Do you want to watch the Dragon Ball movies but are unsure of the order in which to view them? With a total of 21 films, the series has a complex chronology and relationship with the TV series, making it difficult for newcomers to understand. This article provides a thorough explanation of the chronology and viewing order of the Dragon Ball movies, guiding you so that you can enjoy them without confusion. It covers the positioning of all series from the original to Z and Super, the differences between parallel settings and canon, and recommended viewing routes for beginners, encompassing all the essential information to enjoy the movies.
The Dragon Ball movies are a film series consisting of 21 works produced from 1986 to 2018. These films unfold independent stories distinct from the TV series, showcasing formidable battle scenes and original characters unique to the cinema. The movies can be broadly categorized into four types: 4 works of "Dragon Ball (original)," 13 works of "Dragon Ball Z," 1 work of "Dragon Ball GT," and 2 works of "Dragon Ball Super" (including Battle of Gods and Broly). Many of the films are produced as **parallel settings** and depict developments that differ from the canon of the TV series, though recent films have also emerged that are positioned as canon.
The Dragon Ball movies are classified into four categories corresponding to the TV series. First, there are 4 films in the "Dragon Ball (original)" category, depicting Goku's childhood. Next, there are 13 films in the "Dragon Ball Z" category, covering the period from the Saiyan Saga to the Majin Buu Saga. The "Dragon Ball GT" category has only 1 film, serving as an extra episode of the TV series. Finally, the "Dragon Ball Super" movies consist of 2 films (Battle of Gods, Resurrection 'F', and Broly), which are significant works treated as canon. Since each category has different production periods and story timelines, it is important to understand this classification before viewing.
Most of the Dragon Ball movies are produced as a separate "parallel world". This is due to production reasons, as the movies are created to align with the broadcasting schedule of the TV series, making it difficult to directly incorporate them into the main storyline.
For example, in the Z movie version, there are many elements that contradict the timeline, such as characters who have already died appearing and transformation forms that were not obtained in the main story being used. However, the three works produced in recent years, "God and God," "Resurrection 'F'," and "Broly," are deeply involved in the script by the original author Akira Toriyama and are positioned as the official history of the TV series "Dragon Ball Super." Therefore, it is important to understand that when watching the movies, most of them should be enjoyed as "stories from a different world line than the main story," and there is no need to demand strict consistency.By organizing all 21 Dragon Ball movies in chronological order, it becomes easier to understand the flow of the story. Here, we clarify at which point in the story each work is positioned, providing a reference list for viewing. The timeline is primarily based on the developments of the TV series, but many of the movies exist in a parallel setting, so please consider this as a "reference." I will explain each series from the original to Super.
The Dragon Ball (Original) movies depict Goku's childhood in 4 works. In chronological order, the first film "The Legend of Shenlong" takes place before the World Martial Arts Tournament, the second film "The Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle" takes place after the World Martial Arts Tournament, and the third film "Mysterious Adventure" occurs around the Demon King Piccolo saga. The fourth movie, "The Path to the Strongest," is a remake produced in 1996 and reconstitutes the story beginning from the original first chapter. These works are set in the timeline interspersed between the story developments of the TV series, adding content that complements Goku and his friends' adventures. The Muji movie is characterized by a relatively short running time and a simple story aimed at children, but it is a valuable collection of works that strongly retains the atmosphere of the early Dragon Ball.
The Dragon Ball Z movies consist of a total of 13 works and cover a wide range of periods from the Saiyan Saga to the Majin Buu Saga. Specifically, "Bring Me My Gohan!!" takes place before the Saiyan invasion, "The World's Strongest Guy" is immediately after the Saiyan Saga, and "Super Decisive Battle on Planet Namek" is positioned before the Frieza Saga. After that, "Battle of the Super Saiyan Son Goku" is set after the Frieza Saga, and "The Greatest vs. The Strongest", "Clash of 100 Billion Power Warriors", and "Ultimate Battle!! The Three Great Super Saiyans" are arranged around the Cell Saga. Furthermore, "Burn Up!! A Hot Battle, Intense Battle, and Super Intense Battle", "Galactic Giri Giri!! A Super Amazing Guy", "Dangerous Two! The Super Warriors Can't Sleep", and "Defeat the Super Warriors!! I'm the One Who Will Win" take place after the Cell Saga and before the Majin Buu Saga. "Fusion of Resurrection!! Goku and Vegeta" and "Miracle of the Dragon Fist!! If Goku Doesn't Do It, Who Will?" are positioned during the Majin Buu Saga. The final movie, "God and God", is set in a peaceful era after the Majin Buu Saga and is an important work leading into Dragon Ball Super.
The Dragon Ball Super movies are set in the world after the Majin Buu Saga and consist of 2 works. "Resurrection 'F'" is placed after God and God and depicts Frieza's resurrection and the battle with Golden Frieza. This work has also been remade in the TV version of "Dragon Ball Super", and is treated as part of the official history. "Broly" is set in the timeline after the Tournament of Power and was produced as a reboot of the legendary Super Saiyan Broly's official history. This movie features a different setting from the old Broly trilogy and has an important story that deeply relates to Saiyan history and the pasts of Goku and Vegeta. Both works involve Akira Toriyama in the script and are treated as theatrical works integrated into the official storyline of Dragon Ball Super. These are not merely parallel works, but productions that can be enjoyed as continuations of the main series.
There are three main recommended routes for watching Dragon Ball movies. Each viewing method has different merits, and you can choose according to your目的や好みに合わせて選ぶことができます。初めて劇場版を見る方には「初心者向けおすすめ順」、ストーリーの流れを重視する方には「時系列順」、制作の歴史を追いたい方には「公開順」がそれぞれ適しています。ここでは各ルートの特徴と具体的な視聴順を詳しく解説します。
For those watching Dragon Ball movies for the first time, I recommend starting with the highly rated and well-crafted **5 works. First, "Dragon Ball Super: Broly" features overwhelming combat scenes depicted with the latest visual technology and an enticing new story for Broly. Second, "Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods" offers a new development with the introduction of the strong Super Saiyan God and humorous interactions with the God of Destruction, Beerus. Third, "Burn Up!! A Heated, Fierce Battle" showcases the terrifying strength of the legendary Super Saiyan with the debut of the old Broly. Fourth, "Fusion Reborn!! Goku and Vegeta" highlights the introduction of Gogeta and the battle against Janemba. Fifth, "Miracle of the Dragon Fist!! If Goku Doesn't, Who Will?" features the cooperation between Goku and Gohan and a moving storyline. These 5 works have a high degree of independence, allowing enjoyment even with little prior knowledge, making them perfect as an introduction to the charm of Dragon Ball movies. For more detailed information about Dragon Ball movies, you can refer to "【Related Article】:Dragon Ball Movie Recommendation Ranking | Review of All 21 Works" as well.
The method to watch the movies in chronological order is suitable for those who want to enjoy following the entire story of Dragon Ball. This order starts from Goku's childhood and allows you to experience the process of him fighting strong enemies as he grows. Specifically, you start with the original series' "Legend of the Dragon" "Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle" and "Mystical Great Adventure," continuing with the Z series' "Give Me Back My Gohan!!" and "The World's Strongest!" Afterwards, you watch the corresponding movies in order from the Saiyan Arc, Freeza Arc, Cell Arc, to the Majin Buu Arc, concluding with "Battle of Gods," "Resurrection 'F,'" and "Broly."
The advantage of this viewing method is that you can enjoy Goku's growth and increase in fighting power step by step. However, if you are concerned about contradictions due to the parallel settings, it is necessary to have a flexible attitude to enjoy it merely as a "reference timeline." The chronological order is a recommended viewing route for those who have already seen the TV series or who prioritize story coherence.
The method of watching the movies in release order involves viewing them according to the order in which Dragon Ball films were produced. The biggest advantage of this method is that you can enjoy the development of visual technology and direction. It starts with the 1986 film "The Legend of Shenron," followed by "Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle" in 1987, "Mystical Adventure" in 1988, and from 1989, the Z series films were released every year. You can trace 32 years of production history up to "God and God" in 2013, "Resurrection 'F'" in 2015, and "Broly" in 2018. Watching in release order allows you to experience the excitement and surprise felt by audiences of that time. Additionally, you can enjoy the evolution of video quality and animation styles. This viewing method is especially recommended for those who want to experience the history of Dragon Ball itself or who are interested in the production background. By checking the release order list along with the release years of each work, you can understand the characteristics of each era while watching.
Here, we will provide a detailed positioning of each film and its relationship with the TV series, explaining it by series. By understanding which period's story each work corresponds to and what characteristics they have, you can enjoy the films more deeply. We will introduce the appeal of each work while clearly distinguishing between works with parallel settings and those considered canon.
The four films of Dragon Ball (Original) depict Goku's childhood. All of these were produced as **parallel settings** and can be enjoyed as separate adventures that took place between the main series episodes.
The running time is relatively short, ranging from about 40 to 60 minutes, and features a simple story structure aimed at children. The early works were released as part of the Toei Animation Festival and gained great popularity among children at that time.
"The Legend of Shenron" is the **milestone first film** in the Dragon Ball movie series. It is set in the period before the World Martial Arts Tournament in the main TV series, depicting the adventures of Goku and Bulma as they gather the Dragon Balls. An original character, King Gurumes, appears as the antagonist, attempting to restore a devastated land using the Dragon Balls. This work retains the early atmosphere of the original story and strikes a balance between comedy elements and adventure action.
"The Sleeping Princess of Demon Castle" is the second film set after the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament. Goku and Krillin challenge a mission to rescue the sleeping princess of the Demon Castle under the orders of Master Roshi. This film showcases Goku's grown combat abilities and interactions with his companions such as Launch and Oolong. It features a unique world view of the Demon Castle and battles with demons, emphasizing its strong fantasy elements.
"Mystical Adventure" is the third film set during the events before and after the Piccolo Daimao Saga. It unfolds the adventure surrounding the Dragon Balls during the time when Goku and Krillin are continuing their training under Master Roshi. This film features many characters like Tien Shinhan and Yamcha, providing an enjoyable lively development. It has a good balance of adventure and action, encapsulating the charm of the original series.
"The Path to Ultimate Strength" is a **special remake released in 1996**. It restructures the story starting from the first episode of the original series, depicting the story beginning with the encounter of Goku and Bulma. Although it is set chronologically in the very early parts of the original series, it is produced with the video technology of the Z era, featuring powerful battle scenes.
Also, the battle with the Red Ribbon Army is the focus, and iconic scenes from the original work are reproduced with a quality unique to the theatrical version.There are a total of **13 works produced in the Dragon Ball Z movie series out of 21 works. These cover a wide range from the Saiyan Saga to the Majin Buu Saga, featuring original stories corresponding to each era. Many works introduce original formidable enemies, leading to intense battles between Goku and the Z Warriors. Most of these works have aparallel setting, but only "God and God" is treated ascanonical history, giving it a special status.
The **3 works of this period are set around the awakening of Goku as a Super Saiyan. "Return My Gohan!!" depicts a peaceful time before the Saiyans arrive, featuring the battle against Garlic Jr. "The World's Strongest Guy" occurs right after the Saiyan Saga and depicts the battle against Dr. Willow. "The Ultimate Showdown on Earth" takes place before the Frieza Saga, highlighting the confrontation with Tarles, the remaining Saiyan. These works are characterized by intense battles showcasing Gohan's potential and theKaio-ken.
The **10 works spanning from the Cell Saga to the Majin Buu Saga feature various forms of Super Saiyan. "Super Saiyan Son Goku" depicts the battle against Slug, while "The Ultimate Super Showdown" features the battle against Cooler. "Clash!! Warriors of 10 Billion Power" and "Ultimate Battle!! The Three Legendary Super Saiyans" showcase battles against Metal Cooler and Android 13. In "Burn Up!! Hot Battle, Fierce Fight, Super Fierce Fight", the legendary Super Saiyan Broly makes his debut. And he torments Goku and the others with overwhelming strength. Broly also appears in the subsequent films, "Galaxy High!! The Awesome Guy Who Overcame Everything" and "The Dangerous Two! The Super Warriors Cannot Sleep". In "Super Warrior Defeat!! I'll Be the One to Win", Broly's final chapter, and in "Revival of Fusion!! Goku and Vegeta", Gojita makes his first appearance, and in "The Miracle of Dragon Fist!! If Goku Doesn't Do It, Who Will?" The touching collaboration between Goku and Gohan is a highlight. Finally, "God and God" portrays the encounter with the God of Destruction Beerus and the awakening of Super Saiyan God as an important work regarded as part of the official timeline.
The two works of Dragon Ball Super Theatrical Versions are important works regarded as part of the official timeline, set in the world after the Majin Buu saga. Both works are deeply involved with the script by the original creator Akira Toriyama and are officially incorporated into the storyline of the TV series “Dragon Ball Super”. With powerful battle scenes utilizing the latest visual technology and the addition of new settings, they expand the Dragon Ball universe even further.
"Resurrection 'F'" is a work depicting the resurrection of Freeza, positioned in the timeline after "God and God". Freeza is revived with the Dragon Balls and comes to Earth after a four-month training that dramatically boosts his power. Goku and Vegeta transform into a new form of Super Saiyan Blue and battle Freeza. This work was also remade in the TV series "Dragon Ball Super", but the theatrical version has a better pace and more fulfilling battle scenes. It is an important work regarded as part of the official timeline, and it became a turning point with the introduction of new elements like Golden Freeza and Super Saiyan Blue.
"Broly" is the latest theatrical version set in the timeline after the Tournament of Power. In this work, Broly appears with a new setting that is different from the previous version. Furthermore, the history of the Saiyans and the past of Planet Vegeta are depicted in detail. Goku and Vegeta's childhood, their involvement with the Frieza Force, and their relationship with Broly's father Paragus, among other previously untold settings, are revealed. The battle scenes are of overwhelming quality, especially the fight between Gogeta and Broly is a must-see. This work officially recognizes Broly as a character in the main canon, **which raises expectations for future developments. It is a masterpiece that should be enjoyed as a completely rebooted version, distinct from the original Broly trilogy.
Understanding the differences between parallel settings and the main canon is very important for grasping the Dragon Ball films. Many fans get confused about the timeline of the films because they do not understand these setting differences. Here, we will explain the meaning of parallel settings and the special films that are treated as part of the main canon in detail. With this knowledge, you will be able to enjoy the films purely without worrying about contradictions.
Parallel settings refer to stories that unfold as a "different timeline" separate from the main canon of the TV series. Most of the Dragon Ball films are produced within this parallel setting. This is due to production circumstances, as the films are made during the airing of the TV series, making it physically difficult to incorporate them directly into the main story. For example, in the films, characters that are supposed to be dead in the main story appear normally, or transformations not seen in the main series are used. Additionally, original characters or events in the films are never mentioned in the TV series. This parallel setting allows creators to develop free stories without being constrained by the main series, providing audiences with fresh developments. Importantly, it's essential to accept works in parallel settings not as "contradictory," but as a "fun story separate from the main series."
Among the Dragon Ball movies, the works treated as canon are "God and God," "Resurrection 'F'," and "Broly". These works are deeply involved in the script by the original author Akira Toriyama and are officially incorporated into the storylines of the TV series "Dragon Ball Super." In "God and God," the encounter with the God of Destruction Beerus and the awakening of Super Saiyan God are depicted, and this story was remade as chapter one of the TV version "Dragon Ball Super." Similarly, "Resurrection 'F'" is recreated in the TV version, confirming the important developments of Frieza's resurrection and the appearance of Super Saiyan Blue as canon. "Broly," on the other hand, is a groundbreaking work that completely reboots the old parallel version Broly and introduces the new setting of Broly as a character in the canon. These three works may directly influence the future developments of the Dragon Ball series, positioning themselves not merely as movies but as essential stories. By viewing the works treated as canon, one can understand how the world of Dragon Ball expands and enjoy future developments more deeply.
To maximize your enjoyment of the Dragon Ball movies, there are several points to be aware of beforehand. Especially for those who haven’t seen the TV series or are watching the movies for the first time, the information in this section will be helpful. Here, we will explain the necessity of prior knowledge and the unique charm of the movies. By grasping these points, you can enjoy the world of the movies more deeply.
A common question when watching Dragon Ball movies is whether one can enjoy them without having seen the TV series. In conclusion, many movies can be enjoyed on their own, but having some prior knowledge helps in understanding them more deeply. The easiest movies to enjoy with minimal prior knowledge are "Broly," "God and God," and "Resurrection 'Fusion,'" as these films provide thorough explanations of the characters and situations within the movies. On the other hand, some of the Z movie titles may be difficult to grasp regarding character strengths and relationships without knowing which period of the TV series they correspond to. If you don't have time to watch the TV series, it is advisable to at least understand what Dragon Ball is, the relationships of the main characters, and the basic settings of Saiyans and Super Saiyans. Additionally, if you become interested in Dragon Ball after watching the movies, it’s also recommended to revisit the TV series later. If you want to know more about the viewing order of the entire Dragon Ball series, please refer to "【Related Article】: Dragon Ball Viewing Order | Beginner's Timeline and Viewing Guide".
The Dragon Ball movies have a unique charm that differs from the TV series. First of all, the overwhelming quality of the action scenes due to the **high budget** is notable. In particular, recent works make use of the latest visual technology, allowing you to enjoy powerful visuals that cannot be expressed in the TV version. Secondly, **original characters unique to the movies make appearances**. A variety of fascinating enemy characters, such as Broly, Cooler, and Turles, appear only in the movies, presenting different developments from the main storyline. Thirdly, due to the limited screen time, there is a characteristic of a **well-paced story development**. Unlike the TV series, there is no stretching out of the plot, and you can enjoy a rich story in a short amount of time. Fourthly, the movies offer combinations and collaborations between characters that you cannot see in the main series, which is also appealing. These elements mean that the movies not only complement the TV series but also hold high value as independent entertainment works.
I have provided a detailed explanation of the chronological order and viewing sequence of all 21 Dragon Ball movies. Here, I would like to summarize the important points. The movies are broadly classified into the original series **4 works**, Z **13 works**, GT **1 work**, and Super **2 works** (including Battle of Gods and Broly), most of which are set in a **parallel setting. It is produced as such. However, the three works "God and God," "Resurrection F," and "Broly" are officially treated as canon and incorporated into the official storyline of Dragon Ball Super.
For beginners, I recommend starting with the five works: "Broly," "God and God," "Burn Up," "Resurrection Fusion," and "Miracle of Dragon Fist." These can be enjoyed even with little prior knowledge and allow you to fully appreciate the charm of the movies. If you want to watch in chronological order, starting from the original series, then moving to Z and Super, makes it easier to understand the flow of the story. If you prefer to watch in release order, you can experience the 32-year history of production from 1986 to 2018.
The most important thing when watching the films is to understand the parallel settings and not to get too caught up in strict consistency. Many works should be enjoyed as "stories from different worldlines apart from the main story," and it's essential to enjoy them purely as entertainment without worrying about contradictions with the TV series. Enjoy the high-quality battle scenes unique to the movies, original characters, and the well-paced story development.
Using the information presented in this article as a reference, choose a viewing route that suits you and enjoy the world of Dragon Ball films. By conquering all 21 works, you will gain a deeper understanding of the charm of Dragon Ball, and new discoveries and emotions await you. Now, let's start watching the films and experience the intense battles of Goku and his friends.
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