The Incredible Hulk is one of Marvel's oldest and most popular characters. The Hulk dates back to 1962, and he was actually gray in his earliest appearances. Naturally, Marvel has been quick to include him in many of their movie adaptations, giving the Hulk two solo movies and a plethora of Avengers films for Old Jade Jaws to star in.

RELATED: 10 Ways Bruce Banner Changed Between Incredible Hulk & Avengers

With all these movies under his belt, one must ask which Hulk movies are the best Hulk movies? Which ones do him the most justice, and which ones just fall flat?

7 Hulk (2003) Falls Flat

Hulk Resting At A Lake In Hulk 2003

The much-maligned 2003 Hulk directed by Ang Lee and starring Eric Bana as Bruce Banner is not remembered fondly, for good reason. While it made some interesting choices, namely collapsing the characters of Brian Banner (Bruce's abusive father) and the Absorbing Man into a single character to play the role of lead villain, there is so much about the movie that doesn't work.

First and foremost, the movie had no confidence in its own special effects, which didn't look bad for 2003. However, Hulk's smackdowns with the gamma dogs and even the Absorbing Man are incoherent messes that are neither visually appealing nor satisfying. They take place either in the dark or underwater, and it's nearly impossible to get a grip on what exactly is going on. That said, Eric Bana doesn't do a bad job as Bruce Banner, and legendary actor Sam Elliot turns in a solid performance as General Thunderbolt Ross. Beyond that, there is little to draw in a Hulk fan to this flick.

6 The Incredible Hulk (2008) Is A Huge Leap Forward

The Hulk standing with arms spread out, yelling in anger

The second theater outing for the Incredible Hulk is a huge leap forward. The CGI looks better, and the movie is far more willing to show off the gamma-powered action. Ed Norton captures the neuroticism and anxiety of Bruce Banner, Will Hurt is a darn good General Ross, and Tim Blake Nelson shows up to put in a charmingly nerdy performance as Samuel Sterns--the once and future Leader of the comics. Tim Roth's Emil Blonsky/Abomination isn't bad, but it's not memorable either. Liv Tyler's Betty Ross leaves a bit to be desired.

RELATED: 10 Ways The Incredible Hulk Is The Most Underrated Movie In The MCU

The visual design of the Abomination goes in a completely different direction from the amphibious armadillo look of the comics, and that is a bit of a letdown. That said, it doesn't look all that bad, and the final showdown between Hulk and Abomination is a ton of fun.

5 Professor Hulk Was One Of The More Dull Moments In Avengers: Endgame

Hulk wearing a sweater

The Professor Hulk era of the Incredible Hulk comic book isn't one of the most celebrated chapters in Bruce Banner's saga. Gone were the days of rage and savagery, replaced by a Hulk that is indistinguishable from Bruce Banner himself. That is the Hulk that makes its appearance in Avengers: Endgame, and it leaves the Jade Giant one of the least interesting parts of the movie.

His big moment is using the Infinity Gauntlet, which all-but incinerates his arm. The Hulk is pushed to the background for the big open war against Thanos and his forces, with only the occasional shot of him smashing a nondescript Outrider or Chitauri. What pushes this movie ahead of Incredible Hulk is just how fun that last hour-or-so of action is, regardless of the Hulk's involvement.

4 The Hulk And Thanos Punchout In Avengers: Infinity War Was An Exciting Opening

Avengers Infinity War Hulk

The Hulk himself is barely in this one, but the Incredible One makes quite the impression in that short time. The movie opens up with the Hulk and Thanos having a thunderous punchout which Thanos wins through sheer skill and fighting prowess.

The rest of the movie finds Bruce Banner trying and failing to summon the Hulk again at pivotal times, and Bruce finally rejoins the fight by the end by piloting, ironically, a Hulkbuster Iron Man suit to fight off Thanos' Outriders and Black Order.

3 Avengers: Age Of Ultron Shows The Hulk As He Is Meant To Be

Avengers Age of Ultron Hulk vs Iron Man

Avengers: Age of Ultron is another fairly maligned Marvel flick, but it's actually a really fun movie for the Hulk aficionado. It dives back into the complicated and contentious relationship between Bruce and his green alter ego, and it debuts Tony Stark's Hulkbuster Iron Man suit for a memorable--if devastating--fight between Hulk and Iron Man.

RELATED: 5 Battles The Hulk Won By Himself (& 5 He Needed Help)

Hulk himself gets to tear through hordes of Ultron drones, and a relationship is hinted at between Bruce and Black Widow that, unfortunately for them, never comes to true fruition. Some critics claim this depiction of the Hulk just isn't fun, but the Hulk isn't always meant to be fun--just ask Al Ewing and Joe Bennett. Their Immortal Hulk title is an actual horror comic, and it's one of the best Marvel books of the past decade.

2 The Avengers Debuts A Fun Version Of The Hulk

The Avengers Hulk

The first Avengers film is an absolute blast for any Incredible Hulk fan. It's Mark Ruffalo's debut as Bruce Banner, and he is near-perfect as the nerdy and nervous scientist. Audiences get to enjoy a showdown between the Hulk and Thor before the Jade Giant gets to smash armies of Chitauri soldiers and devastate the movie's main villain, Loki.

This is admittedly a far more fun depiction of the Hulk, with Bruce and the beast seeming to have come to an understanding. While the previous entry mentioned that the Hulk isn't always meant to be fun, it isn't necessarily bad when he is.

1 Thor: Ragnarok Features The Best Hulk Appearance In The MCU

Hulk in Thor: Ragnarok

Easily the most entertaining Hulk appearance of the MCU thus far, the cosmic buddy-cop epic that is Thor: Ragnarok brings the Jade Giant and the God of Thunder together on a far-off world ruled by a despotic Jeff Goldblum. Despite being a Thor film, it actually takes a lot of notes from the "Planet Hulk" comic story by Greg Pak, Carlo Pagulayan, and Aaron Lopresti.

Hulk gets to lay into Thor, the Fenris Wolf, and Surtur the Fire Demon before the movie is over. We get some insight into how the Hulk persona views himself, his Avengers allies, and the world around him. The overall movie is a complete blast, and it happens to be the best Hulk film to have ever hit the silver screen to boot.

NEXT: The Hulk: 10 Times Bruce Banner Was His Own Worst Enemy