With She-Hulk close to its August 18 premiere date, Marvel Studios recently released a hilarious featurette that parodies popular procedural law shows, like Law & Order. Of course, this is only a glimpse of what to expect from this legal drama series, with trailer moments already hinting at the show's comedic aspects - such as Jennifer Walters breaking the fourth wall - which is a tonal shift from the MCU's latest escapade with the multiverse.
A key player that will help with Jennifer's journey as She-Hulk is none other than her cousin, Bruce Banner, who has retained a significant role in The Multiverse Saga. Bruce, or The Hulk, has become a fan-favorite character from the comics, and there have been countless Hulk iterations that started with 1977's pilot movie The Incredible Hulk to now his presence in the MCU. Though not all Hulk movies met fans' expectations, there is no denying that Mark Ruffalo's portrayal has been the Hulk's peak in comic-book characters coming to life.
The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988) - 50%
The Incredible Hulk Returns is a continuation of Dr. David Banner's storyline, depicted in The Incredible Hulk show and its related movies. This film features Banner on the verge of curing his Hulk condition, which allows him to turn into an incredibly dangerous, green behemoth, before meeting his colleague Don Blake, who is mysteriously connected to a powerful Viking warrior named Thor.
Although slightly controversial amongst critics, many see Thor's inclusion in the movie as a positive, with many scenes of Thor and Hulk battling it out alongside one another in several action-packed fight scenes. The Hulk also has a clear arc in this movie, with the character learning the morals and mentality of a true hero, leading to a meaningful change in The Hulk's character - one not showcased on film before.
The Incredible Hulk (1977) - 57%
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The Incredible Hulk (1977) follows the story of Dr. David Banner, who is haunted by his wife's death in a car accident. Her tragic death leads him to research how humans can tap into their reserved strength when in stressful situations, and later during an experiment as part of his research, he is overexposed to gamma radiation and gains the ability to become The Hulk.
Although this movie was bound by 1970s technological limitations, many critics overlooked the imperfections, highlighting how fun and charmingly tacky the movie can be. This movie was undoubtedly influential, considering it was The Hulk's first live-action movie. And although flawed in some ways, it is still a classic monster movie at heart that has paved the way for superhero movies as fans know them today.
Hulk (2003) - 62%
Hulk (2003) stars Eric Bana as Bruce Banner, a genetic researcher with a tragic past who is caught in a gamma-infused accident, which allows him to turn into The Hulk when he gets angry. This event causes him to go on the run since he is a target of the military officer and arch-nemesis Thunderbolt Ross.
Hulk is often mocked for its lack of action and dated VFX, which have aged poorly in the modern-day blockbuster climate. However, many critics believe this take on the character is very well-crafted, comparing Hulk's representation in the movie to that of Frankenstein. Furthermore, Ang Lee deliberately created a politically charged plot that shows how much of a curse modern-day weapons and superpowers can be.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) - 67%
The Incredible Hulk (2008) is the beginning of the Hulk's MCU storyline. This version follows Edward Norton's Bruce Banner as he evades capture from the US military whilst simultaneously trying to find a cure that will stop him from transforming into the destructive, Incredible Hulk. This movie is an action-packed superhero film that manages to juggle the plot points of a complex, romantic relationship during its runtime.
Although the movie is widely criticized and considered one of the lowest-rated MCU movies, it is a step up from previous live-action versions where the character seemed realistic and truly impressive on screen, with each action scene being sharp and impactful. Many critics also praised the film for its comic accuracy, claiming this Hulk's iteration is far more faithful to Stan Lee's original take on the character than any other.
Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015) - 76%
Avengers: Age Of Ultron is the second MCU Avengers movie, which features Hulk as a prominent team member. The Avengers join forces again to defeat Ultron, an evil AI who wants to wipe out all organic life on Earth to protect the planet from all terrestrial and extraterrestrial threats.
Though one of the lower-rated Avengers movies, critics praise Age of Ultron for being a thrilling, action-packed sequel, having many touching moments throughout and explicitly showing the humanity of each Avenger and their relationships with one another. The Hulk is well-fleshed out, with Marvel exploring his humanity and ability to love whilst showing his strained relationship with his colleagues in a visually stunning epic.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) - 85%
The third installment in the Avengers franchise, Avengers: Infinity War, follows The Avengers and their allies as they attempt to stop the Mad Titan Thanos from acquiring all the powerful Infinity Stones. Retrieving all the stones will allow Thanos to wipe out half of all living beings with a snap of his fingers, a plan he intends to carry out to end poverty and suffering throughout the universe.
Although The Hulk was only featured in this movie for a short period, Bruce Banner was a prominent character who warned the Avengers and caught up with his friends, only to find that they had broken up like "The Beatles." Though fans were disappointed with the lack of Hulk, the movie dedicated more screen time to Bruce Banner's side as the character who can reunite the team to face up against Thanos. For a film of such ambition and size, many critics claim the movie is extremely well-balanced, with Banner being a prime example of this and not feeling cast aside by the movie's large cast.
The Avengers (2012) - 91%
The Avengers is the first ensemble movie in the MCU, as The Avengers reluctantly join forces for the first time to defeat Loki, an evil tyrant who wants to take over Earth. The Hulk is one of the main characters in this movie and is expertly shown in both dramatic and comedic scenes. It also marked Mark Ruffalo's debut as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, who left a lasting impression with his great dynamic with the cast - particularly Robert Downey Jr. - and charismatic portrayal.
Many critics praise this movie for its cutting-edge VFX, excellent action scenes, brilliant acting, and comedic timing, making it one of Marvel's best-rated movies to date. It ambitiously tackles the team-up narrative that has rarely been done, at the time, in the superhero genre - aside from the X-Men series - yet this movie carefully handles its large ensemble team. Each character shines within its runtime, including Banner, who undergoes a complex struggle with his monstrous Hulk form. Despite unintentionally attacking his teammates earlier in the film, both Bruce and the Hulk come to an understanding with each other, allowing them to become the film's highlight in scenes like "Puny god."
Thor: Ragnarok (2017) - 93%
Thor: Ragnarok is the third installment in the Thor franchise, which sees Thor imprisoned on Sakaar, having to escape the planet and race against time to stop the destruction of Asgard. Alongside his best friends in the MCU, Thor must battle his sister Hela in order to save his people and his planet from almost certain annihilation.
Critics gave rave reviews due to its comedic tone and well-crafted jokes, supported by the chemistry of the cast and characters. Furthermore, many found the change in direction with its comedic angle beneficial while balancing emotional and heartfelt moments to showcase Thor's recurring misfortunes as part of his evolving arc. More importantly, the film continues the Hulk and Bruce's conflict with each other, which opened up a more focused but effective subplot and humorous touch that advanced their character arc in the MCU. The best part is that the Hulk and Thor became the beloved dynamic duo, taking a more comedic and light-hearted twist that had not been seen in other Hulk movies.
Avengers: Endgame (2019) - 94%
Avengers: Endgame is the fourth installment in the Avengers franchise and The Infinity Saga's culmination, which showcases The Avenger's journey as they seek redemption for their previous failure and attempt to revive all of their fallen comrades who died at the hands of Thanos. Hulk appears in this movie as Professor Hulk, a Hulk form where Banner is in complete control of his Hulkified body.
This movie is rivaled by no other at showing Banner's compassion, bravery, and heartache and exploring what a direct fusion between Banner and The Hulk would result in, with a new moniker as Professor Hulk. In some ways, it is a poetic way to conclude Hulk vs. Bruce's dispute by finally settling their matters and working together as a team, and even Bruce finally embracing his Hulk. Though some Marvel fans would have liked to see more of Professor Hulk in action, it doesn't take away the Infinity Saga's emotional conclusion with an impactful story, fitting endings, and fan service.
Hulk Vs. (2009) - 100%
Hulk Vs. is an animated movie that stars The Hulk and follows the character as he battles Thor and The Wolverine. This movie is loved by many critics and has received an incredible 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Being described as an action-packed epic, this movie has an incredible story with excellent voice-acting, animation, and a great blend of comedy and drama throughout. And considering that many live actions have failed to materialize Hulk at his highest point, this animation delivers on character dynamics and styles to manifest Hulk's brute strength as never seen before, showing great respect and appreciation for its comic book counterparts.