anime series like dragon ball z

How to Watch the Dragon Ball Series in Order

I grew up on Dragon Ball, and as such, I always thought the watch order was pretty straight forward. However, recently it has occurred to me that…Well, if you know nothing about Dragon Ball, it is not straight forward at all. Do you watch original Z or should you choose Kai? Do you need to watch ten tons of movies or no? GT before Super or at all?

Yeah, okay, so it has gotten unexpectedly complex and there are newer anime fans that are just now getting into it. So, the question is, how do you watch the Dragon Ball series in order?

Dragon Ball Franchise Watch Order

On the Subject of Canon – Should I Watch Dragon Ball GT?

Much of Dragon Ball can be separated into canon or not canon. By canon, fans mean that the particular series or movie primarily followed the original manga series and was made with input from the creator – Akira Toriyama. For the most part, the Dragon Ball anime series is of a canon nature. There are some important exceptions, however.

First, Dragon Ball GT is considered non-canon. Akira Toriyama had little to no input on the series and was not happy with how it turned out. There are moments in the more current and canon Dragon Ball Super in which it seems they are trying to connect it to the canon, but for the most part, almost every fan will suggest to skip GT entirely.

Other non-canon entries include some of the movies which will conflict with things that occur in the canon story line. Generally, most people don’t bother to watch ALL the movies, as there are many, but there are some canon movies that fill in important details (and have awesome fights).

Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Z Kai?

As you may (or may not) know, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Z Kai are the same thing. Kai is essentially a remastering of the events in the original DBZ series. It features less filler, much better pacing, and additional dialog that was present in the manga. As it is also newer animation, it looks better in some spots.

As in the original DBZ some fights could take literally ten episodes to conclude, it is probably better to just watch Kai. The filler in DBZ was fun sometimes, but it is a lengthy watch overall. So, in essence, it is really up to you. You won’t miss any crucial details by choosing Kai.

Simple “Canon Only” Dragon Ball Watch Order

If you want to get the best possible viewing order from the Dragon Ball series, but you don’t need it to be chronological. Here’s what we suggest:

  • Dragon Ball (You can completely skip this and jump into DBZ just fine for the most part. It just fills in some pieces with characters like what Piccolo is and how the characters came to be acquainted.)
  • Dragon Ball Z (or Kai, your choice) through the conclusion of the Frieza Saga
  • Bardock: Father of Goku Movie
  • Dragon Ball Z through the Cell Saga
  • History of Trunks Movie
  • Dragon Ball Z to the conclusion
  • If you wanted to watch Dragon Ball GT, this would be where you do it
  • Dragon Ball Super

You may also want to watch Battle of the Gods and the Resurrection: F movies purely because they are pretty cool, but they also have arcs in Super. So you won’t really miss out, but the movies do have more detail.

On the topic of movies, there are a lot we didn’t include because they are not canon. However, many of the DBZ movies are very fun to watch, the Broly movie in particular. Broly did technically become canon, but there’s not really a good place to wedge that into the watch order.

The Chronological Dragon Ball Watch Order for Crazy People

Why you would want to try and watch Dragon Ball in chronological order, I don’t even know.

Do you hate yourself?
Are you okay?
Do you need someone to talk to?

Anyway, this tosses canon out the window and includes all the movies, GT, and Super in the closes possible timeline, even though the timeline of some movies conflicts with that, thus why they are not canon.

I’ve also included episode number for the original Dragon Ball Z, not Kai, because if you want to watch everything, damn you’re gonna watch everything.

  • Dragon Ball
  • Dead Zone Movie
  • Dragon Ball Z to Episode 86
  • Bardock: Father of Goku
  • Dragon Ball Z to Episode 107
  • Episode of Bardock Special
  • World’s Strongest Movie
  • Tree of Might Movie
  • Lord Slug Movie
  • Garlic Junior Movie
  • Dragon Ball Z to Episode 123
  • History of Trunks Saga
  • Dragon Ball Z to Episode 125
  • Revenge of Cooler Movie
  • Dragon Ball Z to Episode 146
  • Super Android 13 Movie
  • Dragon Ball Z to Episode 173
  • Return of Cooler Movie
  • Broly the Legendary Super Saiyan Movie
  • Dragon Ball Z to Episode 194
  • Bojack unbound Movie
  • Dragon Ball Z to Episode 207
  • Broly’s Second Coming Movie
  • Dragon Ball Z to Episode 250
  • Bio-Broly Movie
  • Dragon Ball Z to Episode 253
  • Fusion Reborn Movie
  • Dragon Ball Z to Episode 288
  • Wrath of the Dragon movie
  • Finish Dragon Ball Z
  • Dragon Ball GT, all of it.
  • Dragon Ball Super to Episode 3
  • Battle of the Gods Movie
  • Dragon Ball Super to Episode 18
  • Resurrection F Movie
  • The Rest of Dragon Ball Super

Good Luck.

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53 thoughts on “How to Watch the Dragon Ball Series in Order”

    1. I was confused too, but there isn’t a Garlic Jr. movie. I think what the author meant was Saga. The Garlic Jr. Saga starts after episode 107.

  1. Wouldn’t dragon ball super be in the middle of Z, because it’s in-between the buu saga and world tournament saga. So chronologically Super isn’t after Z but between the last and second from last season of Z.

      1. pretty sure its in the middle of Z. Pan is not yet born in super until later, and Pan is shown as a little child at the last season of Z. This makes super in-between the last and second from last season of Z. Pan is born in super, while shown as a baby in Z.

        1. I have yet to watch Super but if this is true its an additional/weird timeline, cause the saiyan power ups in super are beyond those of Z, no?

        2. Super is after GT. But there are things that don’t follow GT as it wasn’t actually canon to the Manga. So they altered the story a bit. That’s why the author says it’s the closest thing to in order as possible. I don’t think GT has anything to do with the original writer. But Super does… so it gets kinda off at parts.

  2. “Why you would want to try and watch Dragon Ball in chronological order, I don’t even know. Do you hate yourself? Are you okay? Do you need someone to talk to? Anyway, this tosses canon out the window and includes all the movies, GT, and Super in the closes possible timeline, even though the timeline of some movies conflicts with that, thus why they are not canon. I’ve also included episode number for the original Dragon Ball Z, not Kai, because if you want to watch everything, damn you gonna watch everything.”

    First of all thank you for this. LOL! It isn’t that I hate myself or need someone to talk to, I am re-watching it all from the start because of this covid-19 pandemic. I figure it’ll keep me busy for at least a month! It has been a very long time since I watched them all and I have never seen any of Super so it’ll be fun refresh leading up to starting Super. I have 4 episodes left on the original Dragon Ball, so much I don’t remember and already enjoying my choice to revisit the series!

    Worth noting I once introduced someone to the series as a whole by showing them only the movies knowing we could watch them in a day or two.

    You didn’t include the kid Goku Dragon Ball movies in your timeline so for those interested here is how they work out:
    – 01 Curse of the Blood Rubies – Happens in the place of the Pilaf Saga as the first half is reintroducing us to the protagonists. New villains and subplot.
    – 02 Sleeping Princess in Devils Castle – This one is actually can’t miss material, we are introduced to Krillin & then we have approximately 2 episodes (length wise) worth of new story, plot, villains that never appear in anything else.
    – 03 Mystical Adventure – Happens in the place of the first tournament, featuring fighters through the entire series except the Piccolo sagas.
    – 04 – Path to Power – Using the animators and styling of the GT series, this movie is rather beautiful; but alas is -ANOTHER- reintroduction to our protagonists, after that though this one is a retelling of the series various red ribbon sagas. If you wanted to summarize Dragon Ball before watching Kai & Super this would be my suggestion.

    Additionally the GT movie should fall after the series & there is a Broly movie that finishes out Super. Lastly, true chronological would put the Bardock specials before everything (since he is their ancestors) as well as GT after everything (as he is a distant descendant of Gukus kids) Even though the placement of the specials, non canon movies & series is a bit up for debate I do like the order you have presented & will be how I watch Z.

    1. Same I’m also watching DB since the quarantine/outbreak started as I thought it would be a great idea cause we all now a lot of time, I was watching this series as I was a kid of 5-6 years old and almost forgot everything about it, but my favorite still remains the same Piccolo xd

  3. Dragon Ball 1-43
    Curse of the Blood Rubies
    Dragon Ball 44-70
    Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle
    Dragon Ball 71-114
    Goku’s Fire Brigade
    Goku’s Traffic Safety
    Dragon Ball 115-118
    Mystical Adventure
    Dragon Ball 119-153
    Dragon Ball Z 1-11
    Dead Zone
    Dragon Ball Z 12-39
    The World’s Strongest
    Dragon Ball Z 40-54
    The Tree of Might
    Dragon Ball Z 55-63
    Bardock: Father of Goku
    Dragon Ball Z 64-81
    Lord Slug
    Dragon Ball Z 82-99
    Cooler’s Revenge
    Dragon Ball Z 100-130
    The Return of Cooler
    Dragon Ball Z 131-147
    Super Android 13!
    Dragon Ball Z 148-175
    The History of Trunks
    Dragon Ball Z 176
    Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan
    Dragon Ball Z 177-192
    Bojack Unbound
    Dragon Ball Z 193-195
    Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans
    Dragon Ball Z 196-220
    Broly – Second Coming
    Dragon Ball Z 221-232
    Bio-Broly
    Dragon Ball Z 233-258
    Fusion Reborn
    Dragon Ball Z 259-270
    Wrath of the Dragon
    Dragon Ball Z 271-291
    Dragon Ball GT 1-4
    The Path to Power
    Dragon Ball GT 5-41
    A Hero’s Legacy
    Dragon Ball GT 42-64
    Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!
    Episode of Bardock
    Battle of the Gods
    Resurrection F
    Dragon Ball Super 1-131
    Broly

      1. type in google :- funonline dbz and then click the first site ; then go to movies and check them out . you can also get episodes

    1. The way Sangwa wrote the order here is how they have been released.

      What is the correct order to watch? Like the author wrote or how they were released???

      1. I did not find any “logical” watching order. That’s why I watch in order of released. I imagine myself the way TV viewers were at the time …

        1. I understand.

          There’s got to be a reason for the author to choose that order though, and if it makes sense from a timeline perspective I’d prefer to watch it that way tbh.

    2. Thanks for this as i am new to the series since its sooooo long im trying to simultaneously watch DB, Naruto, One Piece and Bleach as well as anything new that pops up that catches my attention.

    3. Hey is your info right? i never got the chance to ever really watch it i barely started to watch it so i follow your way right?

    4. The dragon ball Movies are not written in the official, but the last few movies that you wrote doesn’t match with the website one. So should i follow this or the official for the dragon ball Z and dragon ball SUPER movies?

  4. What is the episode of Bardock special? I’m confused with the special and Bardock the father of Goku movie.

    1. Episode of Bardock is a sequel to Bardock the Father of Goku. It is a “what if” type movie, where instead of dying at the end of the first movie, Bardock is transported back in time to long before the shows and other movies take place. There, he fights against an ancestor of Freiza’s.

  5. The Dragon Ball Fandom Wiki gives the official timeline of the entire saga, which puts Super as between episodes 288 and 289 of Z. And GT takes place 5 years after episode 291.

  6. Can you tell me which segment to watch or next to watch as I have completed not from DB, DBZ, DBZ kai, DBGT, DBSuper till 131! What comes next

  7. ehem, you said “the rest of dragon ball super”,
    you needed to type “the rest of dragon ball super, Dragon Ball Super: Broly”
    you’ve forgotten the last movie 😀 and u forgotten dragon ball heroes

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