MCU: Every Hulk Appearance Ranked Worst To Best

5. The Incredible Hulk

avengers hulk mark ruffalo
Marvel

Though The Incredible Hulk was the second film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it still feels like somewhat of the franchise's black sheep, thanks in large part to the fact that it was Edward Norton's one and only spin as Bruce Banner.

Outside of a throwaway reference to the Hulk's battle with the Abomination in Harlem in The Avengers and a mention of Emil Blonsky in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., it wasn't until General Ross returned eight years later in Captain America: Civil War that the franchise really made an overt acknowledgment of the film.

Though Mark Ruffalo redefined the role after he took over in The Avengers, The Incredible Hulk is not an outright bad film for both Bruce and the Hulk despite its status. It has a darker edge to it that works, with Norton's performance in particular emphasizing the more somber side of Dr. Banner, a man struggling with the weight of being stuck spending his life looking over his shoulder and maintaining his composure so that the beast inside him doesn't come out.

The dynamic between Bruce, Betty, and her father also carried some weight, though Betty disappeared from the franchise only to be replaced by Natasha as his love interest, and the action isn't half bad, with the Hulk's escalating encounters with Blonsky from Brazil to Culver University to the streets of Harlem being highlights of the film.

That said, Ruffalo's take essentially wiped the slate clean for both characters, resetting their role in the MCU in a more beloved way that keeps their big introduction from being higher up on this list.

Contributor
Contributor

Writer, film enthusiast, part-time gamer and watcher of (mostly) good television located on the fringe of Los Angeles, who now has his own website at www.highdefgeoff.com!