If you are wondering where to watch Iron Man 2, it streams on Disney Plus in the US, and it belongs right after Iron Man in any watch order. That first film is the only homework you need. Iron Man 2 is recommended rather than essential, mostly because it introduces Black Widow and lays the groundwork for The Avengers.
In the US, Iron Man 2 is on Disney Plus, together with the rest of the Phase 1 films. That makes a back-to-back run easy: you can finish the original, start the sequel and move on to the next title without switching services. Availability changes from country to country, so if you live outside the US, check the watch box on this page for the services in your region.
The film runs 124 minutes. Add a couple of minutes for the scene after the credits, which you should not skip, because it points straight at the next Phase 1 hero.
Iron Man 2 opened in 2010 as the third Phase 1 release. The only prerequisite is Iron Man, which ends with Tony admitting to the world who he is. This sequel starts from that announcement, so watching the two together works well.
Release order and story order disagree slightly here:
| Order | Before Iron Man 2 | After Iron Man 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Story order | Iron Man | The Incredible Hulk |
| Release order | The Incredible Hulk | Thor |
On our timeline The Incredible Hulk comes next. Fans sometimes call this stretch "Fury's Big Week," because Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk and Thor all unfold within a few days of each other. That overlap explains why Tony shows up at the end of the Hulk film: his cameo happens after the events of this one. Our Marvel Phase 1 in order guide lays out the whole stretch, both ways.
Being Iron Man in public has gone to Tony's head. He opens the Stark Expo like a rock star, a Senate committee wants his armor handed over as a weapon, and his friend Rhodey is stuck between the Pentagon and a man who refuses to share. Behind the swagger, Tony is hiding a much more personal problem: the device in his chest that keeps him alive is slowly poisoning him.
Meanwhile in Russia, a physicist named Ivan Vanko builds his own version of Stark technology, fueled by a grudge against the Stark family. Rival arms dealer Justin Hammer sees an opportunity in both men. Add a new assistant at Stark Industries who seems far too capable for the job, and Tony has more than enough to handle.
So what is the film really about? Legacy, mostly. Tony keeps running into his father's shadow, through old film reels, old designs and old enemies, and he has to decide what kind of man he wants to be now that everyone is watching. It is busier than the original, but the Monaco race sequence and the final drone battle give it plenty of energy.
There is one scene, and it comes after the full credits. Agent Coulson drives out to a crater in the New Mexico desert, where something very heavy is lying in the dirt. Anyone who has seen Thor will recognize it at once. It was the first time a Marvel film used its final scene to tease a different hero's movie, and it leads directly into Thor.
It is recommended on our list, a step below essential. The film's biggest legacy is the people it introduces. Natasha Romanoff, later Black Widow, makes her first appearance here, and Rhodey suits up for the first time as War Machine. Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. get more screen time, Phil Coulson keeps tabs on Tony, and the Avengers Initiative moves from a hint to an actual plan.
If you are short on time you could skip it and still follow The Avengers, but you would miss where several of its heroes start. It also explains why Fury is wary of Tony when the team first comes together.
Jon Favreau directs again. Robert Downey Jr. returns as Tony Stark and Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, who gets a much bigger role at the company this time. Don Cheadle takes over as Lt. Col. James Rhodes. Scarlett Johansson plays Natalie Rushman, the cover identity of Natasha Romanoff. Sam Rockwell is the fast-talking Justin Hammer, and Mickey Rourke plays Ivan Vanko, the villain fans know as Whiplash.
Pair Iron Man 2 with The Incredible Hulk on consecutive nights, then watch Thor while the crater scene is still fresh. For the full Tony Stark arc, our Iron Man movies in order page lists the three solo films and his team-ups. If you want to keep going all the way to Endgame, the Infinity Saga in order guide covers Phases 1 through 3, and the marathon plan turns it into a schedule that fits your free evenings.
In the US, Iron Man 2 streams on Disney Plus, along with the other Iron Man films and the rest of Phase 1. In other countries availability varies, so check the watch box on this page for local options.
Watch Iron Man first. The sequel opens shortly after the original's final press conference and assumes you know Tony, Pepper, Rhodey and the arc reactor. No other film is required.
Yes, there is one scene after the full credits. Agent Coulson arrives at a crater in New Mexico where a large hammer is lying. It sets up Thor, which was the next MCU release.
You can, since The Avengers explains enough on its own. You would miss Black Widow's first appearance, the debut of War Machine and a lot of S.H.I.E.L.D. setup, which is why we rate it as recommended.
In story order, The Incredible Hulk comes next, and its events overlap with Iron Man 2. In release order the next film is Thor, which the post-credits scene sets up.
Iron Man 2 runs 124 minutes, a little over two hours. Wait for the scene after the credits, because it links straight into Thor.
Our timeline places Iron Man 2 in 2011, shortly after the events of the first film. It overlaps with The Incredible Hulk and Thor during the stretch fans call Fury's Big Week.
Scarlett Johansson plays Natasha Romanoff, who first appears under the cover name Natalie Rushman. Iron Man 2 is her first MCU film, and she returns as Black Widow in The Avengers.
Yes. Agent Coulson leaves partway through the film for an assignment in New Mexico, and the post-credits scene shows what he finds there. Thor picks up that thread and takes place during the same week.
Track what you've watched, rate it, take notes.
