Steve Jobs rang Disney boss Bob Iger personally to tell him that 'Iron Man 2' sucked

Iron Man 2 (Credit: Paramount)
Iron Man 2 (Credit: Paramount)

No one really loved Iron Man 2.

After the barn-storming, Marvel Cinematic Universe-founding success of Jon Favreau's first Iron Man in 2008, the 2010 follow up, which also featured Scarlett Johansson's first outing as Black Widow, was a bit of a damp squib.

It featured Sam Rockwell as Tony Stark's weapons manufacturing rival Justin Hammer and Mickey Rourke as rogue scientist Ivan Vanko, aka Whiplash, and had plenty in the plus column.

But reviews were notably more muted than those seen for the first movie, and none were more succinct than that of Apple founder Steve Jobs, it has emerged.

(Credit: Paramount)
(Credit: Paramount)

With movie anecdotes continuing to drop from Disney CEO Bob Iger's new memoir, The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company, the latest details the iconic creator of the Mac and the iPhone calling Iger to detail his thoughts on the movie.

Read more: Iger admits Disney released too many Star Wars movies

“When Iron Man 2 came out, Steve took his son to see it and called me the next day,” Iger writes.

“'I took Reed to see Iron Man 2 last night,' he said. 'It sucked.'”

Steve Jobs, as Pixar Animation Studios CEO  with Walt Disney CEO Robert Iger (l-r), after announcement that Disney is buying Pixar, photo
Steve Jobs, as Pixar Animation Studios CEO with Walt Disney CEO Robert Iger (l-r), after announcement that Disney is buying Pixar, photo

Paramount was in charge of the Marvel movies at the time of the movie's release, so Iger wasn't involved in the movie's production, but talks were already in place for Disney to take over the Marvel movies in a deal worth more than $4 billion.

Read more: Apple and Disney would have merged, says Iger

As such, Iger says he felt compelled to stress the movie's financial gains – it made $624 million at the box office, more than it's more celebrated predecessor.

Also, Iger said he “couldn’t let [Jobs] feel he was right all the time”.

Jobs got a place on Disney's board following the Mouse House's purchase of Pixar from Apple in 2006, after two year of negotiations.

And while Iron Man 2 might have 'sucked', Disney's acquisition of Marvel proved vastly lucrative.

The first Disney-produced Marvel movie, Avengers Assemble, made $1.5 billion at the box office, while Iron Man 3 made $1.2 billion.