Navigating the vast library of Dragon Ball films can be confusing. Some are canon sequels, some are non-canon side stories, and others are entirely alternate universes.
: Battle of Gods (2013) – Introduced Beerus and Super Saiyan God. Dragon Ball Z : Resurrection 'F' (2015) – The return of Frieza. Dragon Ball Super : Broly (2018) – Reimagined Broly for the official timeline. Dragon Ball Super : Super Hero (2022) – Focused on Gohan and Piccolo. Other Adaptations TV Specials: Bardock – The Father of Goku and The History of Trunks are widely beloved and flesh out the main story backstory. Live-Action: Dragonball Evolution (2009) is the only official Hollywood live-action film. Wikipedia Further Exploration Check out the IGN Watch Order Guide to see exactly how to fit these movies between anime episodes. See the full list of theatrical films and their release dates on Wikipedia . Browse fan ratings and runtimes for the classic Z films on IMDb . Are you looking for a
For over three decades, the Dragon Ball franchise has dominated the landscape of anime and action cinema. While the main television series chronicled the epic sagas of Goku and the Z Fighters, the movies provided a different flavor: high-octane, condensed adventures often featuring what-if scenarios and reimaginings of famous story arcs.
These films follow the younger Goku during his early adventures. Most are retellings of specific arcs (like the Red Ribbon Army or the Wedding Dress saga) but condensed into 45-minute features.
A 10th-anniversary special that retells Goku's origin with updated 90s animation, combining elements of the Pilaf and Red Ribbon sagas. Dragon Ball Z Movies (1989–1995)
The consists of over 20 theatrical films that have expanded the universe since 1986. While many early films act as "alternate universe" retellings, the modern era has introduced movies that are strictly canon to the series' main timeline. The Original Dragon Ball Movies (1986–1996)
Goku and Krillin must rescue a "sleeping princess" from Count Lucifer to earn Master Roshi’s training.
