Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character of The Incredible Hulk first appeared in the debut issue of The Incredible Hulk in 1962.
Outside of the printed page, the Hulk has made his presence known on the small screen in the classic 1970s television series The Incredible Hulk and its subsequent television movies. The less-than-jolly green giant has also appeared in animated shows, video games, and big-screen movie releases.
In this article, we list all of the live-action movies that have featured the Hulk and his more even-tempered alter ego, Bruce Banner. Which of these is your favourite? Which of them made you angry? Let us know in the comments below.
The Incredible Hulk Returns
US Release Date: May 22, 1988
Worldwide Box Office: N/A
Directors: Nicholas Corea, Bruce Bixby
Metascore: N/A
Main Cast:
Bill Bixby (David Banner), Lou Ferrigno (The Hulk), Jack Colvin (Jack McGee), Lee Purcell (Maggie Shaw), Eric Allan Kramer (Thor)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Hopefully on the verge of curing his Hulk condition, Banner meets his colleague, Don Blake, who is mystically linked to a Viking warrior, Thor.
Smashing Soundbite:
Thor (to Banner): When the troll’s upon you, you’re a mighty fighter.
The Trial of The Incredible Hulk
US Release Date: May 7, 1989
Worldwide Box Office: N/A
Director: Bill Bixby
Metascore: N/A
Main Cast:
Bill Bixby (David Banner), Lou Ferrigno (Hulk), John Rhys-Davies (Wilson Fisk), Rex Smith (Matt Murdock), Marta DuBois (Ellie Mendez)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
When Banner is held as a witness to a violent crime linked to the Kingpin, the fugitive is helped by lawyer Matt Murdock who is also the superhero, Daredevil.
Smashing Soundbite:
Banner (first line): In each of us, there lives a kind of beast made of rage.
The Death of The Incredible Hulk
US Release Date: February 18, 1990
Worldwide Box Office: N/A
Director: Bill Bixby
Metascore: N/A
Main Cast:
Bill Bixby (David Banner), Lou Ferrigno (Hulk), Elizabeth Gracen (Jasmin), John Novak (Zed), Philip Sterling (Dr. Pratt)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
When Scientist Dr. Ronold Pratt and his wife are kidnapped, David Banner must become The Incredible Hulk for one last time
Smashing Soundbite:
Banner (to Pratt): Now I have a mutation, near the rage centre of my brain. And during moments of anger or fear, it secrets a hormone and I become a mutant thing, a beast until that rage ends
Hulk
US Release Date: June 20, 2003
Worldwide Box Office: $245.4 million
Director: Ang Lee
Metascore: 54
Main Cast:
Eric Bana (Bruce Banner), Jennifer Connelly (Betty Ross), Sam Elliott (Ross), Josh Lucas (Talbot), Nick Nolte (Father), Lou Ferrigno (Security Guard)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Bruce Banner, a genetics researcher with a tragic past, suffers an accident that causes him to transform into a raging green monster when he gets angry.
Smashing Soundbite:
Hulk (to Banner): Puny human!
The Incredible Hulk
US Release Date: June 13, 2008
Worldwide Box Office: $264.8 million
Director: Louis Letterier
Metascore: 61
Main Cast:
Edward Norton (Bruce Banner), Liv Tyler (Betty Ross), Tim Roth (Emil Blonsky), William Hurt (General Ross), Tim Blake Nelson (Samuel Sterns), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Bruce Banner, a scientist on the run from the U.S. Government, must find a cure for the monster he turns into whenever he loses his temper.
Smashing Soundbite:
Banner (to Betty): You know, I know a few techniques that could help you manage that anger effectively.
The Avengers
US Release Date: May 4, 2012
Worldwide Box Office: $2.798 billion
Director: Joss Whedon
Metascore: 69
Main Cast:
Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Clark Gregg (Phil Coulson), Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Paul Bettany (Jarvis)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Earth’s mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.
Smashing Soundbite:
Hulk (to Loki): Puny god!
Iron Man 3
US Release Date: May 3, 2013
Worldwide Box Office: $1.215 billion
Director: Shane Black
Metascore: 62
Main Cast:
Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), Guy Pearce (Aldrich Killian), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts), Don Cheadle (Rhodey), Rebecca Hall (Maya Hansen), Jon Favreau (Hogan), Ben Kingsley (Trevor Slattery), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
When Tony Stark’s world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
Smashing Soundbite:
Banner (to Stark): I’m sorry, I’m not that kind of doctor. It’s not my department.
Avengers: Age Of Ultron
US Release Date: May 1, 2015
Worldwide Box Office: $1.403 billion
Director: Joss Whedon
Metascore: 66
Main Cast:
Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Clark Gregg (Phil Coulson), Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Paul Bettany (Jarvis), James Spader (Ultron), Don Cheadle (James Rhodes), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Quicksilver). Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
When Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, things go horribly wrong and it’s up to Earth’s mightiest heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plan.
Smashing Soundbite:
Stark (after the Hulk throws a car at him): Right, don’t mention puny Banner…
Thor: Ragnarok
US Release Date: November 3, 2017
Worldwide Box Office: $854 million
Director: Taika Waititi
Metascore: 74
Main Cast:
Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Cate Blanchett (Hela), Idris Elba (Heimdall), Jeff Goldblum (Grandmaster), Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie), Anthony Hopkins (Odin)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
Imprisoned on the planet Sakaar, Thor must race against time to return to Asgard and stop Ragnarök, the destruction of his world, at the hands of the powerful and ruthless villain Hela.
Smashing Soundbite:
Hulk (to Thor): But Hulk like real fire. Like… raging fire. Thor like smouldering fire.
Avengers: Infinity War
US Release Date: April 17, 2018
Worldwide Box Office: $2.052 billion
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Metascore: 68
Main Cast:
Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), Tom Holland (Peter Parker), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton), Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Benedict Cumberbatch (Steven Strange), Paul Rudd (Scott Lang)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
Smashing Soundbite:
Banner (to Rogers): There’s an Ant-Man and a Spider-Man?
Avengers: Endgame
US Release Date: April 26, 2019
Worldwide Box Office: $2.798 billion
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Metascore: 78
Main Cast:
Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), Chris Evans (Steve Rogers), Tom Holland (Peter Parker), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton), Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Benedict Cumberbatch (Steven Strange), Paul Rudd (Scott Lang)
Synopsis (from IMDB):
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to reverse Thanos’ actions and restore balance to the universe.
Smashing Soundbite:
Hulk: So many stairs!
Which is your favourite Hulk movie? Which movies have made you angry? Let us know in the comments below.