--- title: "Iron Man 3: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/iron-man-3/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/iron-man-3" critics_score: 71 critics_reviews: 24 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Iron Man 3 (2013): what the critics said Critics' score 71 from 24 reviews: 17 positive, 7 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics come away pleased, and the praise lands in two places: Shane Black’s script and direction, and Robert Downey Jr’s performance. Black is credited with giving the franchise a sharper, more irreverent tone, with quick dialogue and inventive set pieces. Downey Jr is widely admired, and several reviews single out the long stretch that keeps Stark out of the armour and the small-town section with a boy in Tennessee as the film’s warmest passages. Ben Kingsley’s villain draws repeated admiration, which the reviews decline to describe. The reservations cluster around plot. Several find the story convoluted, the supporting cast overcrowded and the action hard to follow, with a slow first act and a sagging middle. No review is outright negative, but the spread is wide: Variety calls it workmanlike and tired, The New York Times finds it formulaic, and the Financial Times enjoys Downey Jr and little else. ## Slant Magazine Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 30 April 2013. The critic welcomes Black's galvanic take as a darkly comical and self-aware blockbuster that injects personality and reinvents the superhero formula with twists, buddy-cop energy, and ambitious set pieces. It stands out for its thematic focus on corporate responsibility and character growth amid the spectacle. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/iron-man-3/) ## The Guardian — Xan Brooks, Catherine Shoard and Henry Barnes Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 22 April 2013. The film is smart, funny and spectacular luxury superhero entertainment. Shane Black's script and Robert Downey Jr's virtuoso comic performance are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/apr/22/iron-man-3-review) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 23 April 2013. The critic finds Iron Man 3 a spirited and successful return for the franchise thanks to Shane Black's irreverent humor and direction. Downey Jr. delivers a standout performance full of verbal dexterity, and the film benefits from clever twists and strong set pieces including a memorable midair rescue sequence. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/iron-man-3-film-review-444861/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 24 April 2013. The film blasts onto screens with the right blend of explosions, banter and superhero shenanigans, proving plenty of life left in the hero. The critic highlights Robert Downey Jr's complex performance, Shane Black's smart dialogue, and fresh, intriguing villains. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/iron-man-3/5054182.article) ## Empire — Nick de Semlyen Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 24 April 2013. Shane Black's direction brings wit, heart and strong set pieces to what is called the best solo Iron Man outing, with clever dismantling of the hero's armour and a standout Mandarin twist. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/iron-man-3-review/) ## Sight and Sound — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 April 2013. The Marvel universe scores another irresistible hit with Shane Black at the helm. The critic singles out the director's comic chops, the small-town section with a kid, and Ben Kingsley's surprising villain performance for praise. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-iron-man-three) ## Total Film — James Mottram Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 29 April 2013. Black's scripting and action direction make this the most entertaining Iron Man solo film, with snappy dialogue, strong set pieces and a rug-pulling narrative, despite some saggy middle sections. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/iron-man-3-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 May 2013. The critic praises Shane Black for smartly rebooting the franchise's tone while keeping Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, making it darker and more serious than before. He appreciates the unguessable twists and strong supporting cast. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2013-may-02-la-et-mn-iron-man-3-review-20130503-story.html) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 April 2013. The critic describes the film as a messy and logorrheic affair until it shifts focus to Stark's interactions with a young boy in Tennessee. That section provides uncommon zest and warmth amid the action. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/05/06/battle-weary) ## Vulture — David Edelstein Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 May 2013. The critic praises the film for succeeding by keeping Iron Man out of the suit for much of the runtime, forcing Downey's Stark to rely on ingenuity and personality. Black's direction brings welcome wit, strong set pieces, and effective supporting turns while handling the post-Avengers continuity cleverly. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2013/05/movie-review-iron-man-3.html) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 30 April 2013. The review highlights Downey Jr.'s charismatic turn and the impressive action set pieces in this uneven epic that satisfies diehard fans despite its length and complexity. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/iron-man-3-film-review-8589234.html) ## The AV Club — A.A. Dowd Rating C+. 2 May 2013. The critic sees the film as sporadically diverting but ultimately hampered by too many supporting characters and incoherent CGI action. It shines most when Tony Stark is out of the suit relying on wits, with Downey Jr. amusing in those scenes, but struggles to match the balance of The Avengers. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/iron-man-3-1798176673) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 3/5. 19 April 2013. A mixed bag of heady peaks and troughs in a scrappy but likeable sequel. The critic praises Shane Black's punchy one-liners and Ben Kingsley's astonishing supervillain turn while complaining about the tedious first act and confusing action sequences. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/iron-man-3) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 26 April 2013. The critic praises Robert Downey Jr.'s charismatic performance as Tony Stark and the film's spectacle and humour, but finds the storyline superficial B-movie fare lacking dramatic tension and seriousness. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/iron-man-3-review-a-big-hand-for-downey-jr-but-movie-lacks-dramatic-mettle-8588873.html) ## Financial Times — Antonia Quirke Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 25 April 2013. The film is manic with Downey Jr revelling in the role and a witty twist with Ben Kingsley. The rest is just things blowing up in a boring noisy confusing nothingness. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/e8051bb6-ad8b-11e2-82b8-00144feabdc0) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 2 May 2013. The critic finds the film unoriginal and formulaic, much like its predecessors, with the usual quips, gadgets, and explosions. She notes the unfortunate timing of its release shortly after the Boston Marathon bombings. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/03/movies/iron-man-3-with-robert-downey-jr.html) ## Variety — Scott Foundas Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 24 April 2013. The critic calls it a solid but workmanlike entry hampered by franchise fatigue and an unmemorable villain, yet it still delivers enough of what fans expect. Black keeps the pace brisk with some modest surprises and impressive set pieces. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/iron-man-three-review-1200413714/) ## Den of Geek — James Hunt Rating 4/5. 24 April 2013. The critic praises the film for making the story personal, focusing on Tony Stark's PTSD and character development after The Avengers, with inventive action sequences and humor that make it a success against the odds. They single out the audacious Mandarin portrayal, the modular Mark 42 armor, and strong supporting turns as highlights, calling it a triumphant return to form better than the prior Iron Man entries and a fitting character ending. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/iron-man-3-review-2/) ## Digital Spy — Stella Papamichael Rating 4/5. 23 April 2013. The review describes the film as a witty, well-oiled entertainment machine with Shane Black's signature action and rat-a-tat humor, stripping Stark down emotionally with panic attacks and regression while delivering crash-bang fun and a grand finale. They single out Ben Kingsley's surprising Mandarin turn, the zeitgeist-capturing screenplay, and Robert Downey Jr.'s engaging performance revealing the character's soft spots beneath the armor. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a474698/iron-man-3-review-a-witty-well-oiled-entertainment-machine/) ## HeyUGuys — Lisa Giles-Keddie Rating 4/5. 24 April 2013. The critic calls it a highly enjoyable character exploration of a more vulnerable and likeable Tony Stark, blending big action, sci-fi, and comedy in a way that feels fresh and stimulating. They single out the strong villains, especially Ben Kingsley's surprising and funny Mandarin, plus Shane Black's direction and Robert Downey Jr.'s energetic, humanized performance. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/iron-man-3-review/) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B. 2 May 2013. The critic describes it as a bumpy but highly enjoyable ride that is the funniest and most exciting of the trilogy, praising Shane Black's handling of comedy, action, and focus on Tony Stark's character, while noting underdeveloped ideas. [Read the review](https://collider.com/iron-man-3-review/) ## /Film — Russ Fischer Rating 7.5/10. 3 May 2013. The review describes the film as a bundle of contradictions that gives it a unique, idiosyncratic personality unlike other superhero movies, praising Shane Black's style, the ambition in mixing real-world elements with escapism, and standout action sequences. It singles out Robert Downey Jr.'s rapport with the director and energy as a highlight while noting some plotting weaknesses and uneven ideas. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/526120/iron-man-3-review-risks-pay-off-as-marvel-studios-moves-beyond-the-avengers/) ## Paste — Michael Burgin Rating 8.0. 3 May 2013. Despite concerns about changes to the Mandarin and the unarmored Tony, the film works well with a good mix of action, humor, and plot, succeeding largely due to Robert Downey Jr.'s embodiment of Tony Stark and Shane Black's direction. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/post-159) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 30 April 2013. The critic finds the film supercharged fun with witty banter, explosive action, and strong performances from Downey Jr. and others, but notes that convoluted plotting, unmemorable villains, and an imbalanced focus undercut its joys. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/iron-man-3-review-supercharged-fun-just-take-your-thinking-cap-88516/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/iron-man-3.md