How to Watch the Dragon Ball Series in Order With Movies

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Enjoy this classic anime series in chronological or release order
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Dragon Ball is one of the most popular anime franchises originally airing in the 80s, and there have been multiple series and movies that continue the story. While you can just jump into any of the individual series, watching them in order helps you understand the story and characters the best. Keep reading to find out the best viewing orders for all of the Dragon Ball series and movies, where to watch them, and how to skip any filler episodes.

The Best Order to Watch Dragon Ball Z

Anime expert Brandon Riley says the Dragon Ball series and movies were mostly released in chronological order. You can start with Dragon Ball, then move to Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and Dragon Ball Super. Some recent releases, like "Dragon Ball Z: Bardock," are prequels that add context to earlier entries.

Section 1 of 4:

Watching Dragon Ball in Chronological Order

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  1. If you want to experience the full Dragon Ball story in order from the start to the beginning, then watching the series and movies chronologically is the best option. Many of the newer movies and specials fit between older episodes arcs in the series to give more context or backstory. The series and movies in chronological order are:
    • Dragon Ball Z: Bardock - The Father of Goku (TV special)
    • Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock (movie)
    • Dragon Ball : episodes 1–13
    • Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (movie)
    • Dragon Ball : episodes 14–17
    • Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle (movie)
    • Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure (movie)
    • Dragon Ball : episodes 18–68
    • Dragon Ball: The Path to Power (movie)
    • Dragon Ball : episodes 69–153
    • Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 1–20
    • Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 21–107
    • Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 108–172
    • Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 173–193
    • Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 195–208
    • Dragon Ball Z: Broly’s Second Coming (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 209–226
    • Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 227–248
    • Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 249–288
    • Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Super : episodes 1–14
    • Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Super : episodes 15–27
    • Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Super : episodes 28–131
    • Dragon Ball Super: Broly (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks (TV special)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episode 194
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 289–291
    • Dragon Ball GT : episodes 1–64
    • Dragon Ball GT: A Hero’s Legacy (movie)
    • Super Dragon Ball Heroes : all episodes
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Section 2 of 4:

Watching Dragon Ball in Release Order

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  1. Watching the complete Dragon Ball saga in the order that they were released will give you the most authentic experience of the story. If you want to be a completionist and view all of the series and movies as the anime’s producers intended, release order is the best option for you. In order by release date, the order is: [1]
    • Dragon Ball : episodes 1–43
    • Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (movie)
    • Dragon Ball : episodes 44–70
    • Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle (movie)
    • Dragon Ball : episodes 71–118
    • Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure (movie)
    • Dragon Ball : episodes 119–153
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 1–11
    • Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 12–39
    • Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 40–54
    • Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 55–63
    • Dragon Ball Z: Bardock - The Father of Goku (TV special)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 64–81
    • Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 82–99
    • Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 100–130
    • Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 131–147
    • Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 148–175
    • Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks (TV special)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episode 176
    • Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 177–192
    • Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 193–195
    • Dragon Ball Z: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 196–220
    • Dragon Ball Z: Broly’s Second Coming (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 221–232
    • Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 233–258
    • Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 259–270
    • Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z : episodes 271–291
    • Dragon Ball GT : episodes 1–4
    • Dragon Ball: The Path to Power (movie)
    • Dragon Ball GT : episodes 5–41
    • Dragon Ball GT: A Hero’s Legacy (movie)
    • Dragon Ball GT : episodes 42–64
    • Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F (movie)
    • Dragon Ball Super : episodes 1–131
    • Dragon Ball Super: Broly (movie)
    • Super Dragon Ball Heroes : all episodes
    • Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (movie)
Section 3 of 4:

Watching Dragon Ball without Filler

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  1. If you only want to focus on the Dragon Ball storylines that are canon with the original manga, then you don’t have to watch everything that’s been released. Many of the specials or later series are considered non-canon because the original manga author didn’t have any input on them. If you want to cut out all the filler episodes and stick to the main story, then do the following:
    • Skip all of the movies and TV specials.
    • Instead of watching all of Dragon Ball Z , replace it with Dragon Ball Z Kai . Dragon Ball Z Kai is a remastered and condensed version of the original Dragon Ball Z arcs that are truer to the manga. [2]
    • Skip over Dragon Ball GT. [3]
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Section 4 of 4:

Where to Watch Dragon Ball

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  1. Look for episodes on Crunchyroll or Hulu . You can find all of the Dragon Ball series and movies on Funimation and Crunchyroll and stream them to your devices if you have a premium account. If you want to get started with the original Dragon Ball or try Dragon Ball Z Kai , then it’s available on Hulu with ad-supported or zero-ad plans. [4]
    • Streaming sites may add or remove series and movies randomly. If you don’t find the series or movie you’re looking for, try checking JustWatch to see where it’s available to stream or buy.

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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/vqEBfFJ8EQk?t=298
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/vqEBfFJ8EQk?t=46
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/vqEBfFJ8EQk?t=90
      4. ↑ https://www.justwatch.com/us/search?q=dragon%20ball

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