10 Hulk Movie Moments We Wish Hadn’t Happened Looking Back Now

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Throughout the character"s history in Marvel movies, there have been a number of Hulk moments that we wish had never happened in hindsight. As one of the first heroes introduced to the MCU’s movie timeline, the Hulk has proven to be one of the franchise’s most important characters. Since first appearing, the MCU’s Hulk has undergone a significant character arc, evolving alongside the franchise itself to earn his place as one of its most consistently celebrated characters.
However, Hulk’s appearances in the movies of the MCU haven’t been entirely perfect. In fact, there are many scenes from throughout Hulk’s movie history that have proven to be somewhat regrettable, leading to a perception of them that means they seem somewhat unfortunate in hindsight. Some were wasted teases, while others simply haven’t aged well at all, but each of the following Hulk movie moments are ones that we wish hadn’t happened at all.
10 The Incredible Hulk’s Opening Montage The Incredible Hulk (2008) The very beginning of the Hulk’s MCU story came in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, his first and only solo outing in the franchise to date. The movie opted not to delve specifically into the character’s well-trodden origin story, instead skimming over his backstory in a montage shown over The Incredible Hulk’s opening credits. However, looking back now, the scene seems to have been a poor choice in terms of the Hulk’s characterization.
The MCU hinting briefly at Hulk’s origins without actually showing them turned out to be a bad decision. The franchise has since failed to adequately explore Hulk as a solo character due to various rights issues, which, combined with the underwhelming exploration of his origins, creates a perception that he isn’t considered an important MCU hero. Not only was it a bad way to explain the character’s backstory, but it was a frustratingly vague introduction that the movie simply could have done without.
9 Hulk Takes A Selfie With Some Fans Avengers: Endgame (2019) Although the Hulk has featured in many important Avengers moments, he has also occasionally been reduced to little more than comic relief. The character’s role within the franchise was somewhat transformed by his appearance in Avengers: Endgame, as it saw his two personas reconciled into a single being with the physical appearance and strength of Hulk and the intellect of Bruce Banner. Shortly after his introduction, Smart Hulk was shown enjoying his celebrity, taking selfies with young fans in public.
Though the moment is sometimes considered one of Hulk’s funniest MCU scenes, it’s not one that has aged well at all. Looking back on Hulk’s selfie moment, it’s a pointless and seemingly forced moment that feels as heavy-handed as the Jade Giant himself. It serves no real purpose for the character or Endgame’s story, and simply hasn’t aged well at all when looking back over Smart Hulk’s introductory scenes.
8 Hulk’s Self-Imposed Exile Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) The Hulk’s role as one of the MCU’s most prominent Avengers made him a crucial part of the franchise’s Infinity Saga. As the MCU has so far been unable to offer him much by way of a solo story, many of Hulk’s most important moments have come in Avengers movies, such as his self-imposed exile at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron. The scene sees Hulk fleeing Sokovia in a Quinjet, refusing to return to his teammates as he left Earth.
The moment seemed a powerful one, but looking back, it shouldn’t have happened. It set up a loose adaptation of one of Hulk’s most iconic comic book arcs, but did so by undermining some of that story’s most important subtext. By having the Hulk leave of his own accord rather than being banished by his teammates, the moment marked a clear example of the ways that the MCU has failed to depict Hulk’s complex place within the Marvel Universe.
7 The Incredible Hulk’s “Betty” Moment The Incredible Hulk (2008) The Incredible Hulk should have been the Hulk’s triumphant MCU debut, but the reality was that the movie was more than a little disappointing. However, the movie’s climactic battle between Hulk and Abomination was largely good, especially as it was able to explore some development of the Hulk’s character separate from Bruce Banner. In what deserved to be one of Hulk’s most iconic MCU scenes, he recognizes Betty even while transformed, protecting her and saying her name out loud.
Sadly, the moment probably shouldn’t have happened in hindsight. It established an emotional connection between the characters that subsequent movies ignored, thanks largely to the conspicuous absence of Betty Ross in the MCU after The Incredible Hulk’s ending. Though the moment could have led to some great character development, it now stands as a testament to the wasted potential of Hulk and Betty’s relationship in the MCU.
6 Gladiator Hulk’s MCU Debut Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

There have been a few MCU Hulk scenes taken from Marvel comics, faithfully adapting iconic comic book moments for the franchise. Many of them have been incredibly satisfying parts of the hero’s story, or have at least served as rewarding pieces of fan service for the audience. However, looking back at Gladiator Hulk’s appearance in Thor: Ragnarok, it becomes clear that it would have been better for the movie to have skipped the moment entirely.
The incredibly brief appearance of Gladiator Hulk in the MCU seemed to momentarily tease an adaptation of the Planet Hulk story from the comics. However, Ragnarok’s handling of Hulk’s gladiator persona was a markedly short-lived part of his wider character arc that brought him back into the fold of the franchise’s Avengers. Exciting though the moment once seemed, it has since come to embody the waste of one of Hulk’s best-ever comic book storylines.
5 The Hulk Becomes Smart Hulk Avengers: Endgame (2019)

The rights issues regarding the character of the Hulk have led to the MCU’s version of the character being overlooked on many occasions, with important moments regularly skimmed over. At no point in the franchise’s history was this more evident than during Avengers: Endgame, when Hulk made his first appearance since the events of Infinity War. Introduced into the movie in his Smart Hulk persona, Hulk’s transformation was poorly handled by the MCU.
The moment that the Hulk was revealed as Smart Hulk was underwhelming, and has not aged well at all. The lack of exploration of Smart Hulk’s appearance in the MCU has been heavily criticized, as it skipped over a huge development in his wider character arc. Looking back on Smart Hulk’s MCU arrival, it’s clear that the MCU would have been better off if the moment never happened.
4 Thor Talking About Hulk’s Genitals Thor: Ragnarok (2017) As Hulk’s MCU story has largely been explored through the lens of his relationships with other heroes in the franchise, it’s perhaps unsurprising that one particular moment hasn’t aged well for a different Avenger. Thor: Ragnarok was the most robust depiction of the friendship between Hulk and Thor, which saw the God of Thunder interacting directly with the Hulk free of Banner’s influence. Though it led to many funny moments, one exchange in particular should probably have been left out.
After speaking with the Hulk on Sakaar while the Jade Giant enjoys a soak in his colossal bathtub, Thor is shocked when his fellow Avengers stands up, exposing himself in the process. Thor then goes on to reference the Hulk’s genitals, talking distractedly about them until he covers up. Looking back on the moment, it simply makes Thor seem incredibly childish for a supposed god, and the movie might have been better if it hadn’t been included at all.
3 Hulk Vs Red Hulk Tease The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Though Red Hulk made his long-anticipated MCU debut in the cast of Captain America: Brave New World, his appearance was first teased a long time prior. The Incredible Hulk marked the franchise debut of General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, pitting him against Bruce Banner as he hunted the scientist across the globe in the hopes of recovering his gamma-irradiated cells for scientific purposes. This teased Ross’ future as the Red Hulk, setting up a confrontation between the two.
Ross made multiple MCU appearances afterward, with the Red Hulk nowhere in sight. When he finally transformed in Brave New World, Bruce Banner was nowhere to be seen, and the pair’s supposedly epic showdown did not come to fruition. Whether it may yet occur within the MCU remains to be seen, but looking back on The Incredible Hulk’s Red Hulk setup, it seems clear that the movie set it up far too early in the franchise’s timeline.
2 The Hulk & Black Widow Start An MCU Romance Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Avengers: Age of Ultron proved to be a hugely divisive MCU movie, with many of the creative choices made questioned by fans of the franchise. One such choice involved the movie establishing a romantic connection between Hulk and Black Widow, with Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff sharing multiple scenes exploring their budding romance. The most substantial moment between them came during their time hiding out on Clint Barton’s homestead, and it has not aged well at all.
The scene where the pair spoke about their feelings for one another is especially strange in hindsight, as the MCU did very little to follow up on it. Their relationship was only briefly referenced again ahead of Romanoff’s death in Avengers: Endgame, proving that it was something of a non-starter. As such, the scenes exploring their attraction and emotional connection now seem incredibly out of place, and probably never should have happened at all.
1 The Hulk "Hides" From Thanos Avengers: Infinity War (2018) As the beginning of the epic conclusion to the MCU’s Infinity Saga, Avengers: Infinity War could have given the Hulk a major role to play. However, the movie instead saw him beaten down by Thanos in the opening scenes, leading to his absence in the rest of the movie. It is explained that Hulk’s defeat scared him enough that he refused to come out, prompting Banner to play a slightly different role in proceedings instead.
Having Hulk depicted as too scared to emerge was a poor choice looking back. Not only was it out of character, but it wasted a key opportunity for the Hulk to shine within a major MCU story. Considering his role within the franchise continued in subsequent movies and TV shows, the moment that the Hulk declined to appear in Avengers: Infinity War remains one that never should have made it into the MCU.

Hulk
Created By Stan Lee, Jack Kirby First Appearance The Incredible Hulk (1962) Alias Robert Bruce Banner Alliance Avengers, Defenders, Horsemen of Apocalypse, Fantastic Four, Pantheon, Warbound, S.M.A.S.H., Secret Avengers Upcoming MCU Movies