Film · in order
How to Watch the Dragon Ball Movies in Order
The full run of Dragon Ball theatrical films, from the 1986 originals to Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022). We split them into a complete release order and a short canon-only order, because only four modern films actually count toward the story.
How to Watch the Dragon Ball Movies in Order: complete list
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Why this order?
Dragon Ball movies confuse people for one reason: almost none of them are canon. Across roughly twenty-one theatrical films the vast majority are self-contained side stories set in a loose parallel timeline, made to run alongside whatever TV arc was airing that season. They are fun, but nothing that happens in them sticks to the main plot. That is the opposite of the TV series, where events build in sequence, so if you are tracing the actual story you cannot treat these films like numbered chapters. That distinction is what our two orders below are built around.
The non-canon block is large. Three original Dragon Ball films (1986 to 1988) retell early adventures, and thirteen Dragon Ball Z films (1989 to 1995) each pair loosely with a series saga: The Tree of Might and Lord Slug sit around the Saiyan and Frieza era, Cooler's Revenge and Bojack Unbound land near the Cell period, and Fusion Reborn plays during the Majin Buu run. Dragon Ball: The Path to Power (1996), made for the anime's tenth anniversary, is an alternate retelling of the beginning. Watch any of these as standalone specials, ideally near their matching arc, and never expect them to affect the ongoing story.
The canon-only order is short and is the one most viewers actually want. Four films tie directly into the Dragon Ball Super continuity: Battle of Gods (2013) and Resurrection F (2015), both adapted into the opening arcs of the Super anime, then Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018) and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022), the two essential entries that Akira Toriyama shaped and that carry the modern plot forward. Broly even rewrites the character from those old non-canon films into official continuity.
Release order is our default because it needs no background and shows how fans lived through these movies. If you only care about the story, follow the canon order and skip the rest. Either way, the films make far more sense once you have the series context, which we lay out in our companion Dragon Ball guide covering the anime watch order.
Timeline 1986-2022
Every entry by release year: rows that share a year are a cluster, and the long droughts are called out on the rail.
- 1986 Curse of the Blood Rubies
- 1987 Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle
- 1988 Mystical Adventure
- 1989 Z: Dead Zone
- 1990 Z: The World's StrongestZ: The Tree of Might
- 1991 Z: Lord SlugZ: Cooler's Revenge
- 1992 Z: The Return of CoolerZ: Super Android 13!
- 1993 Z: Broly - The Legendary Super SaiyanZ: Bojack Unbound
- 1994 Z: Broly - Second ComingZ: Bio-Broly
- 1995 Z: Fusion RebornZ: Wrath of the Dragon
- 1996 The Path to Power
- 17-year gap
- 2013 Z: Battle of Gods
- 2015 Z: Resurrection 'F'
- 2018 Super: Broly
- 4-year gap
- 2022 Super: Super Hero
Where to play it today
- Crunchyroll (many Dragon Ball films, including Super: Broly and Resurrection F)
- Amazon Prime Video (rent, buy, or Crunchyroll channel by title)
- Apple TV (rent or buy)
- Google Play / YouTube (rent or buy)
- Hulu (select Dragon Ball Super content by region)
- Physical Blu-ray and DVD via Crunchyroll Store and retailers
Availability changes often and varies by region - links search each platform for Dragon Ball.
Frequently asked questions
How many Dragon Ball movies are there?
There are about 21 animated Dragon Ball theatrical films: 3 original Dragon Ball movies (1986 to 1988), 13 Dragon Ball Z movies (1989 to 1995), the tenth-anniversary Path to Power (1996), and the 4 modern Super-era films (2013 to 2022). Counts vary because some lists fold in a live-action film or unofficial releases.
Which Dragon Ball movies are canon?
Only four: Battle of Gods (2013), Resurrection F (2015), Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018), and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022). Battle of Gods and Resurrection F were adapted into the Dragon Ball Super anime, and all four had direct input from series creator Akira Toriyama.
What order should I watch the Dragon Ball movies in?
For the full run, use release order, which needs no background. If you only care about the story, follow the canon order: Battle of Gods, Resurrection F, Dragon Ball Super: Broly, then Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. The older films are optional side stories you can watch in any order.
Are the Dragon Ball Z movies canon?
No. The thirteen Dragon Ball Z films from 1989 to 1995 are non-canon side stories set in a loose parallel timeline. Each pairs roughly with a series saga, such as Fusion Reborn during the Majin Buu run, but none of their events carry over into the main story.
Is the original Broly canon?
No. The 1993 to 1994 Broly trilogy is non-canon. Broly only became official with Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018), which Akira Toriyama wrote and which reimagines the character inside the main Dragon Ball Super continuity.
Do I need to watch the older films before the Super movies?
No. The four canon Super-era films stand on their own if you know the series. You do not need any of the 1986 to 1996 movies first, since they are non-canon. Watching the anime series is far more useful context than the older films.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, cbr.com, crunchyroll.com
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