The world of Dragon Ball has many movies, though quality varies. Some are fantastic stories, but others aren’t so good. Most fans see these films as additions to the anime series, but they’re actually a great way to introduce new viewers to the franchise. It’s much easier to watch a 2-hour movie than commit to a 200-hour TV show, after all! Below, we’ll share our picks for the best movies in the Dragon Ball franchise.
Best Dragon Ball Movies as of 2025
You’ll find that the newer Dragon Ball films rank higher on our list than the older ones. This is because the franchise experienced a significant revival with the release of Battle of the Gods and Super. While Dragon Ball has been incredibly popular for many years, these movies took it to a whole new level. It’s not that the older films aren’t enjoyable, but some (Bio-Broly, for example) aren’t very good. It’s also worth noting that all of the films are considered non-canon to the main series, with the exceptions of Dragon Ball Super: Broly and Dragon Ball Super: Super Heroes. So, just enjoy them for what they are and don’t overthink it!
Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)
Released in 2018, Dragon Ball Super: Broly is the 20th installment in the Dragon Ball franchise and the first to be labeled as ‘Super,’ continuing the story after Dragon Ball Z. It’s essentially a fresh take on Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Legendary Super Saiyan (1993), brought to life by director Tatsuya Nagamine and a script from Akira Toriyama, with animation handled by Toei Animation. Without a doubt, it boasts some of the most stunning animation ever seen in anime – possibly of all time?
The movie offers a fresh take on Broly, a Saiyan warrior known for incredible strength. While he’s usually portrayed as a bad guy, this version officially includes him in the Dragon Ball Super story. The plot begins soon after the Tournament of Power, with Goku and Vegeta in training when Frieza makes a comeback – this time with a powerful new Saiyan (for those unfamiliar, Saiyans are a very strong, almost extinct alien race) by his side. What begins as a simple fight quickly escalates into a desperate battle for survival. And the movie delivers some of the most spectacular fight sequences ever seen in anime films.
The Tree of Might (1990)
I absolutely loved this movie – I’m a total sucker for that feeling of nostalgia! The villain is really interesting; he *looks* like Goku, but he’s everything Goku isn’t. It’s this guy, Turles, a bad Saiyan, and his plan is to plant a tree that can gather incredible power. Basically, if you eat the fruit from it, you get a huge power boost. But here’s the problem: the tree starts sucking the life out of Earth, so Goku and the Z Fighters have to jump in and stop him. The really tough part is that Turles is getting stronger because the tree is fueling his power! It’s a great setup, and I was really invested in seeing how they would beat him.
That level of wickedness is enjoyable, even if the basic idea isn’t the most original now. Still, this is a standout Dragon Ball movie because it perfectly captures the classic DBZ feel, making it truly lovable. Some critics claim the ending feels hurried and negates the earlier events, but I don’t share that view. See it for yourself and decide – it boasts strong writing, compelling characters, and a well-developed story arc.
Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn (1995)
The story unfolds in the Other World, where a young ogre (known as an oni in Japanese) unintentionally causes an explosion at the afterlife’s purification center. This creates a huge tear between the world of the living and the dead, allowing spirits to return to Earth. From this turmoil, Janemba emerges – a demon who can bend reality and one of the most impressive villains in the entire Dragon Ball series. Goku, who is already deceased and residing in the Other World, takes on the responsibility of stopping him. However, Janemba’s strength is increasing rapidly, and Goku will require assistance.
Fusion Reborn is considered one of the top Dragon Ball movies, delivering non-stop action. Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi, it features some of the most impressively animated fight scenes in the entire series. The film is packed with amazing team-ups and otherworldly chaos, and includes just the right amount of backstory to make it meaningful. Overall, it’s a really fun watch and a true 90s Dragon Ball classic.
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods (2013)
Let’s jump ahead to 2013, when Battle of the Gods revitalized the Dragon Ball series and set the stage for Dragon Ball Super. The film, directed by Masahiro Hosoda, featured a story by Akira Toriyama and was written by Yūsuke Watanabe. It generated the most excitement for Dragon Ball Z in over a decade.
Taking place a few years after Majin Buu’s defeat, Battle of the Gods centers around Goku and his encounter with Beerus, the God of Destruction, who wakes up after a long sleep looking for a powerful warrior called the Super Saiyan God. When Beerus lands on Earth, Goku needs to perform a unique Saiyan ceremony to achieve this godly level. This leads to an epic fight that rocks the planet and hints at a much bigger world. Although the story sounds quite intense, the movie is actually very enjoyable. The updated animation style is a welcome change, building on the anime’s legacy while feeling fresh.
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022)
The follow-up to Dragon Ball Super: Broly, titled Super Hero, came out in 2022. Interestingly, its release was pushed back a few months because of a cyberattack on Toei Animation Studios. This second Super movie was also the first to be created using CGI animation. We were initially unsure about it, but the visuals ultimately exceeded our expectations. The film was truly excellent and has become the second-highest-grossing Dragon Ball film ever.
With direction from Tetsuro Kodama and a story penned by Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero focuses on Piccolo and Gohan as they confront a renewed danger: the Red Ribbon Army. This time around, the Army has built two incredibly strong androids and a frighteningly powerful secret weapon. When Pan is taken hostage and the planet is threatened, Gohan needs to rediscover his full strength. This movie is truly excellent. While updated for a modern audience, it feels like a heartfelt tribute to dedicated fans.
How we chose the best Dragon Ball movies
Seriously, though, how do you decide which ones are the best? There are so many good options – most are really enjoyable, except for that one live-action movie which wasn’t great. But it’s still fun to watch for a laugh! We really tried to pick a good variety of Dragon Ball films, and we also thought about how important each movie was to the series as a whole. We considered how the animation changed over the years, how the characters looked, and, of course, how well the stories were written. And personally, I also wanted to include the movies with the most exciting fight scenes.
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2025-10-04 03:29