Items15The creator’s order
  1. 1Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (1989)Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (1989) 6.7/10 on IMDbReleased Jul 15, 1989Garlic Jr. turns the hunt for the Dragon Balls into a rescue mission when he kidnaps Gohan. Start here for an early Goku and Piccolo team-up. Garlic Jr. later returns in a TV-only arc, so the film also works as his introduction before those episodes.0
  2. 2Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest (1990)Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest (1990) 6.6/10 on IMDbReleased Mar 10, 1990Dr. Wheelo is a scientist looking for the strongest body on Earth. His icy laboratory gives this one a different feel from the open-air fights elsewhere in the series. The setup works with just the basics about Goku and his friends.0
  3. 3Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (1990)Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (1990) 6.7/10 on IMDbReleased Jun 7, 1990Turles plants a tree that drains the Earth to produce fruit that makes him stronger. His resemblance to Goku sets up a contrast between two Saiyans. The Saiyan arc explains Goku’s origins, which gives this separate adventure more context.0
  4. 4Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug (1991)Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug (1991) 6.5/10 on IMDbReleased Mar 19, 1991Lord Slug and his forces land on Earth and start changing the planet to suit themselves. Knowing that Piccolo is Namekian adds context to the villain’s backstory. The alien invasion gives this one a simple entry point.0
  5. 5Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge (1991)Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge (1991) 7.0/10 on IMDbReleased Jul 20, 1991Cooler comes after Goku in the wake of Frieza’s defeat. Watch the series’ Frieza arc first if you want the family feud to land, or start here for a single revenge story before you get to the sequel.0
  6. 6Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler (1992)Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler (1992) 6.9/10 on IMDbReleased Mar 7, 1992Meta-Cooler brings the threat back in a new mechanical form, and the Big Gete Star is draining New Namek. Watch Cooler’s Revenge first. This follow-up puts Goku and Vegeta in the same fight against a much larger threat.0
  7. 7Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! (1992)Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! (1992) 6.9/10 on IMDbReleased Jul 11, 1992Android 13 and his two fellow androids carry on the mission to kill Goku after Dr. Gero’s death. Start here once you know the setup of the Android arc. The early fight builds to a showdown in the northern glaciers.0
  8. 8Dragon Ball Z: Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993)Dragon Ball Z: Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993) 7.3/10 on IMDbReleased Mar 6, 1993Broly is the power behind the trap his father Paragus lays for Vegeta on New Vegeta. This is the first version of Broly and the start of his three Z movies. Watch it before Second Coming or Bio-Broly.0
  9. 9Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound (1993)Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound (1993) 7.1/10 on IMDbReleased Jul 10, 1993Bojack and his crew turn a martial arts tournament into an ambush. Watch after the Cell arc if you want the payoff of seeing Gohan take the lead. The tournament gives the rest of the fighters room to shine before the invasion.0
  10. 10Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming (1994)Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming (1994) 6.5/10 on IMDbReleased Mar 12, 1994Broly returns and meets Goten, Trunks, and Gohan on Earth. Start with The Legendary Super Saiyan to see the original encounter. Pick this follow-up when you want the younger fighters at the center of the story.0