Edward Norton: 10 Greatest movies of all time
By Rachel Roth
10. The Incredible Hulk
Original Release Date: June 8, 2008
Box Office Earnings: An estimated $263.4 million worldwide
Critical Acclaim: Scored a 67% on Rotten Tomatoes but was fairly well received by comic/Marvel fans
More from Movies
- The story of a French emperor: Here’s where Napoleon will stream after theaters
- The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes honors its origins and far surpasses them
- Thanksgiving movie death toll: Why [SPOILER] is still alive
- No, Thanksgiving is not streaming yet (But here’s where it’ll land)
- Trolls Band Together soundtrack guide: Which songs play in the movie?
About the Role: Probably the most widely known character Norton’s ever played. The list of actors who’ve played Bruce Banner/The Hulk is longer than the Norse snake Jormungandr, and Norton had the honor of being added to the list, then had the dishonor of being kicked off it.
Playing a more unhinged, depressing version of Banner, Norton brought a darker side to the character. The entire movie it looked like he was about to burst under the stress of holding in an uncontrollable green rage monster. If not for Ruffalo taking over, I’d consider him the best Banner.
Simply the Best: Before Marvel had taken over the world, The Incredible Hulk came out way back in 2008 and pretty much everyone forgot about it, that’s until Bruce Banner showed up in The Avengers wearing the face of Mark Ruffalo. If a “normie” walked into The Avengers, they’d have no idea that the Hulk movie starring Norton was the second film in the MCU timeline and the Hulk in both movies was the same character. Now everyone’s basically back on board, but I for one was confused back in 2012 when I didn’t understand what this Marvel Cinematic Universe was that everyone was obsessing over.
The Incredible Hulk is a fairly well-made movie, one of the best Hulk films to this day. Director Louis Leterrier drops the whole science-nerd skit when Banner isn’t a green rage monster and makes him a control freak even when he’s a skinny white boy. The Hulk has always been about anger and this version takes that to the max, but it has its problems; a boring villain, rushed love interest, and an uneven third act. A pretty good movie but nothing to remember in ten years’ time.