How has Hollywood played a role in influencing American domestic and foreign policies, through its militaristic films?  While popular franchises like Marvel are based in fiction, their films’ content and reception thereof merge entertainment with politics. Mirroring the real events of the so-called ‘War on Terror’, 2008’s “Iron Man” is read as a pro-war installment to inspire a neocolonial national imaginary. Whereas, 2012’s “Iron Man revives Cold War-era attitudes towards Russia, while championing American ingenuity and neoliberalism. Finally, “The Avengers” released in 2012 explores popular debates on American government surveillance post-9/11, highlighting the paradox of promoting freedom through increased surveillance.