Custom Image By Karlis Wilde
Updated Aug 1, 2026, 11:55 AM EDT
Karlis has been obsessing over television and movie news since he first learned how to read. He has worked in tech, as a musician, and in journalism with a well-rounded knowledge base of pop-culture throughout the eras. He claims that he has memorized the entire Internet Movie Database, and to date no one has been able to refute this.
Holding a Bachelor's Degree in Religion and Culture from Wilfrid Laurier University, Karlis loves to examine the intersections of popular science-fiction and culture. His latest novel MASS. is available now on Amazon and examines a world where obesity has become a federal crime.
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The Hulk has been a major part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for over a decade, being now one of the few remaining original Avengers. Based on everything known about Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, there's a strong chance Bruce Banner will likely return to the MCU sooner rather than later. However, the character's path in the universe so far has been unusual, and there are questions about what direction his future will go. This is especially true given the Hulk's transformation into Smart Hulk, blending Banner's brain with his counterpart's brawn.
With rumors that a World War Hulk movie could be on the horizon for the MCU timeline, there are great hopes that Banner's story will be expanded soon. While in his most recent appearance in the MCU, the Hulk wears a Hawaiian shirt and introduces his son at a family barbeque, the prospect of him once again entering a berserker rage is a much anticipated concept. A prospective major Hulk storyline could make the past of the character all the more important - and all the more complicated, since the hero's main story is told throughout so many different MCU movies.
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The Incredible Hulk |
June 13, 2008 |
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The Avengers |
May 4, 2012 |
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Iron Man 3 |
May 3, 2013 |
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Avengers: Age of Ultron |
May 1, 2015 |
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Thor: Ragnarok |
November 3, 2017 |
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Avengers: Infinity War |
April 27, 2018 |
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Captain Marvel |
March 8, 2019 |
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Avengers: Endgame |
April 26, 2019 |
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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings |
September 3, 2021 |
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She-Hulk: Attorney at Law |
August 17, 2022 |
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Spider-Man: Brand New Day |
July 31, 2026 |
Every MCU Hulk Movie In Order
Hulk Has Appeared In 10 Marvel Cinematic Universe Projects
Hulk's arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been long and complex. From beginning with his own film starring Edward Norton as the scientist Bruce Banner, there were some difficulties between the actor and the production team. He was replaced by Mark Ruffalo, who has since played an increasingly domesticated version of the brutish monster. While Hulk's smashing action was executed well in some places, the character's evolution has been an unusual and interesting journey, and there is still promise for where the MCU is going with the character.
The Incredible Hulk
The Incredible Hulk introduces the character quickly in the Marvel Universe, eschewing the origin story. Instead, Banner is already on the run and in hiding. As circumstances evolve, Banner and his Hulk persona become dragged into confrontations with the Abomination as he scours the globe, searching for a cure to contain the Hulk. Focused on that tension more than anything, the film feels barely connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even this Edward Norton character iteration seems to be unrecognizable from the Mark Ruffalo version that would appear in his next film.
The Avengers
The Avengers quickly rids itself of the tension between Bruce Banner and the Hulk in one iconic scene. When Bruce mutters, "That's my secret, Cap. I'm always angry," the Hulk is effectively introduced as the MCU sees him. Recast with Mark Ruffalo, this film gives one of the most fun executions of the character. Rather than being weighted by the emotional turmoil resulting from his duality, this Bruce Banner integrates with the Hulk and uses it to his advantage and that of the heroes. Many iconic smashing scenes follow, cementing the best iteration of the character.
Iron Man 3
Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner makes a brief cameo appearance in Iron Man 3 during a post-credit sequence. As Tony narrates the film, it is revealed at the end that he is speaking to Bruce Banner, who is acting as a sort of therapist to the hero. Banner then says, "I'm not that kind of doctor," giving the moment some levity. This scene does work, however, to connect the relationship between the heroes briefly. Following Tony and Bruce's shared passion for science in The Avengers, this short, humorous scene helps to connect relationships better and suggests behind-the-scenes growth between the characters.
Avengers: Age Of Ultron
Avengers: Age of Ultron attempts to do some interesting things with the Hulk, but most of these fall flat. A romance between Bruce and Natasha is introduced, but it fails to be effective and is not addressed again in later films. Hulk loses control in this film in a new way, and after Tony is forced to use the Hulkbuster armor to slow him, Bruce decides he is too much of a threat to remain with the team. He is shown departing in a Quinjet, setting up future appearances off-world.
Thor: Ragnarok
In one of the most fun executions of the Hulk character, Thor finds himself in a gladiatorial ring in a fight against the green monster. Believing that the Hulk is the same person he always was, he joyfully declares, "he's a friend from work!" before being attacked. The film draws from the "Planet Hulk" storyline, and sees Bruce Banner trying to regain control of himself while living on the distant planet of Sakaar. The events of the film show a growing cooperation between Thor and Banner, that eventually leads directly into the opening of Avengers: Infinity War.
Avengers: Infinity War
©Marvel/©Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/Courtesy Everett CollectionAvengers: Infinity War opens with the Hulk being beaten senseless by Thanos. Following the development of Hulk as arguably the "strongest Avenger," this scene quickly solidifies the enormous threat that Thanos represents. The hero is then thrown down to Earth, where he warns the Avengers of Thanos' impending attack. Notably, from this point, Bruce does not turn back into the Hulk. While Infinity War deleted scenes suggest there was a plan for Hulk to transform, the film only allowed Bruce to contribute to the final battle while wearing the Hulkbuster armor.
Captain Marvel
One of the credit scenes in Captain Marvel contains a brief appearance by Bruce Banner. The hero is part of the remaining Avengers team following the events of Infinity War. The Avengers get their hands on the device used to call Captain Marvel, and she arrives to assist them in their endeavors. The mood is dour, but this scene does provide some hope for the future of the team, where only a few heroes, including Black Widow and Bruce Banner, even remain. This scene does little for the Hulk as a character, but does set up the opening of Avengers: Endgame.
Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame provides an odd culmination of the Hulk's character path, with a Smart Hulk twist. Rather than continuing along the previous tensions between Hulk and Banner, the two have unified into Smart Hulk in the five years since Infinity War.
Hulk wears a cardigan and glasses and is given the brute strength of the beast while containing the scientist brain of Bruce Banner. In the film, he contributes to the time travel science needed to send the group back in time, and expresses a discomfort around smashing things, establishing this iteration of the character as very different from the usual Hulk. While a largely unexpected twist for the character, this proved mostly effective in the movie itself.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Hulk is strangely human again in a post-credit scene for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Following the unification of Hulk and Banner in the previous film, this led to some confusion, but it was later explained that Banner has an inhibitor he can wear when he wishes to present as human. There is little more of note to this scene, which sees the Avengers looking to work with Shang-Chi. Still, this shift is notable and is explained further in a later Disney+ series.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law helped to expand the world of the Hulk, and to build a whole family of similarly powered Hulks. Hulk's blood allows Jennifer Walters to turn into a Hulk, and he trains her on how to use these powers before departing the series for most of its run. The series, however, does have a notable conclusion when a third member of the Hulk family is introduced, as Hulk's son Skaar attends a family barbeque with him in a short scene. The impact of this character and his future in the MCU remains to be seen.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the first movie to boast three different Hulk personalities: Bruce Banner, Smart Hulk, and, finally, the return of Savage Hulk. Each plays a vital role in the narrative, with Bruce helping guide Peter's experiments with power suppression, Smart Hulk returning initially before the Hulk Suppressor is destroyed and Spidey has to face the mighty Savage Hulk. It's unclear which Hulk retains control after their thrilling confrontation, leaving oipen the door for more Hulk smashing in the MCU's future.
Non-MCU Hulk Movies Explained
Eric Bana And Lou Ferrigno Have Played The Character In Disconnected Works
Two iterations of the Hulk have been executed onscreen separately from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The first was in a popular series, The Incredible Hulk, which also included some feature releases on television, including The Trial of the Incredible Hulk and The Incredible Hulk Returns. These programs featured Bill Bixby as Bruce Banner and Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk and were very popular, nearly leading to their own Daredevil spinoff series. These are entirely disconnected from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and can be watched separately.
In 2003, during a period of great energy surrounding superhero films, Ang Lee directed Hulk, which featured Eric Bana as the titular hero. The film was criticized for its strange style, and resembles comic book storytelling in how it uses panels to show movement. The film also featured Jennifer Connelly as Betty Ross and Sam Elliott as Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross. The film is an origin story and is not connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe reboot The Incredible Hulk.
Hulk has remained a popular character for the Marvel brand and will continue to be relevant in the future. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has done much work in recent years adding to the Hulk's story and legacy. This will continue in Captain America: Brave New World, where the Red Hulk will debut and some performers from The Incredible Hulk will return to the universe for the first time. Hulk has a vital legacy established in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it appears to be far from over, as new, exciting stories for Hulk seem poised to follow soon.
Latest Film Avengers: Endgame
English (US) ·