Dragon Ball has so much history that sometimes it is easy to get lost in the franchise. In addition to the , in this entry we bring you a guide to enjoy Dragon Ball movies in order and after which episodes of the series you should watch them (in case you’re just starting out in the world of Dragon Ball or revisiting the series again).
Dragon Ball movies, in general, They are not canon (that is, they are not taken into account in the plot of the series), especially because they are impossible to fit within the lore of the series. However, all the Dragon Ball Super ones arewith which its events do affect the main story of the work.
DRAGON BALL MOVIES
1) The Legend of Dragon Shenron (1986)
- View after: Episode 13
It tells the beginning of Dragon Ball, but in a different way than what we already know, adding a parallel adventure different from the one that happened in the anime. In it, King Gourmeth has oppressed his people and Goku and company must face him while searching for the Dragon Balls.
2) The Sleeping Princess of Evil Castle (1987)
- View after: Episode 28
Direct sequel to the previous film that reimagines the plot of Master Mutenroshi and Krillin. In order for the Master to accept them as students, Goku and his partner must earn their place by going to rescue the Sleeping Princess.
3) Great Mystical Adventure (1988)
- View after: Episode 68
Third parallel adventure that, once again, follows the story of the previous film. In the Great Adventure, King Chaos organizes a martial arts tournament where the Red Ribbon Army is also involved.
4) The Road to the Strongest (1996)
- View after: Episode 68
This is a kind of summary of Dragon Ball until the Red Ribbon saga that commemorates the 10th anniversary of the series. It is drawn with the Dragon Ball GT drawing style, which is what the series used at the time.
DRAGON BALL Z MOVIES
Below we indicate the order in which you should watch the movies as well as the episode (both of Dragon Ball Z and the Dragon Ball Kai adaptation) in which each movie would more or less fit.
1) Garlic Junior Immortal (1989)
- View after: Saiyan Saga – DBZ Ep. 35| Kai Ep. 17
Garlick and Kamisama once competed to be the God of the Earth. Now, Garlick’s son has returned to proclaim himself as the new God of Earth and to do so he needs to get hold of the Dragon Balls, kidnapping Gohan to steal his.
2) The World’s Strongest (1990)
- View after: Saiyan Saga – DBZ Ep. 35| Kai Ep. 17
Doctor Kochin gathers the Dragon Balls to unfreeze Dr. Wheelo, an eminence who was frozen next to his laboratory. To make him the perfect human, Kochin plans to transplant Dr. Wheelo’s brain into the body of “the strongest person in the world.”
3) The Super Battle (1990)
- View after: Saiyan Saga – DBZ Ep. 35| Kai Ep. 17
The mysterious Turles and his minions arrive on Earth to plant a strange tree that drains the planet’s energy in exchange for bearing fruits that grant unimaginable power to those who eat it.
4) The Last Fight (1990)
- Watch during: Frieza Saga – DBZ Ep. 86 | Kai Ep. 42
This short tells us the last battle of Bardock, Goku’s father, against Frieza. This event would lead to the extermination of the Saiyans. Ideal to watch after episode 86 (in Kai, 42) or even 85, when Frieza realizes that Goku is the son of that Saiyan who tried to save the people from him.
5) The Super Warrior Son Goku (1991)
- View after: Frieza Saga – DBZ Ep. 107| Kai Ep. 54
A meteorite threatens to destroy the Earth, but Goku and Krillin destroy it to prevent it. From the meteorite appears Lord Slug, a Namekian expelled from Namek due to his evil, who is now preparing to gather the Dragon Balls to recover his youth and thus conquer the planet with his army of demons.
6) The Best Rivals (1991)
- View after: Frieza Saga – DBZ Ep. 107| Kai Ep. 54
First film in which Cooler, Frieza’s brother, appears, who arrives on Earth with the intention of destroying Son Goku to avenge his brother and thus wipe out all the Saiyans.
7) Warriors of Unlimited Strength (1992)
- View after: Android Saga – DBZ Ep. 139| Kai Ep. 67
The new Planet Namek is in danger and Goku and company come to save it. To his surprise, behind the comet that is threatening the planet, is Cooler, who has returned much more powerful and with an army of clones.
8) The Two Warriors of the Future: Gohan and Trunks (1993)
- View after: Android Saga – DBZ Ep. 139| Kai Ep. 67
This short tells the story of Future Trunks when the Androids burst into his timeline, wiping out a large part of humanity and all the Z Fighters except him, Gohan and Bulma.
9) The Big Three Super Saiyans (1992)
- Watch during: Cell Saga – DBZ Ep. 174| Kai Ep. 86
Dr. Gero had left his computer working on new Androids beyond 16, 17 and 18 and they have finally woken up. These new Androids have the same objective as the previous ones: to kill Goku, leading to a confrontation mainly between Vegeta, Trunks and Goku himself.
10) Duel Breaks Out (1993)
- Watch during: Cell Saga – DBZ: Ep. 174| Kai: Ep. 86
Paragus, a Saiyan who managed to survive Frieza’s genocide, and his son Broly arrive on Earth in search of Vegeta so that he can be the king of the New Planet Vegeta and thus recover the status of his race. However, it all turns out to be part of a trap.
eleven) The Silver Warriors (1993)
- View after: Cell Saga – DBZ Ep. 193| Kai Ep. 97
The explosion that took place on Kaito’s planet towards the end of the events of the Cell saga allowed the Galactic Pirates led by Bojack to escape from their confinement. In a world without Goku, Gohan must take charge of protecting the universe.
12) Broly Returns (1994)
- Watch during: Boo Saga – DBZ: Ep. 207| Kai: Ep. 104
Videl, Goten and Trunks are searching for the Dragon Balls when they arrive at a village threatened by a monster. However, that is the least of the problems, since Broly, who managed to survive the previous encounter with Goku, is buried near them.
13) The Ultimate Fight (1994)
- Watch during: Boo Saga – DBZ: Ep. 207| Kai: Ep. 104
Mr. Satan agrees to face some bio-warriors created by Baron Jaguar, but asks Android 18 to fight for him. Goten and Trunks do not want to miss the event and travel with her to Baron Jaguar’s facilities, where they discover that Broly is still alive.
14) Fusion! (nineteen ninety five)
- View after: Boo Saga – DBZ Ep. 287| Kai Ep. 164
A worker from “The Other World” suffers an accident that results in the creation of a monster powered by all the souls of hell. Goku and Vegeta will be so overwhelmed that they will have to resort to fusion to defeat the dangerous enemy.
fifteen) Attack of the Dragon (1995)
- View after: Boo Saga – DBZ Ep. 287| Kai Ep. 164
The sorcerer Hoi asks Gohan to help him free Tapion, an ancient hero from his planet. With the help of the Dragon Balls, they manage to achieve it, but what they did not know is that together with him they will also free the colossal Hildegarn.
DRAGON BALL SUPER MOVIES
Although the first two films on this list belong to Dragon Ball Z, we are going to include it within the Super group, since they are responsible for starting the plot of this new era of the franchise.
1) Battle of the Gods (2013)
- View after: Boo Saga – DBZ Ep. 287| Kai Ep. 164
The Z Fighters gather to celebrate Bulma’s birthday. The problem comes when Beerus, the God of Destruction, wakes up from his long slumber in search of the “Super Saiyan God” who has appeared in his dreams. After reaching Goku, who was training on Kaito’s Planet, and killing him with one blow, he heads to Earth in search of Vegeta. This movie takes place between Boo’s defeat and the 10-year time jump that we see in the Dragon Ball Z epilogue.
2) The Resurrection of F (2015)
It takes place after the events of the previous film, where the remnants of Frieza’s Army search for the Dragon Balls to revive their leader. The worst omen happens when Goku and Vegeta are absent, with Piccolo, Gohan, Ten Shin Han, Krillin and Mutenroshi being the only ones capable of facing the hordes of the feared army.
3) Broly (2019)
- View after: Dragon Ball Super (series)
This film takes us after the end of the Dragon Ball Super Tournament of Power (the end of the anime). And although the Broly from the Dragon Ball Z movies was not a canon character, this new Broly is part of the continuity of the series. In addition, this film rewrites the story of Bardock that becomes part of the canon, unlike the already known one produced by Toei.
4) Super Hero (2022)
- View after: Dragon Ball Super: Broly
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero represents a small time jump after what happened in the previous film, where Trunks, Goten and Pan are somewhat older than in the previous sagas. Also, and for once, Piccolo and Gohan are the protagonists instead of Goku and Vegeta. At the same time, the plot also takes place after the Granola saga of the manga.
DRAGON BALL GT MOVIES
Although all of Dragon Ball GT is not canon, there is a movie that puts the finishing touch to the adventures we saw in the anime created by Toei.
100 Years Later (1997)
It is a film starring Goku Jr, grandson of an already elderly Pan that we actually saw during the final episode of Dragon Ball GT.
For now, this is the list of movies you should watch to stay up to date with all the relevant Dragon Ball content! We hope you found it useful!