I have many obsessions: sweet tea, books, “Dance Moms” and most importantly: the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As of now, there are 27 movies and five Disney+ series. Not all of the movies were released in the timeline order, so Disney+ has a feature where fans can watch the movies in the specific order. The eighth movie in the timeline order: “Iron Man 3,” was released on May 3, 2013. Spoiler alerts ahead:

The movie starts with Tony Stark’s flashback to New Year’s Eve 1999 when he meets a scientist, Maya Hansen, in Switzerland and avoids nerdy scientist, Aldrich Killian.

Back in New York, Stark talks about when he turned on the TV to find a new terrorist at work called the Mandarin (leading to an AWESOME movie that came out in 2021). The president is only able to come up with taking Mark 8, which is the suit worn by James Rhodes (Rhodey) who is the War Machine, give it a new look, and introduce the Iron Patriot. We also learn when Stark is talking with Rhodey, that he is suffering from anxiety. 

Pepper then has an appointment with Aldrich Killian who is in much better shape. He wants them to fund an experiment which uses brain power to alter human DNA. Pepper tells him no because they could be used as human weapons. 

In the meantime Happy Hogan, played by Jon Favreau and one of the best characters, is now the new head of security at Stark Industries, even though he unintentionally irritates everyone.

The next day, Happy follows Eric Savin, who is one of Killian’s men, to the Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Savin gives another person, Jack Taggart a briefcase and when Happy tries to intervene but is beaten senseless by Savin. Right after, Taggart literally explodes. Hours later, the Mandarin hijacks the Tv to take responsibility. Obviously, Stark is furious. 

Jarvis brings up a hologram diagram of what happened at the theater. Stark discovers that Happy is pointing to some dog tags with Taggart’s name on them. While investigating similar things, he decides to go to Tennessee. He is interrupted when the doorbell rings and Maya Hansen is at the door. She tells him that he is in danger when seconds later, his house is attacked by helicopter gunships. He uses his new Mark 42 suit to protect Pepper, and then to destroy the helicopters. The house falls into the sea, taking him with it, and when the suit regains some power and flies off, he passes out. 

He wakes up sometime later when Jarvis sets off the low battery alarm. He first thinks he is in North Carolina but it turns out he is in Tennessee. With a dead suit, he finds a seemingly empty house nearby and begins working on MK42. It turns out that a 10 year old named Harley uses that garage. They team up.

Tony meets with someone at a bar when someone shows up and handcuffs him. She poses as a Homeland Security agent. When he tries to escape Savin corners him but he manages to overpower them. Savin also tries to take Harley hostage but it doesn’t work. 

Rhodey thinks he has located the Mandarin and takes his suit to the Middle East. He only finds an abandoned warehouse where he finds out that a file he got in Rose Hill is a document from Killian’s company (AIM). In Tennessee, Tony hacks into AIM’s servers and finds footage of an experimental treatment which is supposed to allow its users to recover from crippling injuries, but if their body can’t properly handle it, it heats to a high temperature and explodes. 

When Rhodey tracks the Mandarin’s IP address, it actually turns out to be a trap and Killan’s agent steals his suit. Tony then uses the IP address that he has been using to hijak American Airwaves and he is in Miami. He discovers that the Mandarin is actually a British actor named Trevor Slattery, who is literally so funny, and oblivious to everything that is going on. Tony is then captured by Killian’s men. 

Essentially Killian intends to attack the President but Rhodey tracks him to a shipyard in Miami’s port. Jarvis uses the “House Party Protocol” which releases an army of Iron Man suits. Pepper also gets involved and survives the experiment and falls 200 feet. When Killian goes to kill Tony, Pepper shows up and finishes Killian off. 

After, Tony orders the “Clean Slate Protocol” which destroys all of the remaining suits. He gets rid of his chest arc reactor saying he will always be Iron Man, even without his suit. He also leaves Harley with a brand new lab.

The post credit scene shows that he has been telling Bruce Banner about his experiences. 

I loved this movie!