The Invincible Iron Man (2007)
MovieOptionalLegacy
After a cave escape echoes the comic-book origin, Tony Stark confronts the Mandarin's elemental warriors while forging his first true suit of Iron Man armor. Released in 2007, it’s a Marvel film that isn’t part of the MCU timeline, so it’s optional and stands on its own. It runs 1h 23m.
| Release date | January 23, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 1h 23m |
| Age rating | PG-13, some material may be inappropriate for under 13 |
| IMDb rating | 5.9/10 |
| Series | Legacy Marvel films |
| Post-credit scene | No |
Why it matters now
An early Marvel animated feature and a dry run for the armored origin story, released a year before Iron Man (2008) brought it to live action.
About The Invincible Iron Man
This animated retelling of Iron Man's origin sends Tony Stark to China, where he uncovers a lost city and accidentally releases a powerful evil force. To fix his mistake, he has to build weaponized armor and take on the Mandarin. The story borrows from the classic Stan Lee and Jack Kirby version of the character, and Howard Stark, Pepper Potts and James Rhodes are part of the cast.
The Invincible Iron Man was released direct to video on January 23, 2007, as the third Marvel Animated Feature, after the two Ultimate Avengers films. Lionsgate and Marvel made the series together through their joint venture, MLG Productions. Patrick Archibald and Jay Oliva directed with Frank Paur supervising, and Greg Johnson wrote the screenplay from a story by Johnson, Avi Arad and Craig Kyle. Marc Worden voices Tony, with Fred Tatasciore as the Mandarin, Elisa Gabrielli as Pepper and John McCook as Howard. It runs 83 minutes, and reviews were mixed.
Good to know
- It came out over a year before the MCU's Iron Man (2008), and one critic said it was enough to tide fans over until the live-action film arrived.
- Marc Worden returns as Tony Stark from Ultimate Avengers and Ultimate Avengers 2.
- It made about $5.3 million in US sales, third among the Marvel Animated Features.
- Fred Tatasciore voices the Mandarin, with Rodney Saulsberry as War Machine and James Sie as Wong-Chu.
How to watch it
Watch this after Ultimate Avengers and Ultimate Avengers 2, although it doesn't need them to make sense. It works as a standalone origin story and is interesting to compare with the MCU's Iron Man (2008), which tells the same origin with a very different Mandarin setup. The first act is slow, but the last act picks up.
Where it fits in your watch
- All legacy Marvel films
The Invincible Iron Man FAQ
Is The Invincible Iron Man connected to Ultimate Avengers?
Loosely. It's part of the same Marvel Animated Features line and Marc Worden voices Tony Stark again, but it tells a standalone origin story.
Who voices Iron Man in The Invincible Iron Man (2007)?
Marc Worden, reprising Tony Stark from the Ultimate Avengers films.
Is The Invincible Iron Man related to the 2008 Iron Man movie?
No. It's a separate animated film from Lionsgate and Marvel that came out over a year before the MCU movie.
Can you skip The Invincible Iron Man?
Yes. It’s not on the MCU timeline, so you won’t miss any MCU story by skipping it.
When was The Invincible Iron Man released?
The Invincible Iron Man was released on January 23, 2007.
Is The Invincible Iron Man part of the MCU?
No. The Invincible Iron Man is a Marvel film made outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so it isn’t on Marvel Studios’ official timeline.
Does The Invincible Iron Man have a post-credit scene?
No, The Invincible Iron Man has no post-credit scene.
Where to watch The Invincible Iron Man in the US
| Streaming (subscription) | Not currently on a US subscription service |
|---|
Where to watch The Invincible Iron Man outside the US
| Country | Stream | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not included | Not available |
| Canada | Not included | Not available |
| Australia | Not included | Rent: Fetch TV |
| India | Not included | Not available |
Streaming availability last verified: October 16, 2026
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