Which 2008 film introduced Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark?

The 2008 film that introduced Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark was Iron Man.

Directed by Jon Favreau, Iron Man follows billionaire industrialist and engineer Tony Stark after he is captured in Afghanistan and forced to build a weapon for the Ten Rings. Instead, Stark and fellow captive Ho Yinsen construct an arc reactor and an armored prototype that helps him escape. Stark then turns his technology toward becoming the superhero Iron Man.

The film was based on the Marvel Comics character created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Don Heck, and Jack Kirby. Marvel Studios made it its first self-financed feature, with Paramount Pictures distributing it. Downey’s casting initially faced resistance within Marvel, but his performance became central to the film’s success and to the identity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Iron Man premiered in Sydney on April 14, 2008, and reached U.S. theaters on May 2. It was the first MCU film and the opening entry in Phase One. It is commonly confused with The Incredible Hulk, another 2008 Marvel release, but that film did not introduce Downey’s Tony Stark character.