Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Family movie night? There's an app for that

Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Iron Man: Rise of Technovore

By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Animated Iron Man adventure is convoluted and violent.

Movie PG-13 2013 88 minutes
Iron Man: Rise of Technovore Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man (voiced by Matthew Mercer), faces one of his greatest challenges: Ezekiel Stane (son of Obadiah) has developed a frightening new kind of nanotechnology that gives him the power to freeze Iron Man's armor; he also wishes to use it to take over the world. During a massive surprise attack, Iron Man's best friend Rhody appears to have been killed. At the same time, Iron Man is in trouble with S.H.I.E.L.D., and his colleagues Hawkeye and Black Widow are out to catch him and bring him in. But he receives help from a most unexpected place: the vigilante hero The Punisher (voiced by Norman Reedus). Can Iron Man save the world?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (4 ):

IRON MAN: RISE OF TECHNOVORE was produced in Japan and plays more like a violent, complex anime than a standard American superhero movie. Director Hiroshi Hamazaki was a veteran animator on well-known classics like Ninja Scroll, Metropolis, and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. Unfortunately, the hybrid really doesn't work.

The filmmakers vainly attempt to re-capture some of the character banter from the live-action Iron Man movies, but can't re-create the energy and chemistry of Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, etc. Moreover, the plot is highly convoluted. When the characters aren't attempting to make wisecracks or trying to explain the plot to each other, the movie focuses on explosive battle sequences. The finale has Iron Man facing a giant, mutated villain, struggling to find logical ways to attack. Sadly, it barely makes sense.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's violence. How does it affect you? Is it thrilling? Is it too much? Does it always advance the story?

  • Does Iron Man set up impossible standards for men's body image? Do you think boys are as affected by images of masculinity and unrealistic male bodies as women are of female versions?

  • Is it considered heroic for Iron Man to ask for help from others? Do superheroes usually need help to succeed? What about regular people?

Movie Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate