The Hulk and Bruce Banner have appeared in 11 different projects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with varying levels of effectiveness. The Hulk has had one of the most inconsistent yet fascinating journeys in the MCU timeline. Originally introduced as a raging, uncontrollable force, Bruce Banner’s monstrous alter ego evolved into a gentle giant with glᴀsses and a hoodie. Across various films and shows, Hulk has been a scene-stealer, a punchline, a genius, and a tragic figure.

While Hulk’s power level and screen time have fluctuated wildly over the years, each appearance has added a new dimension to the character. From thrilling battles to awkward cameos, every MCU moment featuring Hulk (or Banner) has left its mark, for better or worse. Whether the Green Goliath smashing everything in sight or the introspective Smart Hulk handing out tacos, Hulk has made many vital appearances.

11

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings Post-Credits Scene

Bruce Meets Shang-Chi

Coming at the end of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Bruce Banner (not Smart Hulk) helps analyze the mysterious Ten Rings. It’s a solid tease of Shang-Chi’s future with the Avengers, but as a Hulk moment, it barely registers. Not only is there no transformation or action, but Banner’s appearance raises more questions than answers.

It’s unclear at this point why he is no longer Smart Hulk after Avengers: Endgame or what happened to his arm. None of that gets addressed. As a connective thread for the wider MCU, it’s serviceable, but for Hulk fanatics, it’s the most underwhelming appearance yet.

10

Captain Marvel Post Credits Scene

Captain Marvel Visits The Avengers

Another quick tease of things to come, Bruce Banner appears alongside the remaining Avengers to investigate Captain Marvel’s pager. It’s a critical moment in setting up Avengers: Endgame, but as a Hulk appearance, it’s nothing more than a glimpse of Bruce. It does, however, offer an insight into the Avengers’ actions between Infinity War and Endgame. Like the Shang-Chi post-credits scene, this moment contributes more to the larger MCU than it does to Hulk’s story.

9

Iron Man 3 Post Credits Scene

Bruce Listens To Tony’s Story

The post-credits scene in Iron Man 3 might not feature any action or development, but it delivers some great laughs. Tony Stark finishes recounting the traumatic events of the film to Bruce Banner. Banner then hilariously reveals that he’s not that kind of doctor – he’s not a therapist, just a gamma radiation expert.

Their friendship, rarely explored on screen, gets a quiet and humorous spotlight here. This moment is mostly played for laughs, but it works thanks to the chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo. It may not push Hulk’s arc forward, but it’s a welcome breather after a heavy movie and gives Bruce some levity.

8

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law

Hulk Mentors His Cousin

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law offered more Hulk screen time than any project since Avengers: Endgame. The show featured a handful of key insights: how Bruce became Smart Hulk, how he helped Jennifer Walters transition into her powers, and his continued self-discovery. Yet it also further de-powered him emotionally and physically, often sidelining his rage and seriousness.

Still, the show explores Hulk’s legacy, introducing his son Skaar (in an absurdly fast, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment). It also broadens the scope of Hulk characters within the MCU. It’s meaningful in MCU lore, but tonally inconsistent.

7

Avengers: Infinity War

Bruce Banner And Hulk Have Relationship Problems

Hulk’s arc in Avengers: Infinity War was one of the film’s most curious subplots. After being beaten by Thanos in the opening scene, Hulk refuses to come out again for the rest of the movie. It’s an interesting and subversive choice, revealing that Hulk, for all his strength, is shaken and vulnerable.

Bruce Banner is forced to rely on tech, suiting up in the Hulkbuster armor in one of the film’s more entertaining action beats. This internal conflict between Bruce and Hulk had promise, teasing a deeper psychological rift. Unfortunately, it never gets fully explored and gets brushed aside in Endgame. The deleted scene where the pair reconcile is especially compelling.

6

What If…?

Hulk Variants In The MCU

In What If…?, Hulk appears across multiple episodes with wildly different fates – sometimes tragic, sometimes awesome. The most notable version comes in season 3’s “What If… the Hulk Fought the Mech Avengers?”, where Banner attempts to rid himself of the Hulk but accidentally creates the enormous Apex Hulk. Hulk’s other notable appearances see him unexpectedly killed while transforming and facing Marvel’s zombie horde. Apart from one standout example, Hulk mostly appeared as a side character. Nonetheless, each appearance was thrilling.

5

Avengers: Endgame

Smart Hulk’s Debut

Avengers: Endgame introduces the world to Smart Hulk, Bruce Banner and the Hulk’s minds finally reconciled in a single, articulate, green form. It’s a bold and divisive move. On the one hand, Smart Hulk is consistently funny, insightful, and emotionally resonant. His time-travel planning, taco-sharing with Scott Lang, and delivery of the Snap are all especially memorable moments.

On the other hand, it marks a definitive shift away from Hulk’s core appeal: raw power and unpredictable rage. He becomes more of a science guy than a combatant. Still, this version is integral to Endgame’s emotional and narrative core. Banner finally finds peace with his duality, but at the cost of Hulk’s menace and mystique.

4

The Incredible Hulk

Hulk’s MCU Debut

Often treated like the MCU’s forgotten child, The Incredible Hulk (2008) is more essential than it gets credit for. Edward Norton’s Bruce Banner is a haunted man on the run, desperately trying to rid himself of the monster inside. The film leans hard into horror and tension, giving audiences a truly savage, terrifying Hulk. There’s also some great action, especially the fight against the Abomination, and a raw, grounded tone that still holds up.

While the film feels disconnected from later MCU entries (thanks to recasting and tone shifts), it introduced concepts and characters that eventually paid off, including Thunderbolt Ross and The Leader. Despite its messy legacy, this is a proper Hulk movie that treats him as both a threat and a tragic figure. It’s a grim but thrilling chapter that feels quintessentially Hulk.

3

The Avengers

Hulk Joins The Earth’s Mightiest Heroes

Mark Ruffalo’s debut as Bruce Banner redefined the character for the MCU. The Avengers masterfully balanced his quiet intellect with the beast lurking underneath. When Hulk finally shows up in full force, he steals the show. The iconic “puny god” moment against Loki, the rampage through the SHIELD Helicarrier, and the leviathan punch, all cemented Hulk as an MCU legend.

Yet The Avengers also gives Hulk surprising emotional depth, exploring Bruce’s control issues, fears, and place on the team. His transformation on the Helicarrier is one of the MCU’s most intense sequences, while the final battle lets Hulk’s rage be used heroically. Joss Whedon manages to make Hulk both terrifying and lovable, quickly turning him into a fan-favorite. It’s one of the few times in the MCU where Hulk feels fully realized: dangerous, tragic, and exhilarating all at once.

2

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Hulk Continues His Avengers Tenure

If The Avengers was Hulk’s grand entrance, Avengers: Age of Ultron was his emotional deep dive. Here, Hulk gets a nuanced arc: his romance with Black Widow, the toll his powers take on others, and the devastating fight against Iron Man in the Hulkbuster suit. The “Veronica” sequence remains a standout, showing what happens when the Hulk is fully unleashed.

The Sokovia battle also underlines his importance to the team, and his final decision to vanish hints at how self-aware he’s become. Bruce’s struggle with his dual idenтιтy is front and center, and it’s clear the story is building toward something bigger. Even with a crowded ensemble, Hulk doesn’t get lost, he feels like a lead character with internal conflict and consequences. It’s the perfect blend of heart, horror, and heroism.