The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988)
MovieOptionalLegacy
David Banner, cured and living quietly, is pulled back into the Hulk's orbit when an old colleague summons a banished Norse god, the live-action debut of Thor. This 1988 Marvel film was made outside Marvel Studios’ main MCU line-up, so it’s optional for the watch order and works fine on its own. At 1h 40m, it streams on Prime Video in the US.
| Release date | May 22, 1988 |
|---|---|
| Runtime | 1h 40m |
| IMDb rating | 5.7/10 |
| Series | Legacy Marvel films |
| Post-credit scene | No |
Why it matters now
The first-ever live-action Thor appeared here, two decades before the MCU, in a backdoor pilot for an unmade Thor series.
About The Incredible Hulk Returns
Six years after the weekly Hulk series ended, this NBC reunion movie finds David Banner working under the name David Bannion at the Joshua-Lambert Research Institute. He has built a Gamma Transponder that he secretly hopes will cure him for good. Then a former student, Donald Blake, turns up with Thor in tow, and the chaos that follows wrecks Banner's plans just as a gang of mercenaries goes after the Transponder and his girlfriend, Dr. Maggie Shaw.
Nicholas Corea wrote and directed the film, which aired on May 22, 1988, and runs about 93 minutes. Bill Bixby returns as Banner and also executive produced, Lou Ferrigno is back as the Hulk, and Jack Colvin plays reporter Jack McGee for the last time. Eric Allan Kramer plays Thor, Steve Levitt plays Blake, and Tim Thomerson leads the mercenaries. It was shot in Los Angeles over the winter of 1987–88, with Stan Lee consulting, and it was a big ratings hit for NBC.
Good to know
- It was the first Hulk TV production to bring in another Marvel hero, and the first to add supernatural elements.
- The film was a backdoor pilot for a Thor series that never got made.
- This Thor is very different from the comics: a long-dead Viking denied entry to Valhalla, bound to Blake instead of being his alter ego, with no flight or weather powers.
- Series creator Kenneth Johnson wasn't involved and only heard about the project while working on another film in Toronto.
- Lou Ferrigno put on about 45 pounds of muscle in three months to play the Hulk again.
How to watch it
Watch this after the five seasons of the 1978 series. It's the first of three NBC reunion movies, so follow it with The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989) and The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990). It works as a standalone too, if you just want to see Marvel's first live-action Thor. It's best for fans of the Bixby and Ferrigno era and anyone curious how Marvel heroes looked on TV long before the MCU. Expect some 1980s cheese.
Where it fits in your watch
- All legacy Marvel films
The Incredible Hulk Returns FAQ
Who plays Thor in The Incredible Hulk Returns?
Eric Allan Kramer plays Thor, and Steve Levitt plays Donald Blake, the medical student who summons him. In this version, Thor and Blake are two separate people rather than one hero with a secret identity.
Is The Incredible Hulk Returns a sequel to the TV series?
Yes. It continues the 1978–1982 CBS series with Bill Bixby, Lou Ferrigno and Jack Colvin, and it was the first of three reunion movies that aired on NBC.
Was there ever a Thor TV series after this movie?
No. The film was meant as a backdoor pilot for a Thor show, but the series was never produced.
Can you skip The Incredible Hulk Returns?
Yes. It’s not on the MCU timeline, so you won’t miss any MCU story by skipping it.
When was The Incredible Hulk Returns released?
The Incredible Hulk Returns was released on May 22, 1988.
Is The Incredible Hulk Returns part of the MCU?
No. The Incredible Hulk Returns is a Marvel film made outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so it isn’t on Marvel Studios’ official timeline.
Does The Incredible Hulk Returns have a post-credit scene?
No, The Incredible Hulk Returns has no post-credit scene.
Where to watch The Incredible Hulk Returns in the US
| Streaming (subscription) | Prime Video |
|---|---|
| Free with ads | The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Tubi (more free Marvel) |
| Rent or buy | Amazon |
Where to watch The Incredible Hulk Returns outside the US
| Country | Stream | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not included | Rent: Apple TV, Amazon, Sky Store |
| Australia | Not included | Not available |
| India | Not included | Not available |
Streaming availability last verified: October 16, 2026
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