The Incredible Hulk: Season 5 (1981)
TV SeriesOptional
The shortened final season sends Banner into his last televised adventures before the saga continued in three reunion TV movies. This 1981 Marvel season was made outside Marvel Studios’ main MCU line-up, so it’s optional for the watch order and works fine on its own. At 5h 50m, it is free to watch with ads on Tubi in the US.
| Release date | October 2, 1981 |
|---|
Why it’s worth knowing about
The abbreviated final season, cut short by network cancellation, leaving Banner's quest unresolved until the TV movies continued it.
About The Incredible Hulk: Season 5
Only seven episodes make up the final season, aired between October 2, 1981, and May 12, 1982, which makes it by far the shortest of the five. It opens with "The Phenom," in which Banner protects a young baseball pitcher from a crooked agent. Later stories have him impersonating a priest at a convent in "Sanctuary," held prisoner in a ghost town in "Slaves," and stuck in a deserted town hit by a deadly bacterium in "A Minor Problem," the series finale.
Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno lead the season, and Diana Muldaur returns as a guest star in "Sanctuary." Jack McGee makes his last appearance in the weekly series in "Triangle," though Jack Colvin played him once more in a 1988 reunion movie. "A Minor Problem" is also Charles Napier's last episode as the Hulk's voice. Nicholas Corea, who shares a story credit on "Veteran," later wrote and directed that 1988 reunion movie.
Good to know
- "A Minor Problem" is the final episode of the weekly series and Charles Napier's last as the Hulk's voice.
- "Triangle" is McGee's final appearance in the weekly show.
- The series ended its CBS run as a solid ratings performer that usually won its Friday time slot.
- The story picked up six years later in three NBC TV movies, starting with The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988).
How to watch it
Watch the season after season 4, then go on to The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988), The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989) and The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990). With only seven episodes, it's quick to finish. "Triangle" matters for McGee fans, and "A Minor Problem" is where the weekly show signs off. Completists will want it, but casual viewers can skip ahead to the reunion movies.
Where to watch The Incredible Hulk: Season 5 in the US
| Streaming (subscription) | Not currently on a US subscription service |
|---|---|
| Free with ads | Tubi (more free Marvel) |
| Rent or buy | Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home |
Where to watch The Incredible Hulk: Season 5 outside the US
| Country | Stream | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Prime Video | None needed |
| Canada | Not included | Not available |
| Australia | Not included | Not available |
| India | Not included | Not available |
Streaming availability last verified: October 16, 2026
All streaming options for Marvel movies and shows, by service and country.
Related guides
The Incredible Hulk: Season 5 FAQ
How does The Incredible Hulk TV series end?
The weekly series ends with season 5's "A Minor Problem," which doesn't wrap up Banner's story. It continued in three NBC TV movies released between 1988 and 1990.
What should I watch after season 5 of The Incredible Hulk?
Watch The Incredible Hulk Returns (1988), which adds Thor, then The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989), which adds Daredevil, and finally The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990).
Can you skip The Incredible Hulk: Season 5?
Yes. It’s not on the MCU timeline, so you won’t miss any MCU story by skipping it.
How many episodes does The Incredible Hulk: Season 5 have?
The Incredible Hulk: Season 5 is a one-part special.
Is The Incredible Hulk: Season 5 part of the MCU?
No. It’s a Marvel title made outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe.