All 7 Hulk Movies & Appearances in Order
Hulk is probably one of the most popular characters in the Marvel Universe. He is a superhero with immense strength and durability, as well as the ability to increase his strength as he becomes angrier. Hulk appeared in several movies in the MCU, and in this article, you can check out all the Hulk movies in order.
How many Hulk movies are there?
There are two standalone Hulk movies specifically centered on the character. The first movie, Hulk, was released in 2003, and the sequel, The Incredible Hulk in 2008. The first movie, Hulk, starred Eric Bana as Bruce Banner/Hulk, and The Incredible Hulk was released in 2008 and starred Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/Hulk. The Standalone movies released in 2003 and 2008 are not a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and hold little importance to the character itself in the context of the MCU.
In addition to these two standalone films, the Hulk has also appeared in several other films as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including The Avengers (2012), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and most recently in the show She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022). Bruce Banner also appeared briefly in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), in a post-credit scene. Hulk outside of movies, also appears in ‘She-Hulk’ Disney+ series.
It’s worth noting that the Hulk character has also appeared in other movies and television shows outside of the MCU and his standalone movies. For example, the character has been featured in animated movies, such as “Hulk: Where Monsters Dwell”, as well as in the television series “The Incredible Hulk,” which aired from 1978 to 1982. There have also been several live-action TV movies featuring the character, including “The Incredible Hulk Returns” and “The Trial of the Incredible Hulk,” both of which aired in the late 1980s.
Hulk movies in order – at a glance
The first modern Hulk movie was released in 2003 with Eric Bana portraying Bruce Banner. Bana’s performance as the Hulk was well-received by audiences and critics alike, but the film was not a financial success. As a result, Marvel Studios decided to reboot the character in a new film called The Incredible Hulk, which was released in 2008.
Edward Norton played Bruce Banner/Hulk in this film, which was a more traditional superhero movie and was more successful at the box office than the previous film. After the movie The Incredible Hulk, Bruce Banner was featured in the MCU and appears again in Avengers (2012), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and most recently in the show She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022).
So, even though there are two Hulk stand-alone movies, here is the list of movies with all Hulk appearances:
- Hulk (2003)
- The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- The Avengers (2012)
- Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Hulk played a crucial role in helping the Avengers defeat Thanos, as he used both his intellect and raw strength in the mission against The Mad Titan.
What is the best way to watch Hulk movies?
The best way to watch all the movies where Hulk appears is by watching them in order of release. This means starting with the first Hulk movie, then The Incredible Hulk, the two standalone movies should be followed by MCU appearances: The Avengers, and after that, you should watch Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. And after watching those movies, you can watch the show She-Hulk: Attorney at Law where Hulk appears in several episodes, but it is not necessary.
Hulk movies in order by release date, including all appearances
Hulk movies are released as follows:
1. Hulk (2003)
The Hulk is a 2003 superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It was directed by Ang Lee and starred Eric Bana as Bruce Banner, a scientist who is transformed into a giant, green-skinned monster when he becomes angry. The film follows Banner as he struggles to control his transformations and keep his monstrous alter ego in check, while also dealing with the military and various other organizations that want to capture or exploit the Hulk’s power.
2. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
In this sequel and a reboot, Banner goes on the run from the military and tries to find a cure for his condition, while also facing off against the villainous Emil Blonsky, a soldier who becomes the monstrous Abomination after being exposed to gamma radiation.
3. The Avengers (2012)
Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) is in hiding and working to control his transformation into the Hulk. He is recruited by Nick Fury, the director of the international peacekeeping agency S.H.I.E.L.D., to join the Avengers and help defend Earth from an alien invasion led by the villainous Loki. Hulk ultimately becomes a key member of the Avengers and helps the team defeat Loki and his forces.
4. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
In Avengers: Age of Ultron, the 2015 sequel to The Avengers, Hulk once again plays a central role in the film’s plot, as he, alongside the rest of the Avengers is forced to confront the villainous artificial intelligence known as Ultron, who has been created by Tony Stark (Iron Man) with the intention of protecting the world but ends up turning against the Avengers.
5. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Hulk has been missing for two years after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, during which time he has been living in his Hulk form and participating in gladiator battles on the planet Sakaar. When Thor arrives in Sakaar and is captured by the Grandmaster, he is pitted against Hulk in the gladiator arena. These two characters team up and embark on a mission to stop the villainous Hela from taking over Asgard.
6. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
After Thanos attacked the Asgardian spaceship that was transporting Thor, Hulk, and the remaining population of Asgardians, Hulk gets defeated in battle by Thanos. This leads Hulk to refuse Bruce Banner turning back to his green form. Bruce Banner finds another way to help the Avengers against Thanos using Wakandian technology.
7. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
In Avengers: Endgame, Bruce Banner is able to combine Bruce Banner with his monstrous alter ego the Hulk, creating a new persona known as Professor Hulk. This combination allows Hulk to retain the strength and durability of the Hulk, while also retaining the intelligence and personality of Bruce Banner. Hulk uses his intellect and strength to help Avengers defeat Thanos once and for all.
Where to watch Hulk movies?
You can purchase or rent Hulk (2003) on the Hulu streaming platform, and The Incredible Hulk (2008) is available for streaming on Netflix. Hulk’s Marvel Cinematic Universe appearances: The Avengers: Avengers; Age of Ultron, Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019) are available to stream on the Disney+ platform.
Do you need to watch Hulk movies in order?
It would be best to watch Hulk movies and other movies where Hulk appears by their release date. In the movie Hulk, we get to experience Hulk’s origin story, and in its sequel, The Incredible Hulk, Banner endeavors to cure himself and gradually accepts that there is no permanent cure. In the MCU movies, we get to see Hulk working and fighting among other superheroes and we get to gradually experience his sacrifices and character development. Even though he is not the focus of the movies, he plays an important role.
Are Hulk movies connected?
Standalone Hulk movies (2003 and 2008) are connected because the storyline from the first movie continues in the sequel. However, the main actors, who play Bruce Banner, are not the same. MCU movies mentioned in this article are not so much connected with the standalone Hulk movies, but the Hulk has an important role in all of them and the movies should be watched in release date order if you want the full chronological timeline to make sense.
Will there be more Hulk movies?
There have been some rumors that Marvel Studios is developing the movie World War Hulk, but no official announcements have been made. However, Hulk will appear in future Marvel movies for sure.
