Iron Man is ten years old TODAY: Road to Avengers Infinity War started a whole decade ago

The MCU launched with Iron Man back in 2008 – and it landed in US cinemas on May 2.

It was a big risk at the time: Marvel Studios’ first self-financed film, and one that had been in development since way back in 1990 with various other studios.

What was also a risk was putting Robert Downey Jr front-and-centre: there was surprise at the time when he was chosen to front a huge big-budget summer blockbuster, but director Jon Favreau was adamant he was the man for the job.

“The best and worst moments of Robert’s life have been in the public eye. He had to find an inner balance to overcome obstacles that went far beyond his career. That’s Tony Stark,” he said.

Allegedly facing pushback from Marvel execs, he added: “It was my job as a director to show that it was the best choice creatively.

“Everybody knew he was talented [and] certainly by studying the Iron Man role and developing that script I realised that the character seemed to line-up with Robert in all the good and bad ways.”

Of course it paid off: Iron Man grossed a hefty $98.6 million in its opening weekend in the US, and at the time it logged the 13th best opening day of all time ($35.2 million).

Just a few weeks later, it became the first film of the year to pass the $300 million mark domestically.

Critics adored it too: the movie snagged a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and logged 79/100 on Meteoritic.

It also managed two Oscar nominations: one for Best Visual Effects and another for Best Sound Editing.

The film introduced us to a couple of characters who remain in the MCU up to Infinity War: Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts, for one, as well as Paul Bettany as the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S. – before the days of Vision.

James “Rhodey” Rhodes is also in the mix, the man who would later go on to become War Machine – but here it’s Terrence Howard playing him, before Don Cheadle took over in the sequel.

Going by Rotten Tomatoes scores, Iron Man is the second-best MCU movie of the 19 released so far; second only to Black Panther (96%).

In terms of worldwide box office gross, it is 15th of the 19, ahead of Ant-Man, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger and The Incredible Hulk – proving that the MCU continued to go from strength-to-strength after its release.

Avengers: Infinity War is out now.