Iron Man is the first movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and there are several moments in the 2008 film that helped tease where the MCU was going. Directed by Jon Favreau, the first Iron Man movie hit theaters with the hopes of helping Marvel Studios launch a shared universe that would culminate with an Avengers team-up. No one predicted that it would be the film that started an unprecedented reign for the MCU that ultimately would lead to it becoming the biggest movie franchise in history. With over 30 films and more than a dozen TV shows released, all these projects are only possible because Iron Man worked.