The Incredible Hulk

Bruce Banner has spent years trying to keep a dangerous condition under control, an explosive transformation tied to his anger that turns him into the Hulk. He stays off the grid, chasing a medical fix while staying away from military operatives who see his power as a weapon. When a secret program and a heavily enhanced soldier drag him back into public life, Banner has to protect the people he cares about while stopping an adversary who can match the Hulk in strength and brutality. The story follows his attempts to reconcile the scientist and the monster inside, showing escalating confrontations and moral stakes without revealing how it all ends.

Released in 2008, The Incredible Hulk was directed by Louis Leterrier, with a screenplay by Zak Penn based on Marvel characters created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Edward Norton headlines as Bruce Banner, joined by Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt and Tim Blake Nelson, with production from Marvel Studios.

Produced for roughly $150 million, the film did solid box office business, grossing about $263 million worldwide. That performance helped Marvel Studios keep momentum on its cinematic plans while demonstrating there was still strong audience interest in standalone superhero pictures.

The movie reintroduced the Hulk into Marvel's emerging shared universe and set visual and tonal elements other Marvel projects would reference. Norton’s single outing as Banner, followed by a later recasting, keeps this entry a frequent topic among fans. The film’s emphasis on a militarized hunt, the hulking CGI design and its gritty fight sequences influenced how the character was handled in later ensemble appearances.

Critics were mixed, reflected in an average score near 6.2 out of 10, with praise often going to the lead’s more introspective moments and to the serious stakes, while some reviewers found the tone uneven and the pacing lopsided. The film spotlights themes of responsibility, the ethics of experimentation, military ambition, and the struggle to control violent impulses.