‘Ironheart’ Soars to No. 1 on Disney+ Despite Review Bombing and Production Turmoil

In a dramatic turnaround that underscores both the volatility and resilience of modern streaming culture, Marvel Studios’ Ironheart has officially debuted at No. 1 on Disney+ in the U.S. as of June 26, 2025—just days after weathering a barrage of online review bombing and lukewarm early reception.

New MCU Series Dodges Review Bombers to Earn First Great Streaming Milestone

The six-episode limited series, centered on young inventor Riri Williams, played by Dominique Thorne, was targeted by negative user reviews before its premiere—dragging its Rotten Tomatoes audience score to an alarming low. At one point, Ironheart sat with a dismal user rating, despite no general audiences having seen a single episode. The flood of pre-release negative commentary, much of it seemingly coordinated, reflects a growing trend of “review bombing” that has plagued other recent genre releases, particularly those perceived as progressive or inclusive in their storytelling.

Yet Marvel’s latest small-screen offering has defied the digital backlash. Following the release of the show’s first three episodes, the audience score rebounded to a more moderate 60%, while critics have given it a solid 71%. Still, those figures don’t tell the whole story. With Ironheart now topping Disney+’s domestic streaming charts—beating out long-established fan favorites like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Sandlot, and even Snow White—the numbers suggest a significant viewer turnout, at least in its early days.

New MCU Series Dodges Review Bombers to Earn First Great Streaming Milestone

That success isn’t entirely surprising. New Marvel titles tend to generate strong first-week viewership simply by virtue of the brand’s massive global reach. However, what makes Ironheart’s triumph particularly noteworthy is the uphill battle it faced just to get here.

The production was marred by significant delays and behind-the-scenes uncertainty. Originally greenlit as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase Five expansion, the show was caught in the crosswinds of Hollywood’s labor strikes and strategic pivots within Marvel Studios itself. Those delays led to questions about whether Ironheart would see a release at all in 2025.

Thorne, who first portrayed Riri Williams in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, steps into a much more central role in Ironheart. Her character, a tech prodigy and MIT student, crafts her own version of the Iron Man suit, effectively inheriting Tony Stark’s legacy in the MCU. The show also stars Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Ramos, Cree Summer, Alden Ehrenreich, Lyric Ross, Manny Montana, and Regan Aliyah. At the creative helm is Chinaka Hodge, known for her work on Snowpiercer and The Midnight Club.

While the show has found an early audience, questions remain about its long-term impact—and whether a second season is even on the table. In a recent interview with The Direct, Thorne herself admitted she had “no idea” whether Ironheart would continue beyond its initial run, though she expressed interest in further exploring the character’s evolution.

“There’s a full range of other options presented to her in Season 1,” Thorne said, “and I would love to see Riri wrestle with all of those paths and possibilities.”

But Marvel has yet to confirm any renewal plans. With internal concerns over the show’s protracted development and only modest critical reception, the studio may be taking a wait-and-see approach to determine whether Ironheart has staying power.

Meanwhile, the show’s presence atop the Disney+ charts signals at least a temporary vindication—for the creators, for Dominique Thorne, and for Marvel’s continued investment in fresh faces and new stories. It also underscores a growing reality of streaming culture: that strong viewership and cultural relevance don’t always track neatly with online ratings, especially when bad-faith campaigns distort audience perception.

As the entertainment industry continues to grapple with the influence of social media mobs, Ironheart offers a timely case study in resilience—and a hopeful sign that viewers are still willing to give bold new characters a chance, even when the noise says otherwise.

For now, Riri Williams has taken flight—and despite the turbulence, she’s holding altitude. Whether Marvel lets her soar higher from here remains an open question.