How To Watch Dragon Ball In Order

How to Watch Dragon Ball in Release Order

Over the years, the Dragon Ball franchise has expanded with various canon and non-canon releases. But if you are planning to watch everything that has been released to date, including anime, movies, and OVAs, in the Dragon Ball franchise in the release order, then follow this list:

Dragon Ball (1986-1989) — Anime Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986) — Movie No. 1 Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle (1987) — Movie No. 2 Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure (1988) — Movie No. 3 Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) — Anime Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (1989) — Movie No. 4 Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest (1990) — Movie No. 5 Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (1990) — Movie No. 6 Dragon Ball Z: Bardock, The Father of Goku (1990) — TV special episode Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug (1991) — Movie No. 7 Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge (1991) — Movie No. 8 Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler (1992) — Movie No. 9 Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! (1992) — Movie No. 10 Dragon Ball: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans — OVA Dragon Ball Z: Summer Vacation Special (1992) — TV special episode Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks (1993) — TV special episode Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993) — Movie No. 11 Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound (1993) — Movie No. 12 Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming (1994) — Movie No. 13 Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly (1994) — Movie No. 14 Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn (1995) — Movie No. 15 Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon (1995) — Movie No. 16 Dragon Ball GT (1996-1997) — Anime Dragon Ball: The Path to Power (1996) — Movie No. 17 Dragon Ball GT: A Hero’s Legacy (1997) — TV special episode Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!! (2008) — OVA Dragon Ball Kai (2009-2011) — Anime Dragonball Evolution (2009) — Live-Action Movie Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock (2011) — OVA Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (2013) — Movie No. 18 Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ (2015) — Movie No. 19 Dragon Ball Super (2015-2018) — Anime Super Dragon Ball Heroes (2018) — Promotional anime for a videogame Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018) — Movie No. 20 Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022) — Movie No. 21 Dragon Ball Daima (2024) — Anime

How to Watch Dragon Ball in Canonical Order

If you only want a pure canon experience without watching any of the filler content, then you should opt for this Dragon Ball anime canon watch order:

Dragon Ball (1986-1989) — All episodes except fillers Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) or Dragon Ball Kai (2009-2011 & 2014-2015) — Up to Frieza Saga’s conclusion Dragon Ball Z: Bardock, The Father of Goku (1990) — TV special episode Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) or Dragon Ball Kai (2009-2011 & 2014-2015) — Up to the end of the Cell Saga i.e., until Cell Games. Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks (1993) — TV special episode Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) or Dragon Ball Kai (2009-2011 & 2014-2015) — Complete all the remaining episodes. Dragon Ball Super (2015-2018) — All episodes except fillers

How to Watch Dragon Ball in Chronological Order

If you are leaning towards the chronological order to get the best experience out of the Dragon Ball franchise, this is the list you should follow:

Dragon Ball (1986-1989) — All episodes except fillers Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (1989) — Movie No. 4 Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) — Episodes 1-86 Dragon Ball Z: Bardock, The Father of Goku (1990)— TV special episode Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) — Episodes 87-107 Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock (2011) — OVA Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest (1990) — Movie No. 5 Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (1990) — Movie No. 6 Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug (1991) — Movie No. 7 Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) — Episodes 108-123 Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks (1993) — TV special episode Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) — Episodes 124 and 125 Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge (1991) — Movie No. 8 Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) — Episodes 126-146 Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! (1992) — Movie No. 10 Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) — Episodes 147-173 Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler (1992) — Movie No. 9 Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993) — Movie No. 11 Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) — Episodes 174-194 Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound (1993) — Movie No. 12 Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) — Episodes 195-207 Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming (1994) — Movie No. 13 Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) — Episodes 208-250 Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly (1994) — Movie No. 14 Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) — Episodes 251-253 Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn (1995) — Movie No. 15 Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) — Episodes 254-288 Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon (1995) — Movie No. 16 Dragon Ball GT (1996-1997) — All episodes Dragon Ball Super (2015-2018) — Episodes 1-3 Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (2013) — Movie No. 18 Dragon Ball Super (2015-2018) — Episodes 4-18 Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ (2015) — Movie No. 19 Dragon Ball Super (2015-2018) — Episodes 19-131 Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018) — Movie No. 20 Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022) — Movie No. 21 Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) — Episodes 289-291

Ready to join the DB fandom? That’s everything you need to know about watching the Dragon Ball series the right way. For any newcomers, you can either opt for the canonical or release date-based watch order as that will deliver the best experience for you.
For Dragon Ball veterans, you can go for the chronological watch order to understand the lore even better. That said, which watch order do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below.