The Incredible Hulk is known for his unparalleled strength, but even he has faced moments of defeat in Marvel movies and television. While Bruce Banner’s alter ego is a near-unstoppable force, certain battles have ended in ways that show even the Hulk isn’t invincible. Whether due to overwhelming power, strategic planning, or simply being outmatched, these instances highlight the times Hulk lost a fight, either physically or by circumstance. From the MCU timeline to animated adaptations and classic TV series, few have managed to stop Hulk in his tracks.
The Green Goliath is normally depicted as an immensely strong being, who often surpᴀsses his opponents in terms of power. Yet even Hulk was unable to win every battle. Some of these fights saw him temporarily subdued, while others left lasting consequences, proving that even Marvel’s strongest hero has limits. These losses serve to humanize the otherwise indomitable beast, reminding fans that while he is strong, he is not unbeatable.
10
Hulk Is Captured By The US Army
The Incredible Hulk Season 4, Episode 1 “Prometheus Part 1”
In the 1970s The Incredible Hulk TV series, David Banner (played by Bill Bixby) transforms into the Hulk (Lou Ferrigno) when provoked, yet he is still vulnerable to certain threats. In the two-part episode “Prometheus,” Hulk faces one of his most frustrating defeats at the hands of the US Army. After an accidental exposure to meteor radiation, the Hulk begins to transform back into Banner, but in a half-mutated state that leaves him vulnerable.
The US Army, which has long sought to capture him, seizes the opportunity and deploys an elaborate strategy. They drop a mᴀssive, impenetrable dome over him, effectively trapping him. Unlike most of Hulk’s other battles, this isn’t a fight he loses by being physically overpowered but rather by tactical superiority. Trapped and unable to escape, this is one of the rare times when the Hulk is completely subdued.
9
The Avengers Vs Hulk
Ultimate Avengers: The Movie
In Ultimate Avengers: The Movie, Hulk takes on the entire team in a destructive rampage. This version of the Hulk, modeled after the Ultimates comic line, is far more aggressive and nearly unstoppable. After Bruce Banner injects himself with the Super Soldier Serum, he undergoes a more violent transformation than usual, making him an uncontrollable threat. As he tears through the Avengers, it takes the combined might of Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, and Black Widow to slow him down.
Even then, it’s Giant-Man who delivers the finishing blow, stunning him long enough for Black Widow to inject him with a powerful tranquilizer. This marks one of the few times Hulk is rendered unconscious and subdued in combat. Unlike other versions of the character, this iteration’s defeat emphasizes how truly dangerous he is when left unchecked, requiring extreme measures to take him down.
8
The Hulk Is Killed
Death Of The Incredible Hulk
One of the most shocking defeats in Hulk’s history comes in Death of the Incredible Hulk, the 1990 TV movie that serves as the final installment in the Bill Bixby-led Incredible Hulk series. After years of searching for a cure, David Banner finds himself caught in a tragic series of events involving spies and betrayal. During the climax, he transforms into the Hulk to save a woman from a plane explosion.
However, in a rare and heartbreaking moment, the Hulk doesn’t walk away victorious. Instead, he is sH๏τ multiple times and falls from the aircraft onto a concrete surface. As he reverts back to Banner, he dies from his injuries. This moment is not only significant because it marks the Hulk’s ultimate defeat, but also because it symbolizes the end of David Banner’s long struggle. Unlike most of Hulk’s fights, this one ends with no chance for recovery.
7
Green Hulk Vs Grey Hulk
The Incredible Hulk: The Animated Series
One of Hulk’s most unique battles wasn’t against a supervillain but rather himself. In The Incredible Hulk animated series, Bruce Banner’s transformations weren’t just physical; they were a mental struggle between different Hulk personas. Season 2 introduced Grey Hulk, a more cunning and brutal version of the character. On multiple occasions, when Bruce transformed, Green Hulk and Grey Hulk would engage in battles within his subconscious.
Grey Hulk, embodying Banner’s more selfish and aggressive traits, frequently overpowered the more rage-driven but less strategic Green Hulk. This internal conflict resulted in Grey Hulk taking control of Banner’s transformations for a significant portion of the second season. This unique twist showed that Hulk’s greatest challenge wasn’t always external foes but his own fractured psyche, making these defeats some of the most personal and impactful losses in his history.
6
Hulk Tries To Fight Surtur
Thor: Ragnarok
When Hulk finds himself on Asgard in Thor: Ragnarok, he proves his fighting prowess against the Fenris Wolf and hordes of Hela’s unᴅᴇᴀᴅ soldiers. However, when the apocalyptic fire demon Surtur arrives, Hulk makes a critical miscalculation. Despite Thor’s warnings that Surtur is not an enemy to fight, but a force needed to bring Ragnarok to fruition, Hulk leaps into battle. The mᴀssive demon swats Hulk aside with minimal effort, showing just how outmatched the Green Goliath is.
While Hulk isn’t technically defeated in the fight, he is effectively rendered irrelevant as Thor convinces him to stand down. Given Surtur’s world-ending power, it’s likely that had Hulk continued fighting, he would have been destroyed. This moment not only serves as a rare instance where Hulk is outmatched but also reinforces that brute strength alone isn’t always the solution to every battle.
5
Hulk Sacrifices Himself To The Zombie Horde
Marvel’s What If…? Season 1, Episode 5 “What If… Zombies?”
In Marvel’s What If…?, the Hulk faces one of his most tragic defeats when he faced off against an unstoppable zombie invasion. In a world where the Marvel heroes had fallen to a zombie virus, Bruce Banner was one of the last survivors attempting to stop the unᴅᴇᴀᴅ onslaught. As a mᴀssive horde descended upon Wakanda, Hulk attempted to hold them off to protect his allies.
He transformed and fought valiantly, but even his near-limitless strength couldn’t withstand the sheer numbers of super-powered zombies. In a rare moment of true heroism, Hulk sacrificed himself, standing as the last line of defense before being overwhelmed. Though his ultimate fate was left ambiguous, it was heavily implied that the zombies finally consumed even the Green Goliath. This loss was particularly heartbreaking, showing that even Hulk had his limits when faced with an apocalyptic nightmare.
4
Hulk Is Killed By Yellowjacket
Marvel’s What If…? Season 1, Episode 3 “What If… The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?”
One of Hulk’s most shocking and brutal defeats came in What If…? when he was ᴀssᴀssinated before he could even properly fight back. In an alternate reality where Hank Pym sought revenge against S.H.I.E.L.D., he systematically eliminated the Avengers before they could ᴀssemble. When it came to Bruce Banner, Pym – using his Yellowjacket persona – took a disturbingly efficient approach. By infiltrating Banner’s bloodstream, Pym sabotaged Hulk’s transformation from the inside, causing his body to grotesquely expand before ultimately bursting.
Unlike most of Hulk’s battles, this wasn’t a drawn-out struggle but a cold and calculated execution. This horrifying scene showcased just how vulnerable even the seemingly indestructible Hulk could be when faced with an enemy who understood his biology. It was a rare moment where brute strength meant nothing, marking one of the most unsettling and unexpected ways the Hulk had ever been defeated.
3
Hulk Fights Thor In The Gladiator Arena
Thor: Ragnarok
In Thor: Ragnarok, the Hulk found himself pitted against one of his most evenly matched opponents – Thor – inside the Grandmaster’s gladiator arena. While Hulk had dominated Sakaar as the undefeated champion, Thor proved to be a formidable adversary, displaying superior combat skills and lightning-based attacks. The fight was an exhilarating spectacle of raw power, with both warriors exchanging devastating blows.
At one point, Hulk gained the upper hand, but just as he was about to deliver the final blow, Thor’s latent abilities activated, allowing him to turn the tide. However, before Thor could fully capitalize on this newfound strength, the Grandmaster intervened, stunning Thor to ensure Hulk remained victorious. While Hulk technically won, the battle showed that Thor had reached a level where he could now challenge the Green Goliath head-on, proving that the God of Thunder had truly evolved as a warrior.
2
Hulk Vs Hulkbuster Iron Man
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Hulk’s clash with Tony Stark’s Hulkbuster armor in Avengers: Age of Ultron remains one of his most intense battles. Manipulated by Wanda Maximoff’s mind games, Hulk went on a rampage in Johannesburg, forcing Iron Man to deploy the specialized Hulkbuster suit. Unlike previous encounters, where Hulk overwhelmed his opponents through sheer rage, Stark had a well-prepared countermeasure.
The battle was brutal, with the city suffering mᴀssive destruction as the two тιтans clashed. Stark’s strategic thinking and the Hulkbuster’s modular design allowed him to keep up, ultimately gaining the upper hand. The fight ended when Iron Man used a final, well-placed punch to knock Hulk unconscious, marking a rare moment where force alone couldn’t secure Hulk’s victory. While Hulk’s strength was undeniable, this battle proved that intelligence and preparation could neutralize even his seemingly unstoppable might.
1
Hulk Proves No Match For Thanos
Avengers: Infinity War
Hulk’s fight against Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War was unlike any of his previous battles because, for the first time, he was utterly outclassed. The fight took place aboard the Asgardian refugee ship, where Hulk initially gained the upper hand, pummeling Thanos with his usual raw strength. However, Thanos quickly turned the tide, countering each of Hulk’s attacks with precise and devastating blows.
Unlike previous foes, Thanos didn’t just withstand Hulk’s strength – he systematically dismantled him with superior skill, efficiency, and raw power. The fight lasted mere seconds before Thanos left Hulk unconscious, sending him crashing to the ground. This moment was pivotal, as it not only established Thanos as the most dangerous threat the Avengers had ever faced but also left Hulk so shaken that he refused to resurface for the remainder of the film.
Hulk
- Created by
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Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
- First Film
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The Incredible Hulk Returns
- Latest Film
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Avengers: Endgame
- First TV Show
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The Incredible Hulk
- Latest TV Show
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She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
- Cast
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Bill Bixby, Lou Ferrigno, Mark Ruffalo
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Thunderbolts*
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
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July 25, 2025
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MCU Spider-Man 4
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July 24, 2026
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May 7, 2027
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