The National Film Registry recently inducted several new films to the Library of Congress, including The Dark Knight. This is the second superhero film to be included, with the other being 1978's Superman. For a film to be included, it needs to at least be ten-years-old, and it needs to be, "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant," so it makes sense why these films are included, but it's surprising that Marvel is not represented on this list.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has changed the film industry for good. While most of the MCU films are not ten-year-old yet, the film that started the MCU, Iron Man, is not only old enough, but it is also historically, aesthetically and culturally significant.
Iron Man Was a New Kind of Hero
Up until Iron Man, most cinematic superheroes conformed to the stereotypical rules of being a vigilante, with many heroes keeping their identities a secret. Many comic adaptations also didn't have their superheroes kill people directly at the time, with a few exceptions, like 2004's The Punisher. Iron man, on the other hand, introduced audiences to a superhero who was not afraid to get his hands dirty for the greater good, intentionally killing those holding him hostage, as well as several bad guys later on. He also defied all expectations by being up front about his superhero identity, proclaiming to the world, "I am Iron Man."
This sort of hero revolutionized how superheroes would be depicted in later films. By having him own up to his Iron Man identity, Tony Stark was held accountable for his actions as the hero, which not only played a huge part in his films, but it also played a huge part in the overall MCU, as seen in Captain America: Civil War. Furthermore, it solidified that a secret identity, while still used by heroes like Spider-Man, Superman and Batman, was a dated notion, with most MCU heroes being upfront about their double lives, despite the risks at hand.
Furthermore, with Iron Man introducing a hero who was willing to take another life for the greater good, it made heroes more morally gray. While most movies up until Iron Man avoided having their superheroes kill someone intentionally, Iron Man showed that this was hard to believe when some heroes are so overpowered, and it also showed that not all heroes have a pristine moral compass.
That's the beauty of Tony Stark; he started off a corrupt individual who realized his actions had consequences, so he became a hero to right these wrongs. Even though he's without a doubt a hero, his actions, even when he's Iron Man, still have repercussions. He's far from perfect, but that made him relatable, and it made his story all the more engaging.
While this was true for every film Tony Stark had been in, Iron Man best explored his inner conflict, while also giving fans a morally complex hero with nothing to hide. Along with being a great film, Iron Man changed the landscape for superhero movies in the future, especially in regards to the MCU.
The Beginning of the MCU
Without Iron Man, there is no MCU. There was a lot riding on this flagship film because a connected universe at this scale had never been done before. There were franchises before, but properties like Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings primarily focused on a central group of characters who were part of the same story from the get-go. The MCU, on the other hand, consists of individual films that feature different characters and storylines, which will eventually crossover in a big event movie, the first being The Avengers.
While more franchises are trying to replicate this, with Star Wars expanding its universe on Disney+ and the DC films creating their own connected universe, the MCU was the first of its kind. Therefore, it was a huge risk to take, and the first film in this sort of endeavor needed to be a knockout. It had to set the standards of the MCU, standing on its own as a solo film while also leaving fans wanting more for the wider universe.
Iron Man not only did this, but it also exceeded all expectations. There's a reason that Tony Stark played a huge role in several films outside of the Iron Man movies, and there's a reason why the Infinity Saga sent off the hero with his iconic line, "I am Iron Man."
His first film is what paved the way for the MCU, and in turn, it's what paved the way for every franchise that's trying to recreate the MCU's magic. With the MCU being one of the most profitable, influential franchises out there, the movie that started it all, Iron Man, deserves to be included on the National Film Registry.