Every Stan Lee Cameo Ranked From Worst To Best

By Jack Pooley /

14. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Marvel Studios

Lee's appearance in the Edward Norton-starring The Incredible Hulk is especially note-worthy as his role isn't merely a throwaway comedy gag, but actually a direct element of the plot.

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Lee plays an old man who swigs a soft drink accidentally contaminated with a sample of Bruce Banner's (Norton) blood, causing him to fall ill with gamma radiation sickness.

This ultimately leads to General Ross (William Hurt) tracking down the location of the bottling plant and discovering Banner's whereabouts. Convoluted though all that business is, it's at least refreshing to see Lee tied into the actual machinations of the plot.

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It might also be the only cameo where he possibly dies: we never get an update on the poor old chap's health, and an 80-something guy being poisoned with Hulk blood doesn't exactly sound healthy.

Trivia: in the movie's original screenplay the poisoned individual was a woman, but the part was ultimately altered to accommodate Lee.

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13. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Marvel Studios

It makes sense that one of the funniest ever MCU movies is also blessed with one of the funniest Lee cameos, appearing as he does as a barber tasked with preparing Thor (Chris Hemsworth) to do battle with Sakaar's champion fighter, The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo).

While brandishing what looks more like an implement for torture than a hair-cutting device, Lee says, "Don't you move, my hands aren't as steady as they used to be."

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An outraged Thor fires back, "By Odin's beard you shall not cut my hair, lest you feel the wrath of the mighty Thor", though his indignation quickly turns to terror as Lee's demented barber gets to work.