The best Hulk movies usually star someone else. Unfortunately, big green hasn’t gotten a very fair shake when it comes to the cinema world. So, the selection of Hulk-centric films is limited, which made compiling this list a challenge. While pickings might be slim, we tried to gather the best movies that at least gave Hulk the spotlight for part of the story.

Best Hulk Movies as of 2025

Unfortunately, the MCU hasn’t done much with Hulk. Unlike his colleagues in the Avengers, he didn’t even get a standalone film or series. So, if you want more of the current iteration of the Jade Giant, you’ll have to be satisfied watching him as part of another hero’s story or in an ensemble film. If you’re looking for more adventures starring The Hulk, you’re best off turning to the comics, where there are plenty of volumes waiting.

Hulk Vs.

One of the animated Marvel films, Hulk Vs. is a double feature released in 2009 that includes Hulk vs. Thor and Hulk vs. Wolverine. The first one has Loki teaming up with the Enchantress to separate Hulk from his alter ego so the former can be used as a weapon. The second film revolves around Wolverine being sent to deal with the Hulk. Both end up captured and are now pitted against each other in a violent fight that ends in an ambiguous outcome. While you might think there are better Hulk films to choose from, we enjoyed this one and picked it for its comedy and strong animation. Hulk Vs. remains a fan favorite and gives us our green machine taking on some of the best heroes. Both have a tight runtime of 30 and 45 minutes, respectively.

Planet Hulk

The seventh film in the Marvel animated series, directly following Hulk vs, Planet Hulk is based on the comic storyline of the same name, published in 2006. After Hulk is deemed too dangerous for Earth, he’s exiled by the Illuminati heroes (Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Reed Richards, and others) to another planet that’s hopefully more tranquil. Sounds nice, but we still take offense to this solution — let’s just cast off one of the most dangerous creatures? Sure, okay. The plan doesn’t go well. Instead of landing on a tranquil world to help keep the temper down, he crashes on a violent planet. He is forced into gladiatorial combat, which, if you remember Ragnarok, you can see where that influence comes from.

This one’s another satisfying watch, but more than that, the storyline for the Hulk is genuinely enjoyable. It also sets us up nicely for World War Hulk, where an enraged Hulk takes on the heroes of Earth. Serves them right.

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

This one reminds me how much I appreciated Edward Norton as the Hulk. I’m not sad about this replacement, though, as Mark Ruffalo is still my favorite version. Can’t we have both? Norton brought a more intense quality to Bruce Banner that gave the film a more serious tone. In The Incredible Hulk, he plays Banner as a nuclear physicist who, after being exposed to gamma radiation during a secret government experiment to recreate the super-soldier serum, becomes the Hulk. Now living in hiding, he’s constantly on the run from the U.S. government while desperately searching for a cure. Anytime he loses his temper or if his heart rate spikes above 200, he transforms into the giant green monster he’s trying to suppress.

After the lukewarm reception to Ang Lee’s Hulk (2003), Marvel wanted a fresh start. Zak Penn wrote a script that steered the story in a more action-forward, grounded direction, distancing it from the previous film’s more introspective tone. Edward Norton was also brought on to revise the script and shape the character, even though he didn’t receive official writing credit. The result is a film that may not always get the spotlight in the MCU but still holds up as a solid and underrated entry, especially for fans who like their Hulk a little more serious and a lot more on edge.

Hulk (2003)

This was the first time we got a CGI Hulk, moving away from the Hulk films of the 1980s, which haven’t aged well and definitely won’t make an entry on this list. I’m not sure if this one qualifies as one of the best Hulk movie in terms of quality, but it definitely earns points for its importance. Produced by Universal and Marvel Enterprises, the film stars Eric Bana as Bruce Banner, a man unknowingly carrying the genetic burden of his father’s experiments.

The son of a geneticist who had been experimenting on himself, Bruce inherits a genetic mutation that, when angry, causes him to transform into a raging green monster. Believing his son is dangerous, David Banner tries to kill Bruce, but Bruce’s mother intervenes and is killed instead. This traumatic event suppresses many of Bruce’s early memories, though his mother’s screams still haunt his dreams.

That tragic origin story gives the film a much darker tone from the start and feels similar in spirit to Batman Begins, which premiered two years later. While this might not be the kind of action-packed superhero movie we associate with Marvel today, it’s just as much a psychological exploration as it is a superhero story. And that makes it an essential chapter in the evolution of superhero films. 

The Avengers

Directed by Joss Whedon, The Avengers was the first significant crossover in which all of the heroes were brought together. The film begins with Loki, the sometimes villain we all love to hate and love to love. Loki opens a portal for the alien Chitauri, who plan to conquer Earth. In response, Nick Fury calls together the Avengers to save the day.

As for Hulk’s storyline, Bruce Banner is hiding out in India, helping the sick, and probably meditating multiple times a day to keep calm. But his scientific knowledge of gamma radiation is precisely what the Avengers need, so he’s reluctantly brought in. After one incident where he unintentionally morphs into the Hulk and puts his teammates at risk, he’s ready to bow out for good. However, we then get a great arc moment when he chooses to transform. This time, it’s on his terms. And that’s when we get to see Bruce Banner’s Hulk become not just powerful but helpful (and funny) as he finally settles into his role on the team.

How we chose the best Hulk movies

We selected the best Hulk movies based on the evolving portrayal of the character and how he has changed across different actors, directors, and storytelling styles. From brooding and tragic to funny and heroic, Hulk has had quite the journey on screen. We left out only the early depictions with the bad wig and green body paint.