Plagued with worry and insomnia since saving New York from destruction, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), now, is more dependent on the suits that give him his Iron Man persona so much so that every aspect of his life is affected, including his relationship with Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow). Suffering from PTSD, Tony Stark encounters a formidable foe called the Mandarin. When he watches his world fall apart, he must rely on his own instincts as he embarks on a journey of retribution. Iron Man 3 premiered at the Grand Rex in Paris on April 14, 2013, and was released in the United States on May 3, as the first film in Phase Two of the MCU.

With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark faces pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, with Pepper Potts and James 'Rhodey' Rhodes at his side, must forge new alliances – and confront powerful enemies. Meanwhile, Tony is battling a more personal threat � the arc reactor in his chest is slowly poisoning him. With time running out, he becomes reckless and self-destructive, alienating those closest to him, including Pepper Potts and his best friend.

After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil. Upon returning home, Stark is forever changed. Disturbed by how his technology is being misused, he announces Stark Industries will cease weapons production, shocking his business partner Obadiah Stane. In secret, Stark refines his armored suit, transforming himself into Iron Man � a vigilante superhero dedicated to fighting injustice. As he uncovers a betrayal within his company and confronts Stane, who becomes a monstrous armored foe, Stark is forced to take full responsibility for the consequences.