his Marvel movie performance perfect from start to finish. Some of Iron Man’s best MCU moments were his more dramatic ones, and those required the impressive acting skills of a consummate professional. One of the most emotional moments in Tony Stark’s MCU story came during Captain America: Civil War, when he learned that Bucky Barnes was the one who killed his parents in his time as the Winter Soldier.
The reveal is heart-wrenching, not least because Downey Jr’s performance is absolutely perfect. The actor is able to exude the betrayal the character feels at that moment in his every word and action, with his outrage and upset spilling over into a violent outburst that precipitates an emotional battle between heroes. The raw energy that Downey Jr injected into the scene only further evidences how perfect his casting in the role truly was.
1 Arguing with Captain America The Avengers (2012) One of Iron Man’s best scenes in the MCU came in 2012’s The Avengers, when tensions among the newly formed team ran especially high. The scene sees Captain America and Iron Man clashing on a personal level, trading insults and scathing assessments of one another. The entire scene is also perhaps the single best piece of evidence that Robert Downey Jr was the perfect choice to play Tony Stark in the MCU.
Downey Jr’s off-handed but decimating comebacks to Steve Rogers’ personal insults became instantly legendary, and it remains one of the MCU’s most quotable moments. There are few actors that could sell such a self-assured performance with as much charm as Robert Downey Jr, making him the best possible man for the job. As such, it’s yet more evidence that hiring him to play Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was the franchise’s best piece of casting.
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