Summary

• Dragon Ball has spanned more than 30 years, becoming an institution in the world of anime with a vast cinematic franchise.
• The Dragon Ball movies offer alternate continuities, introducing new characters and storylines while keeping fans entertained.
• Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero delivers vibrant action and character development, showcasing Gohan reaching his potential in a visually stunning 3D animation.

It may be more than thirty years old, but no anime has succeeded in accomplishing what Dragon Ball has. Not only is Akira Toriyama’s magnum opus a long-running series with many spin-off materials, but it’s practically an institution in the world of anime. Ongoing manga series like Dragon Ball Super and Super Dragon Ball Heroes continue to entertain audiences worldwide, especially the many incredible Dragon Ball films the franchise has produced.

In its decades-long lifespan, the epic adventures and fights of Son Goku have been seen and read in manga, video games, and lots of movies. With more than 20 movies to its name, Dragon Ball has a large enough cinematic franchise that can go toe-to-toe with the likes of James Bond in of scale, popularity, and influence.

There are a lot of Dragon Ball movies out there and many are essential viewings for fans as they bridge mysterious gabs in seasons of Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super. Meanwhile, others are strange sidetracks of the franchise such as the three live-action movies and alternate non-canon timelines. Viewing all of the Dragon Ball movies in order can be a mighty task, so here's how to watch them in order.

27 Dragon Ball: Curse Of The Blood Rubies Retells The Beginning Of Goku's Story

The First Dragon Ball Movie Released in 1986 and Has A Runtime Of 51 Minutes

The very first Dragon Ball movie also started the series' trend of setting stories in alternate continuities. Curse of the Blood Rubies is a condensation of the introductory arc of Akira Toriyama's inspirational series. In its 51-minute runtime, viewers see the first encounters between Son Goku, Bulma, Master Roshi, Krillin, and more of the beloved cast, but with some changes.

Fans who have watched the first arc of the iconic Dragon Ball anime will find the events of the first film incredibly familiar. A significant difference between this movie and the original arc is that the antagonist, Emperor Pilaf, is replaced with the movie-only character King Gurumes, who never appears in any other Dragon Ball material after his debut. Several villains were changed for the movie, likely to make them seem more intimidating and less comedic than the original bumbling Pilaf gang.

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies is available subbed and dubbed in English on DVD and for streaming on AppleTV+.

26 Goku Earn's Roshi's Respect In Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess In Devil’s Castle

The Second Dragon Ball Movie Released in 1987 and Has A Runtime Of 45 Minutes

The second Dragon Ball movie is essentially a retelling of the first time Goku meets Krillin as they both try to become Master Roshi's students. However, the film changes things up by having the young boys tested by traveling to a demon-infested castle to retrieve a sleeping princess. It's an entertaining departure from the original story that's also filled with super-powered martial arts and a literal devil named Count Lucifer.

Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle is again a cinematic retelling of key events in Goku's life. However, the plot involving Lucifer's twisted Devil Castle Cannon blowing up the sun and the inclusion of Goku's Great Ape form create a far more precarious situation than Master Roshi's original initiation. Clocking in at 45 minutes, the second Dragon Ball movie is a fun but disposable watch for completionists.

Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle is available subbed and dubbed in English on DVD and for streaming on AppleTV+.

25 Toriyama's Strongest Character Helps Goku In Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure

The Third Dragon Ball Movie Released in 1988 and Has A Runtime Of 46 Minutes

The Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure movie again borrows significant plot threads from the series, but it does an effective job of combining characters and battles from different arcs to craft its story. After completing their year of training under Master Roshi, Goku and Krillin participate in a martial arts tournament held in Emperor Chiaotzu's homeland of Mifan. However, they find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy that involves General Tao, Tien, Chiaotzu, and the legendary Dragon Balls.

Compared to the previous Dragon Ball animated movies, Mystical Adventure takes even more liberties with its story by including characters from different arcs and giving them new roles and motivations. This movie also offers alternate versions of certain events in the manga, giving fans something new to look out for because the movie includes an arguably more effective introduction and backstory for Tien and Chiaotzu, who'd grow into vital characters for the franchise. The incredibly powerful android Arale from Toriyama's Dr. Slump series also makes a humorous appearance to team up with Goku during an intense battle.

Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure is available subbed and dubbed in English on DVD and for streaming on AppleTV+.

24 Before The Series Began, Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone Set The Bar High

The First Dragon Ball Z Movie Released In 1989 and Has A Runtime Of 41 Minutes

Dead Zone is the first of many movies to bear the Dragon Ball Z name while also technically working as the show's prequel. Its plot again holds many similarities to events from the main storyline, with twists that also include Goku and Piccolo teaming up and showing off more of their skills compared to Raditz's arrival. Here, an alien named Garlic Jr. seeks to avenge his father, who he feels was disgraced when Kami was chosen as the God of Earth over the elder Garlic.

While the Dragon Ball series is filled with villains who seek immortality, Garlic Jr. is the only one who succeeds in making the wish. To do this, his goons kidnapped Gohan, whose hat held the four-star Dragon Ball, and helped provide some incredible fights with impressive animation and choreography that continue to stand out years later. Despite a generic plot, the fourth Dragon Ball movie was so popular that Garlic Jr. returned in a full-blown Dragon Ball Z filler arc. The Garlic Jr. Saga takes place between the Namek and Android Arcs.

Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone is available subbed and dubbed in English on DVD and for streaming on AppleTV+ and Crunchyroll.

23 The Heroes Are Pushed Hard In Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest

The Second Dragon Ball Z Movie Released In 1990 and Has A Runtime Of 60 Minutes

When a pair of mad scientists escape their icy prison, Goku and his comrades are thrust into a high-stakes battle to thwart their plans of global domination. The villains abduct Bulma and Master Roshi and even manage to brainwash Piccolo, pushing the Z Warriors into heart-pounding and intense situations. Meanwhile, the giant disembodied brain of Dr. Wheelo schemes to seize the body of the world's strongest man in order to escape his robotic confinement.

The second DBZ movie, The World's Strongest, is difficult to place on the series timeline because it takes place before the Namek saga but includes Goku using Kaioi-ken while Piccolo is still alive, an outcome that the Saiyan saga made impossible. Still, the film is more action-packed than its predecessors, partly thanks to the elements it borrows from Dragon Ball Z's first arcs. The World's Strongest was criticized for its thin plot but praised for its energetic and well-animated fights. This sentiment would become the series' staple as time went on.

Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest is available subbed and dubbed in English on DVD and for streaming on AppleTV+ and Crunchyroll.

22 An Evil Goku Lookalike Nearly Wins In Dragon Ball Z: The Tree Of Might

The Third Dragon Ball Z Movie Released In 1990 and Has A Runtime Of 61 Minutes

The third Dragon Ball Z movie features Turles, a rouge Saiyan who shares a shocking resemblance to Goku. He and his fellow space pirates land on Earth to plant the Tree of Might, which quickly grows large enough to be seen from space. The grotesque plant grants unimaginable power with the fruit it bears after it drains the planet's life force. Obviously, Goku won't let Earth go down without a fight.

Tree of Might presents one of the most intriguing rivalries in Dragon Ball, with the theory that Turles is Goku's evil counterpart. However, he explains in the film that the cause of their identical appearance is because they were both born as lower class Saiyans, who he says all seemingly share similar physical characteristics. Like the previous film, Tree of Might features excellent action that fans won't want to miss. Additionally, Turles's movie has the most English dubs among all Dragon Ball media.

Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might is available subbed and dubbed in English on DVD and for streaming on AppleTV+ and Crunchyroll.

21 Goku's Dad Saves The Universe In Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father Of Goku

The First Dragon Ball Z TV Special Released In 1990 and Has A Runtime Of 48 Minutes

Serving as a prequel to the entire Dragon Ball franchise, Bardock – The Father of Goku reveals where and how the rivalry between the Saiyans and Frieza began. After gaining strange premonitions, Bardock realizes that his life's mission is to protect his son if the Saiyans are to have a chance at stopping Frieza, arguably anime's most iconic villain. The film more thoroughly explores Saiyan culture and the shocking events leading up to the Galactic Conqueror's betrayal of the race and the destruction of Planet Vegeta.

Though it was a TV special that aired alongside the Frieza Saga (between episodes #63 - #64), Bardock's emotionally charged prequel proved so well-received and popular that Toriyama integrated the formerly anime-only character into the official canon. The creator of Dragon Ball has stated in interviews that the Bardock film is his favorite and is not a story he'd have ever come up with on his own. This hints that Dragon Ball's success is thanks to many talented people, not just Akira Toriyama.

Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father Of Goku is available subbed and dubbed in English on DVD and for streaming on AppleTV+.

20 Dragon Ball: Fight For Victory, Son Goku! Is The First Life-Action Movie

The First Live-Action Dragon Ball Movie Released In 1990 and Has A Runtime Of 100 Minutes

The popularity of Dragon Ball was so immense that different countries have remade it into live-action features. However, not all of them have been made with legal permission. With the Dragon Ball franchise nearing its 40th anniversary, it's surprising that more attempts at a live-action adaptation have yet to be made. The first of these attempts came from Korea in the form of the B-grade gem Fight for Victory, Son Goku! which adapts parts of the Emperor Pilaf saga and, surprisingly, some of the Saiyan Saga.

Being a low-budget movie with limited special effects, the first attempt at a live-action Dragon Ball movie is entertainingly wacky, especially with its stuffed animal adaptations of animal characters like Puar. It may not have the recognition of its American counterpart, but Fight for Victory, Son Goku! has the twin distinction of being the highest-rated live-action Dragon Ball movie on IMDB while also being the most faithful of the three live-action adaptations.

There is currently no legal way to watch Dragon Ball: Fight For Victory, Son Goku! but versions of it can be found on YouTube.

19 Goku Nearly Becomes A Super Saiyan For The First Time In Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug

The Fourth Dragon Ball Z Movie Released in 1991 and Has A Runtime Of 52 Minutes

Earth is once again threatened when the titular Lord Slug, a banished Super Namekian, arrives on Earth with a considerable force of demonic soldiers. The evil villain has traveled the universe and destroyed countless planets, with Earth as his next target. After learning about Earth's Dragon Balls, Slug uses them to gain eternal youth and become one of the strongest villains in DBZ.

The Lord Slug movie is often forgotten due to its incredibly generic plot and one-dimensional villain, which is saying something when considering every Dragon Ball installment. The fact that this entry bore a lot of similarities to The Tree of Might didn't help. The fights, however, are just as entertaining as expected of a Dragon Ball movie. Lord Slug is the first DBZ movie to feature the iconic Funimation English dub cast and American rock music.

Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug is available subbed and dubbed in English on DVD and for streaming on AppleTV+ and Crunchyroll.

18 Frieza's Brother Makes An Entrance In Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge

The Fifth Dragon Ball Z Movie Released In 1991 and Has A Runtime of 47 Minutes

Cooler's Revenge is the direct follow-up to Goku's fight with Frieza. The powerful alien Cooler is introduced as Frieza's more powerful big brother, who sets a warpath towards Earth to exact violent vengeance on Goku for killing his brother. While the relationship between the two powerful brothers was strained at best, the film's villain feels obligated to repair his family's name after his little brother's defeat.

Though it follows a by-the-numbers revenge plot, Cooler's Revenge expands the lore behind one of the franchise's most iconic villains. The movie also includes memorably explosive fights, including one between a vengeful Cooler who showcases a transformation beyond Frieza's final form and Goku's newly unlocked Super Saiyan transformation. Its impact, however, was somewhat reduced by its sequel, The Return of Cooler.

Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge is available subbed and dubbed in English on DVD and for streaming on AppleTV+ and Crunchyroll.