Best Dragon Ball Z movies - Our top picks

best dragon ball z movies ranked

best dragon ball z movies ranked

One of the most cherished anime series in the genre's history is Dragon Ball Z. And today, we are here with the list of the best Dragon Ball Z movies that you should watch.

It's challenging to narrow the list of best Dragon Ball Z movies to discuss, given the many characters, plots, and antagonists that Goku and his friends faced. Particularly considering that fans of Dragon Ball will find over thirty different movies and anime to watch. Any beginner to this extensive anime genre would be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of journeys that have taken place in the anime. Only shows like Naruto or One Piece come close to it.

Nothing like it had ever existed before its debut. Since it began, the franchise has been an inspiration for several anime. The themes from early Dragon Ball Z are still present in today's television. Millions of people worldwide are fans of Dragon Ball and its follow-up films. It has been running for several decades and shows no signs of slowing down.

Here are the best Dragon Ball Z Movies

  • Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993)
  • Wrath of the Dragon (1995)
  • Fusion Reborn (1995)
  • Dragon Ball: Episode Of Bardock (2011)
  • Dragon Ball Z: The History Of Trunks (1993)

Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993)

Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan
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Given how well-liked Broly is, it should come as no surprise that his first movie is not only among the best DBZ movies in the franchise but also among the most cherished. Broly revived the notion that there were other Saiyans in the cosmos besides Goku and his offspring by concentrating on the titular powerhouse and the Legendary Super Saiyan form, which is even more potent than the many transformations Goku and Vegeta can produce.

The action in this film is rather good, so long as you don't mind spending a decent 20 minutes seeing the DBZ heroes get flung around like ragdolls.

Wrath of the Dragon (1995)

Wrath of the Dragon
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Wrath of the Dragon, which takes place shortly after the Buu Saga's events, uses many of the same plot devices, along with a magical being attempting to free a terrible beast from its shackle to wreak planetary-scale havoc. The final movie from the Z-era, tells the tale of Tapion, a warrior with a sword and an ocarina who is cursed to harbour a monster's half inside him and who is tormented by the loss of his younger brother.

The tale is somewhat obvious, but it does depict one possible course of action that results in Trunks getting his characteristic sword when he travels back in time during the Android arc. Also a departure from the DBZ era's reliance on solely action-driven films, Wrath of the Dragon opted to place more emphasis on creating an atmosphere of adventure.

Fusion Reborn (1995)

Fusion Reborn
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Fusion was a brand-new idea that was introduced in the Dragon Ball Z world, and it was widely praised. Viewers rarely get to see fusions, which makes any fusion even more thrilling. Fusion Reborn, the 12th Dragon Ball Z film, featured the underused but adored Gogeta, following the popularity of Vegito. Fusion Reborn may draw criticism for looking more like a series of fantastic moments than a film with a complete story, but those scenes are excellent in their own right.

The major attraction of Fusion Reborn is the fight between Janemba, a villain who has barred the doors to the Other World to stop any souls from coming or exiting, and the legendary Gogeta, who was created by the union of Goku and Vegeta. In addition, Frieza spent all of his time in Hell, and Pikkon, who appeared in the filler episode of the Other World Tournament that took place just after the Cell Games, are both back in this movie.

Fusion Reborn comes close to hitting a home run and is only hindered by a relatively boring villain. It features possibly the best combat scenes of all the best Dragon Ball Z movies.

Dragon Ball: Episode Of Bardock (2011)

Dragon Ball: Episode Of Bardock
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In addition to providing the required context for all that the series will explore, The Father of Goku, Bardock also fills in many of the aspects that were only vaguely mentioned in the Frieza epic. Additionally, it echoes a lot of the concepts that Vegeta would emphasize to Goku at the beginning of Dragon Ball Z, as he seemed determined to reinforce the notion that Goku did not originate from nobility and that his parents belonged to the Saiyan line's lower ranks.

Even though he doesn't appear frequently in the franchise (aside from in the video games), the merciless Bardock is an extremely well-liked character. This may help to explain why admirers of this what-if scenario give it such high marks.

After his home planet is destroyed, Bardock awakens on the familiar-looking planet Planet, where he is immediately charged with defending its citizens from Chilled, a representative of the Frieza race. Although the plot is a little weird, the OVA is still enjoyable.

Dragon Ball Z: The History Of Trunks (1993)

Dragon Ball Z: The History Of Trunks
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The History of Trunks is one of the best-written Dragon Ball stories. It takes place in a grim future in which the only people remaining who can stop the murderous Androids are Trunks and Gohan. Each time both the Saiyans try to fight Androids 17 and 18, there is a definite feeling of despair which greatly enhances the TV special.

Going forward, Trunks and Gohan's bond makes it more difficult to accept that Gohan will die. It's terrifying when the dreadful thing happens. Trunks becoming a Super Saiyan in the downpour kicks off one of Dragon Ball's most emotional and iconic moments after Gohan's death. Trunks' purpose and the Android Saga as a whole were given more layers by the movie's decision to go harsher than ever before.

Not required viewing, the original theatrical releases are non-canon standalone films that take place in a different reality and have no bearing on the story. While some films struggled and added nothing significant, others offered some of Dragon Ball's most legendary scenes and villains. Some of the films often recycle the plots from the sagas they happen to be in.

The majority of the films are not regarded as part of the DBZ canon, with a few exceptions. This is the largest issue, but if you wish to go on a ride of adventure, motivation, sorrow, and despair, you should not skip the movies. Every movie has some amazing scenes that will make you leave your chairs and bulk up with excitement and power. Yet again, the choice is yours to make!

With this, we come to the end of our list of the best Dragon Ball Z movies. We also have a list of the best One Piece movies, don't forget to check that out. And if you enjoy anime games, then we also got a list of the best One Piece Roblox Games for you.