Hulk’s 10 Most Impressive Displays Of Power In Marvel Movies

Hulk is one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and beyond, and the movies where he has appeared have done a decent job of showcasing his immense strength. Hulk is one of the oldest characters in Marvel Comics, being created by the original dynamic duo, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. This man, who was a genius scientist named Bruce Banner before being hit by an incredible amount of gamma radiation that turned him into a terrifying green monster, remains one of the most popular and iconic figures in comics and superhero stories.

Yes, Hulk is generally a rampaging behemoth that topples cities and leaps over canyons, but because of his inseverable connection to Bruce, the character is much more complex. Like Jekyll and Hyde, two beings are present within the same body, but in this story, the physical transformation is considerably more drastic. However, he is also a superhero, who has fought some of the most powerful villains in the universe, and while not every feat of power has been replicated in the movies, there are plenty of examples that show off Hulk’s smashing abilities.

10 Hulk Destroys Military Tanks

Hulk (2003)

Eric Bana's Hulk looking serious in front of Hulk fighting a tank in Hulk

In 2003, the first live-action theatrical Hulk movie was released, starring Eric Bana as Bruce Banner. The movie wasn’t perfect, and there was a lot that critics and fans picked apart, but it did do a good job at showing the Hulk’s ability to grow and get stronger the more angry they get. While much of the movie sees them stand at roughly nine feet tall, when an army of tanks comes to try and take down the Green Giant, he grows to about 12 feet tall, and begins swatting the tanks like they are toy cars.

Comic book art: the Hulk with the Thing behind him. Related 42 Years Later, Hulk & Thing’s Combined Form is Still One of Marvel’s Strongest Characters

The Hulk and The Thing have been rivals for decades, but one adventure led them to an alien world and an opponent with their strength – and more.

3

Hulk’s strength and size were never really connected in the Marvel Comics, but this representation of the character by Ang Lee is an interesting take that visually makes the character more imposing and impressive. It’s also one of the films that shows the Hulk’s bulletproof skin the most clearly, as the choice to show his skin ripple and bounce the bullets back made it a very distinct and clear moment when many rounds of bullets were being fried and doing absolutely no damage to the hero. For all its flaws, the scene reveals a super-powered Hulk.

9 Hulk Versus Fenris

Thor: Ragnarok

The Hulk fighting Hela's forces in Thor Ragnarok

Within the MCU, Thor: Ragnarok is one of the movies that best showcases Hulk’s immense powers. With the Big Green Mean Machine fighting against literal gods and monsters, he has a chance to really flex his muscles and show what he is capable of. One of the best examples comes when the giant wolf, Fenris, is preparing to attack a group of Asgardians on the Rainbow Bridge. Banner jumps into the fray, ready to unleash the Hulk, but he hits the bridge and it appears he may have fatally misjudged his approach.

However, just as Fenris chooses to ignore the body and keep charging the Asgardians, Hulk grabs his tail and pulls him right back and away from the Asgardians. They battle it out, first on the bridge, and then into the water down below, but Hulk’s devastating punches incapacitate Fenris. As the wolf falls over the edge, Hulk is able to recover and despite a severe leg wound, he comes out victorious while barely breaking a sweat.

8 Hulk Destroying The Shield Helicarrier

The Avengers (2012)

Hulk smashes his way through the helicarrier in The Avengers

Bringing together a bunch of untrained and untested super people was always going to end in chaos, but S.H.I.E.L.D. didn’t think quite so much as what the Hulk did to the helicarrier. The Avengers movie introduced the improved Hulk to the MCU, after Edward Norton departed and the designs of the 2008 movie were scrapped. Now played by Mark Ruffalo, the scene that first sees Banner unleash his rage is while the team is precariously positioned on a helicarrier high above the clouds.

Composite Image Of Avengers 2012 Cast With Avengers: Endgame Cast Related How Much The Avengers Cast Was Paid (From 2012 To Endgame)

The Avengers’ star-studded cast was headlined by six original heroes in the 2012 film. Here’s how much money they made from each Avengers movie.

In this moment, Hulk transforms into a living wrecking ball who causes incredible damage to the internal workings of the ship. Then, he begins fighting the literal god of Thunder, Thor. Before long, additional planes arrive to try and assist, but firing on the incredible Hulk only makes him more angry. With a spectacular leap, he crosses the distance to the other plane, smashing it to pieces, and once again, proving how powerful the Hulk can really be.

7 Hulk Overcomes Sonic Cannons & Destroys A Helicopter

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Hulk shouting in Harlem in The Incredible Hulk

However, while the Hulk was able to do this damage and push back against Thor in The Avengers, none of the others really understood how to fight the beast. In 2008s The Incredible Hulk, General Ross and his men had a much better idea about how to incapacitate the monster. With the use of huge sonic cannons, emitting high-pitched soundwaves that disturbed and largely caused the Hulk to lose control, he was clever enough and durable enough to find a way to fight back.

Using anything within reach, Hulk grabbed and formed large metal plates to block as much of the waves as possible. Then, he turned his attention to a helicopter that was flying in to take him down. Using another large sheet of metal, Hulk is able to hurl this at the helicopter, smashing it to pieces, and then deal with the cannons to completely eliminate any threats to his own safety. This intelligence proves he’s not just a mindless monster, and he has the intelligence to deal with any variety of threats.

6 Hulk Wields The Infinity Gauntlet

Avengers: Endgame

Hulk Wearing Infinity Gauntlet And Yelling in Pain in Avengers Endgame

Over his time in the MCU, the Hulk evolves, and he begins to reconcile with Bruce Banner to ensure that both Hulk, and Banner are able to exist in harmony. Together, they form a Smart Hulk that has much of Hulk’s strength, and all of Banner’s intelligence, making them even more of a formidable foe. This Smart Hulk is capable of making complex choices and doing things that neither one could do alone. In Avengers: Endgame, the Avengers are able to find and recover the Infinity Stones from across time and space.

MCU Super Soldiers Winter Soldier, Captain America, Captain Carter, and Red Skull Related All 26 Super Soldiers Created In The MCU (Not Just Captain America)

Captain America is the most famous super soldier in the MCU, but several others have followed in his footsteps to varying degrees of success.

After collecting all six stones, they place them into a special gauntlet, designed by Tony, which should channel the power and help withstand some of the more dangerous parts of its energy. For almost any mortal being in the universe, wielding six Infinity Stones, even with a special gauntlet, is not possible, and will result in immediate disintegration. However, Hulk is able to use the stones to bring everyone who was erased from the entire universe back. It burns his arm, but he eventually fully recovers, proving once again his incredible durability.

5 Hulk Punches The Leviathan

The Avengers

The Hulk punching a Leviathan in The Avengers

Returning to The Avengers, once the team does finally learn to work together, they create a spectacular group of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Near the film’s end, a group of terrifying alien Chitauri creatures begin to funnell into New York through a portal created by Loki. Banner was reluctant to turn into Hulk again, after the damage he caused on the helicarrier and the danger that he put his allies in. However, when a large Chitauri Leviathan comes flying towards the team, Banner reveals his secret to keeping control, and transforms into the Hulk.

In this moment, he turns to the approaching Leviathan, and launches a powerful punch that literally causes the entire giant creature to curl and flip overhead. Essentially, killing the creature with one incredible punch. He then goes on to smash countless aliens as Captain America simply instructs, “Hulk, Smash.” This battle is absolutely one of the most impressive and intense displays of power from Hulk in the MCU, or anywhere else.

4 Hulk Ragdolls Loki

The Avengers

Mark Ruffalo's Hulk holding Tom Hiddleston's Loki upside down by his ankle in The Avengers

In the same movie, a short time later, Hulk has the opportunity to come face to face with the menacing Loki. While Loki tries to establish his dominance and assert his status as a literal god, Hulk approaches with menacing determination. Then, he swiftly grabs Loki by the legs and begins to mercilessly smash the “puny god” around the room. This all plays out with Loki either too surprised to respond, or just completely incapable of fighting back, because Hulk gets no resistance as he uses Loki like a baseball bat.

Thor with lightning in Ragnarok and marvel comics Related How Powerful The MCU’s Thor Is Compared To The Comics

The power levels of the MCU’s Thor and Marvel Comics’ Thor aren’t exactly the same despite them both ostensibly being the same character.

Loki’s status as a god is obviously something that could be questioned, but there is no doubt that he is a powerful, manipulative, and intelligent being. Most rivals don’t stand a chance against the god of Mischief, but Hulk made it look as though Loki was an inanimate object. With such strength that he can literally wield a god, and unapologetically smash them around a room without any consequences, it does appear that Hulk proves himself the stronger one out of this match-up.

3 Hulk Versus Thor On Sakaar

Thor: Ragnarok

Gladiator Hulk yelling at Thor in Thor Ragnarok

From the god of Mischief to the god of Thunder, Hulk has had a couple of run-ins with Thor in the movies. As mentioned above, they fight briefly on the helicarrier in The Avengers, but this battle barely qualifies as the two are unfamiliar and untrained. By the time that Thor meets with his old friend on Sakaar in Thor: Ragnarok, both have considerably more experience in a fight. And while the pair are good friends, Thor is always up for a challenge when he is sent into the arena to face his old ally.

Unfortunately for Thor, Hulk has had a lot of time to train and fight a host of other rivals on the planet where missing things are collected. Hulk has incredible strength, and he is able to fight Thor with impressive strength. However, Thor is also much further along in his development, with a great deal of battle experience and strength. The match-up looks like it could turn in Thor’s favor, but as the duel nears its end, it’s cut short by the Grandmaster.

2 Hulk Versus Abomination

The Incredible Hulk

Hulk and Abomination in The Incredible Hulk

However, a much earlier battle sets the bar for Hulk’s incredible strength and abilities when he faces another creature who has been transformed by the power of gamma radiation. In order to fight the Hulk, Ross allows agent Emil Blonsky to inject himself with a concoction of untested chemicals that could transform him into the Abomination. As Abomination, Blonsky retained his ability to speak, but it also enhanced his aggression, anger, and violent tendencies. In this state, the enraged Abomination goes out to pick a fight with Hulk, and it’s a clear battle of the titans as the pair clash.

Mark Ruffalo's Hulk and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine Related Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk Takes On Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine For The Ultimate Battle In MCU Concept Trailer

A Marvel Cinematic Universe concept trailer brings Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk together for an epic comic book movie showdown.

1

Hulk holds his own against the specially trained military operative, despite the enhancements. The fight is grueling, brutal, but ultimately, Hulk proves his strength as he is able to overpower and defeat the Abomination. This fight is one of the most intense, and since both parties genuinely detest each other, there is no holding back. For Hulk, it’s survival, as he attempts to wrestle and overpower Blonsky’s vicious attacks, but Blonsky is full of anger and rage which he tries to pour out into the Hulk, but he fails to overpower him.

1 Hulk Takes On The Hulkbuster Armor

Avengers: Age Of Ultron

The Hulk fighting Iron Man's Hulkbuster in Avengers Age of Ultron

While Hulk versus a machine may not seem like it would be a fight that could last any length of time, Tony Stark being the man behind the engineering makes it a very different story. Stark is incredibly intelligent, to the point that he can make a supersuit out of scraps in a cave with ancient tools. When he is able to draw on the tools in his own lab, he is able to enhance it to make it infinitely better and stronger. And when he puts his mind to making a suit that is purpose built to fight and defeat the Hulk, of course it’s going to be powerful.

Stark’s Hulkbuster is no ordinary robotic suit of armor. Every function is designed to repel and withstand the Hulk. Having worked with his friend closely for years, and having access to files which allowed him to study the Hulk persona, Stark was able to build a ton of features to block, withstand and incapacitate the Hulk. However, despite all his preparation and planning, Hulk was still able to come out on top, and render the suit a useless hunk of metal due to his sheer power and will.

Incredible Hulk Last Call Comic Art by Dave Keown Hulk

The Hulk, a Marvel Comics superhero created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, is physicist Bruce Banner transformed by gamma radiation. He morphs into a giant, green-skinned creature of immense strength and invulnerability when angered. Struggling with his transformations, Hulk allies with other heroes, battling villains while balancing his intellect with uncontrollable rage, making him a central figure in Marvel’s universe.

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 Franchise Marvel

Upcoming MCU Movies

  • Captain America Brave New World Film Release Date Poster Captain America: Brave New World

    Release Date February 14, 2025

  • Thunderbolts (2025) Official Poster Thunderbolts*

    Release Date May 2, 2025

  • Fantastic Four 2025 Valentines Day Poster Featuring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

    Release Date July 25, 2025

  • Blade MCU Poster Blade (2025)

    Release Date November 7, 2025

  • Avengers 5 Concept Poster Avengers: Doomsday

    Release Date May 1, 2026

  • Avengers: Secret Wars

    Release Date May 7, 2027