Highlights

• Dragon Ball movies offer unique self-contained stories with new villains, adding depth and excitement to the main series.
• Despite some not being canon, these movies still acknowledge the series' events and introduce iconic powers and transformations.
• Fans should explore these films for more adventures with Goku and friends, enjoying quick binge-worthy content.

For a franchise known for its various television series, there have been plenty of Dragon Ball movies. Most of them are exciting, self-contained stories that introduce new villains for the Z Warriors to take down. How each one fits into the timeline is interesting because most aren't technically canon. In fact, they're basically set in their own parallel universe. Yet, they usually still acknowledge the events of the series, so most could be a part of the main timeline. The movies have a specific chronological order, and slot themselves at various points during the main narrative.

Most other anime movies are non-canon and don't do anything unique to separate themselves from the masses. However, Dragon Ball's movies feature some of the most spectacular highlights in the series. The majority of them aren't even that long, letting viewers binge through these extra adventures and fights in record time. The fact that some powers or transformations shown in the movies have become canon in future Dragon Ball material is a great example of what makes these movies so great. Any Dragon Ball fan worth their salt should check out these films to spend more time with Goku and his friends.

Updated on March 26, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Akira Toriyama is one of the greatest mangaka of all time. His passing was a sudden, shocking piece of news that made everyone's heart skip a beat. His work on Dragon Ball shaped an entire generation of passionate anime fans who still mimic the Kamehameha and the Super Saiyan transformation to this day. His legacy will be cherished for time immemorial, with Dragon Ball's rampant popularity leading to the development of several movies that are all worth watching for fans of Goku and his friends' adventures as they tackle numerous threats to come out on top.

1 Dragon Ball: Curse Of The Blood Rubies

Release Date: December 20, 1986

• Running Time: 50 minutes

A few of the early Dragon Ball movies present alternate versions of sagas from the anime. Curse of the Blood Rubies covers the early days of the original series when Goku first met Bulma. Things are very different, as events are moved around, and there are several new villains. For instance, instead of Emperor Pilaf being the main antagonist, it's a monster called King Gurumes.

It's a change that not many people are fond of, but the movie's charm is undeniable and is worth checking out for people who want to witness an alternate take on Goku's adventures to hunt down the Dragon Balls. It harkens back to a simpler time when the series was known for leaning more on the adventure side of things instead of the all-out action people are familiar with now.

2 Dragon Ball: The Path To Power

Release Date: March 2, 1996

• Running Time: 80 minutes

For the tenth anniversary of the Dragon Ball franchise, Toei Animation released The Path to Power. It's another movie that retells the beginnings of Dragon Ball. Once again, it covers Goku meeting Bulma and some of his other friends. But this time, he's facing off against the Red Ribbon Army.

It's a great watch for fans of the Dragon Ball franchise who missed out on the series that started it all, but still wish to check out the origins of Goku and how he met his friends. It might not be the most comprehensive recap of the series, but it's a decent watch regardless.

3 Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess In Devil's Castle

Release Date: July 18, 1987

• Running Time: 45 minutes

In the Dragon Ball series, Goku and Krillin earned the right to train with Roshi by introducing him to Launch. Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle tells an alternate tale where the two boys have to retrieve a 'princess' for the old man. Only then will he make them two of his many disciples.

The movie is essentially nothing more than fan service and isn't particularly well done either. Only the most hardcore fans of the Dragon Ball franchise will get any enjoyment out of this film.

4 Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure

Release Date: July 9, 1988

• Running Time: 46 minutes

Mystical Adventure is yet another re-telling. This time, it's based on a combination of the Commander Red and Tien Shinhan Sagas. The movie revolves around a Martial Arts Tournament in Mifan that a few of the heroes enter. But there's a more sinister plot behind the scenes involving Master Shen and General Tao.

For a recap movie, it does a pretty good job of retelling the plot. Of course, nothing beats the original, which still holds up despite being a little rough around the edges due to its age.

5 Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone

Release Date: July 15, 1989

• Running Time: 42 minutes

The Dragon Ball Z movies tell original stories. This one takes place before Raditz shows up on Earth. It sees Garlic Jr. and his underlings hunt down all the Dragon Balls and kidnap Gohan in the process. This puts him in the crosshairs of Goku, who wastes no time in trying to hunt down this villain and save his son.

The antagonist also has a separate issue with Piccolo, which lets Goku's ex-nemesis play a central role in this narrative too. The movie rehashes many concepts from the Raditz Saga, such as Gohan's random burst of power that changes the dynamic of the battle. Goku and Piccolo team up in this movie as well, which is no coincidence.

6 Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest

Release Date: March 10, 1990

• Running Time: 58 minutes

In The World's Strongest, the villainous duo of Dr. Kochin and Dr. Wheelo attempt to find the strongest man in the world so they can transplant Wheelo's brain into the fighter's body. Of course, this leads them to the Z Warriors. It's pretty much impossible to determine where it would fit in the main timeline, as there are too many inconsistencies.

However, this shouldn't take away from the brilliance of The World's Strongest in the slightest. The animation in this movie is of the highest quality, and the villains end up being compelling enough to carry the entire experience. Goku's use of the Kaio-ken to beat Dr. Wheelo is pretty great too and caps off a wonderful experience.

7 Dragon Ball Z: The Tree Of Might

Release Date: July 7, 1990

• Running Time: 65 minutes

The Tree of Might introduces a new Saiyan to the series named Turles. He's an unsavory individual who plants a magical tree on Earth that intends to use up all the planet's nutrients. Goku and his friends try to stop them. Based on the main timeline, the heroes should have all been on Namek at this point, as it's definitely set post-Saiyan Saga.

The antagonists of this movie aren't all that memorable, with Turles being memorable mostly because he looks like Goku. Just like he does at the end of Vegeta's battle against the Z Warriors, Gohan also turns into a Great Ape here. However, he only stands in the way of Goku, who cuts off his son's tail before using the power from the Tree of Might to charge up a Spirit Bomb and unleash it at his evil doppelganger.

8 Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug

Release Date: March 9, 1991

• Running Time: 52 minutes

This is another movie that takes place when the Z Warriors are supposed to be on Namek. The plot involves the titular antagonist landing on Earth and trying to take it over. Goku has a tough time stopping him, as Slug is one of the stronger movie villains.

This movie marks the first appearance of the Super Saiyan form, albeit in its infancy. Watching Goku turn into a False Super Saiyan after being pushed against the ropes over and over again is pretty exciting and makes for the best part of an otherwise forgettable movie. The fact that Slug is taken out by a whistling Gohan is a pretty disappointing way to take out a villain who had the power to either subjugate all of Earth or destroy it.

9 Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge

Release Date: July 20, 1991

• Running Time: 47 minutes

A lot happens between Frieza's death and the Android's arrival. For instance, the fallen Emperor's older brother, Cooler, tries to exact revenge on Goku for embarrassing his family. So, he comes to Earth to kill the Saiyan and destroy the planet. But that's easier said than done.

After all, this is a Goku that has managed to access the legendary Super Saiyan form. It makes for one of the best transformations in the entire series, with the dub's soundtrack being the stuff of legends. Sure, it may drown out some of the actual dialogue and action at times, but the nostalgia attached to this soundtrack is the biggest reason why people are so fond of Cooler as a character, even if he's nothing more than a Frieza rehash.

10 Dragon Ball Z: The Return Of Cooler

Release Date: March 7, 1992

• Running Time: 46 minutes

Early in The Return of Cooler, it's shown that Dende is the guardian of Earth. This means the movie must take place in the time before the Cell Games, although Gohan has gotten younger somehow. Regardless, the story revolves around Cooler and the Big Gete Star, who have taken over New Namek. Their goal is to absorb all the planet's energy, but the Super Saiyan pair of Goku and Vegeta intervene.

Despite the arrival of Meta-Cooler being pretty foreboding, this character doesn't really do too much to justify himself as a compelling again. Once again, this concept was used by Frieza already, and all Meta-Cooler does is take things up a notch. The fact that he loses because he's unable to handle the combined Super Saiyan might of Goku and Vegeta feels like a cheap way to get rid of an antagonist who was wiping the floor with both Saiyans at one point.

11 Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13!

Release Date: July 11, 1992

• Running Time: 46 minutes

After their creator, Dr. Gero is killed, Android 13, 14, and 15 wake up. As always, the main target for these Androids is Goku, so they find and attack the Saiyan at their first opportunity.

This initiates a big fight between Gero's creations and the Z Fighters. To fit into the main timeline, this would have to happen before Vegeta and Trunks enter the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

12 Dragon Ball Z: Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan

Release Date: March 6, 1993

• Running Time: 72 minutes

In the first Broly movie, his father tries to get revenge on the Vegeta family by luring the prince of all Saiyans into a trap. However, things take a turn when Broly meets Goku as due to an incident as a child, the titular antagonist hates the heroic Saiyan. So, he goes blind with rage and attempts to destroy all the Z Warriors. These events occur before the Cell Games.

It's the first appearance of the Legendary Super Saiyan, who wastes no time in showing why he's such a powerful enemy. That being said, Broly does suffer from an extremely poor origin story that was thankfully fixed in the Dragon Ball Super retcon of this character.

13 Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound

Release Date: July 10, 1993

• Running Time: 51 minutes

This movie fits within the main timeline better than most, as it's set shortly after Cell is defeated. In fact, the antagonist's self-destruction freed the titular villain of this movie.

Goku, meanwhile, perished from that same blast. Therefore, Gohan is responsible for saving the world from Bojack and his allies...and he manages to do so by using the power of the Ascended Super Saiyan form, better known as Super Saiyan 2.

14 Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming

Release Date: March 12, 1994

• Running Time: 52 minutes

Not long before the 25th World Martial Arts Tournament, Broly makes his presence known once again. This time, he comes to Earth, and Goku is no longer alive to stop him. Instead, that task falls to the likes of Gohan, Goten, Trunks, and Videl.

This movie features the first appearance of the iconic Family Kamehameha, which makes for one of the most iconic scenes in the entire series. It's still hard to believe that this legendary move originated from a non-canon movie.

15 Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly

Release Date: July 9, 1994

• Running Time: 46 minutes

Not one of the most highly regarded movies, Bio-Broly sees a liquid clone of the Legendary Super Saiyan attack Trunks and Goten. As the rest of Earth's heroes are off trying to stop Babidi and Majin Buu, it's up to the two young Saiyans, Krillin, and Android 18, to save the day.

It's one of the strangest movies on this list, and the weakest entry featuring Broly. His gooey form is nowhere near as intimidating as most people would assume, which is a shame.

16 Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn

Release Date: March 4, 1995

• Running Time: 52 minutes

In this one, trouble brews in Other World as a new force named Janemba allows the residents of hell to return to the land of the living. To get things back to normal, Goku and Vegeta have to end the powerful foe. The rest of the Dragon Team, however, must protect the Earth from hell's former inhabitants. It all happens during the Buu Saga.

This movie is iconic for featuring the first appearance of Gogeta, the fused form of Goku and Vegeta through a Fusion Dance. It's an excellent movie that any fan of Dragon Ball should check out.

17 Dragon Ball Z: Wrath Of The Dragon

Release Date: July 15, 1995

• Running Time: 52 minutes

With Buu gone, the Earth finally enjoys a time of peace. That is, until the monster known as Hirudegarn is released from captivity. Alongside a mysterious hero named Tapion, the Z fighters need to find a way to stop the giant beast.

Luckily for them, Goku is once again among the living. He unveils a new attack in his Super Saiyan 3 form called Dragon Fist, which makes for one of the coolest visuals in the entire series.

18 Dragon Ball Z: Battle Of Gods

Release Date: March 30, 2013

• Running Time: 85 minutes (original cut), 105 minutes (special edition)

Battle of Gods is set several years after the victory over Kid Buu. In it, the God Of Destruction, Beerus, wakes from his long slumber and seeks out a challenge that can actually entertain him.

He attempts to track down the fabled Super Saiyan God, which of course leads him to Goku and the others. In this instance, it's not the movie doing the retelling, as Battle of Gods did this storyline before Dragon Ball Super existed.

19 Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'

Release Date: April 11, 2015

• Running Time: 94 minutes

Not long after Beerus' search for the Super Saiyan God, the events of Resurrection ‘F’ take place. It all begins when a few of the remaining members of the Frieza force summon Shenron to wish the Emperor back.

The villain then trains rigorously before bringing his strongest forces to Earth for his revenge. Thankfully, Goku and Vegeta were training hard and managed to beat Frieza with their powerful Super Saiyan Blue forms.

20 Dragon Ball Super: Broly

Release Date: November 14, 2018

• Running Time: 100 minutes

The opening of Dragon Ball Super: Broly actually takes place before any of the other movies as it chronicles the early years of the titular character. But the main portion of the adventure happens after the Tournament of Power.

Paragus attempts to use Broly to take vengeance on the Vegeta family. It leads to some high-octane battles between Broly and Earth's strongest Saiyans, Goku and Vegeta.