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If you want the least confusing way to watch the Dragon Ball movies, use theatrical release order. Most of the older Dragon Ball Z films are self-contained side stories, so trying to force all of them into the television series timeline creates contradictions.
This guide covers the 21 Japanese animated theatrical films produced by Toei Animation. It excludes Dragonball Evolution, TV specials, OVAs, compilation films, and crossover specials.
![Dragon Ball Z : Dead Zone The Movie/ The World's Strongest [Digitally Remastered Double Feature] [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51UUWQOQCdL._SL160_.jpg)
![Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51FyrngdODL._SL160_.jpg)
The best viewing order: theatrical release order
Watch the films in the following order. The year is the original Japanese theatrical release year; English titles may differ slightly between distributors.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →| # | Movie | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies Also marketed as The Legend of Shenron |
1986 |
| 2 | Dragon Ball: Sleeping Beauty in Devil Castle | 1987 |
| 3 | Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure | 1988 |
| 4 | Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone | 1989 |
| 5 | Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest | 1990 |
| 6 | Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might | 1990 |
| 7 | Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug | 1991 |
| 8 | Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge | 1991 |
| 9 | Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler | 1992 |
| 10 | Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! | 1992 |
| 11 | Dragon Ball Z: Broly — The Legendary Super Saiyan | 1993 |
| 12 | Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound | 1993 |
| 13 | Dragon Ball Z: Broly — Second Coming | 1994 |
| 14 | Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly | 1994 |
| 15 | Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn | 1995 |
| 16 | Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon | 1995 |
| 17 | Dragon Ball: The Path to Power | 1996 |
| 18 | Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods | 2013 |
| 19 | Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ | 2015 |
| 20 | Dragon Ball Super: Broly | 2018 |
| 21 | Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO | 2022 |
Where the movies fit with the anime
The first 17 films do not form one clean timeline. They reuse characters and story conditions from different points in the anime, but often introduce conflicts that make an exact placement impossible. For example, a film may feature a character or transformation before that character should be available in the series.
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For that reason, treat the pre-2013 films as alternate side stories. Release order is useful for seeing how the animation, villains, and power levels developed, but it is not a strict chronological sequence.
The original Dragon Ball movies
- Curse of the Blood Rubies
- Sleeping Beauty in Devil Castle
- Mystical Adventure
These are loose reworkings of the early Dragon Ball adventure rather than essential chapters between anime episodes.
The classic Dragon Ball Z movies
Dead Zone through Wrath of the Dragon were released during the Dragon Ball Z era. Some can be approximately associated with particular sagas, but they were not designed as a complete sequence that fits perfectly between episodes.
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The Path to Power is especially easy to misplace. Although it came out after Bio-Broly, it is a retelling and reimagining of early Dragon Ball material—not a sequel to the previous Dragon Ball Z films.
How to watch the modern movies with Dragon Ball Super
The four modern films are more closely connected to the main continuity:
- Watch Dragon Ball.
- Watch Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Z Kai.
- Watch Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods.
- Watch Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’.
- Watch Dragon Ball Super.
- Watch Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
- Watch Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO.
There is one important choice here: Dragon Ball Super retells Battle of Gods and Resurrection ‘F’ in its opening story arcs. You can therefore use either of these approaches:
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| Approach | What to watch | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Movie-first | Battle of Gods, Resurrection ‘F’, then begin Super after its retold material | You see the original movie versions without immediately repeating them. |
| Anime-first | Skip the two movies and watch the corresponding opening arcs of Super | You follow the television version, which includes some differences. |
| Completionist | Watch both movies and the matching Super arcs | You get both versions, but the story is duplicated. |
Are the two Broly movies connected?
Not as one continuous story. Dragon Ball Z: Broly — The Legendary Super Saiyan, Broly — Second Coming, and Bio-Broly belong to the older movie continuity. Dragon Ball Super: Broly gives the character a substantially revised origin and places him in the modern continuity.
Watch the 1993 and 1994 films if you want the classic movie villains. Watch the 2018 film after Dragon Ball Super if you want the current version of Broly’s story.
What comes after Dragon Ball Super: Broly?
Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO follows Dragon Ball Super: Broly and takes place later in the Super timeline. Its story focuses more heavily on Gohan, Piccolo, and the Red Ribbon Army, while still continuing the modern film continuity.
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![Dragon Ball Super: Broly - The Movie [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/511DqaMlmiL._SL160_.jpg)
- Ultimate destruction is coming! Goku and Vegeta face off against legendary Super Saiyan Broly in an explosive battle to save the world.
The movie can be watched after Broly without going through every earlier theatrical film. You will understand it more easily if you already know the main anime and the events of Broly, but the older side-story movies are not prerequisites.
Where to stream the movies
Streaming rights vary by country and change regularly, so there is no dependable service that carries all 21 films everywhere. In the United States, services such as Crunchyroll and Hulu have carried several of the modern films, while digital rental and purchase stores may list individual titles.
Before subscribing, search the exact film on a current availability service such as JustWatch and select your country. Check each title separately: a service that carries Dragon Ball Super: Broly may not carry Dead Zone or one of the original Dragon Ball films.
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Movies not included in this list
- Dragonball Evolution (2009): a live-action adaptation, not one of Toei’s Japanese animated theatrical films.
- TV specials: these were made for television rather than released as part of the theatrical movie sequence.
- OVAs and promotional episodes: these have separate release histories.
- Compilation and crossover films: these are outside the 21-film scope used here.
The official Dragon Ball chronology is a useful reference for the franchise’s major releases, but distributor listings may use alternate English translations of individual movie titles.
FAQ
Should I watch the Dragon Ball movies in chronological order?
No. Release order is the most reliable order because most of the pre-2013 films are standalone side stories with continuity conflicts. Only the modern films have a clear sequence: Battle of Gods, Resurrection ‘F’, Dragon Ball Super: Broly, then Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO.
Do I need to watch Battle of Gods and Resurrection ‘F’ before Dragon Ball Super?
No. Dragon Ball Super retells both films in its opening arcs. Watch the movies first if you want their original versions, or skip them and watch the corresponding Super episodes. Watching both is optional and repeats the same broad stories.
Is Dragon Ball Super: Broly a sequel to the old Broly movies?
No. The 2018 film reworks Broly’s origin for the modern Dragon Ball Super continuity. The older films are separate side stories.
Do I need to watch all 17 older Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z movies?
No. They are optional theatrical side stories. You can watch the main anime and then move directly to Battle of Gods, Resurrection ‘F’, Dragon Ball Super, Broly, and SUPER HERO if you only want the modern continuity.
The Bottom Line
For all 21 animated theatrical films, use release order. Do not try to place every older movie into one exact timeline. For the continuity-connected material, watch Battle of Gods, Resurrection ‘F’, Dragon Ball Super: Broly, and Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO around the Dragon Ball Super anime, remembering that Super retells the first two films.
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