During the franchise's original broadcast run (1986-1996), Toei produced Dragon Ball films rapidly, in some cases twice per year, to match the Japanese spring and summer vacations. Seventeen films were produced during this period—three Dragon Ball films from 1986 to 1989, thirteen Dragon Ball Z films from 1989 to 1996, and finally a tenth anniversary film that was released in 1996, and adapted the Red Ribbon arc of the original series.[1] These films have a running time below feature length (around 45–60 minutes each) except for the 1996 film, at 80 minutes. These films were mostly alternate retellings of certain story arcs involving new characters or extra side-stories that do not correlate with the same continuity as the manga or TV series.
These were generally screened back to back with other Toei films for that season as special theatrical events in Japan. The first through fifth films were shown at the Toei Manga Festival (東映まんがまつり, Tōei Manga Matsuri), while the sixth through seventeenth films were shown at the Toei Anime Fair (東映アニメフェア, Toei Anime Fea). By 1996, the first sixteen anime films up until Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon (1995) had sold 50million tickets and grossed over ¥40 billion ($501 million) at the Japanese box office, making it the highest-grossing anime film series up until then, in addition to selling over 500,000 home video units in Japan.[2][3]
A single live-action adaptation of the series, Dragonball Evolution, was released in 2009. The film only vaguely adapted elements from the franchise and made $56.5 million worldwide against a production cost of $30 million.[5] It received a 15% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 3.5/10, amid criticism for its plot elements, acting performances, and whitewashing.[6][7]
Sequels to Evolution were planned. James Marsters, who played King Piccolo, said that he had signed on for three films and expressed interest in making as many as seven in a 2009 interview with IGN.[8] However, due to the critical and commercial failure of Evolution, no sequels were ever produced.[8] The rights to any further live-action films are currently owned by the Walt Disney Company after their acquisition of 20th Century Fox.[9]Evolution remains the only licensed live-action film in the franchise, though two unlicensed films were released in the early 1990s.[10]
The franchise returned with Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (2013), the first animated film since 1996, and the first produced with the involvement of Akira Toriyama. The film—a sequel to the original series—became the franchise's most successful at the time and was received well by critics, earning an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[11] Unlike the classic event circuit films, those from 2013 onwards were developed with an international theatrical release planned from the beginning by 20th Century Studios (previously known as 20th Century Fox). Battle of Gods was followed by Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' in 2015. The second film introduced Jaco to Dragon Ball, a character who had debuted in Toriyama's spin-off manga Jaco the Galactic Patrolman in 2013.[12] These two movies were adapted by the Dragon Ball Super TV series, with the plotlines from the two films forming multi-episode arcs early in the show's broadcast.[13]
Later movies would adopt the Super moniker, beginning with Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018), which grossed more than $122.7 million worldwide.[14] As of May 2023, the film is the 18th highest-grossing anime film of all time. Resurrection 'F' and Broly hold approval ratings of 83% and 82%, respectively, on Rotten Tomatoes.[15][16] A second Super film, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, was released in 2022, earning over $86.6 million worldwide.[17] The film is the most critically successful in the franchise to date, earning a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[18]
September 9, 1995 (1995-09-09)[b]
December 28, 2010 (2010-12-28)[c]
King Gourmeth
A retelling of Dragon Ball's origins, this is a different version of the meeting of Goku, Bulma, Oolong, and Yamcha. They are all looking for the dragon balls for different reasons when they cross paths with an evil king named Gurumes, who is also looking for the dragon balls. The events of the movie take place in place of the Emperor Pilaf Saga of Dragon Ball.
Goku and Krillin are given an assignment by Master Roshi to retrieve the sleeping princess from Lucifer by which he accept them as his students. But the mission proves to be more perilous than originally thought. The movie takes place at the start of Goku and Krillin's training under Master Roshi.
Goku and Krillin attend the World Martial Arts Tournament for fun, which is hosted by Emperor Chiaotzu. Bora and his son Upa attempt to hide the dragon ball they found from the emperor's forces, which are under the control of the evil Shen and General Tao; and Bulma conducts her own search for the dragon balls with the help of Yamcha, Puar, and Oolong. The movie seemingly takes place during Goku and Krillin's training under Master Roshi.
Garlic Jr. kidnaps a young Gohan so that he may use the Dragon Ball on his hat to wish for immortality. Now Goku and his friends must rescue Gohan from Garlic Jr. and his minions.
Lord Slug uses the Dragon Balls to restore his youth. Now it is up to Goku and his friends to stop the newly rejuvenated Slug from taking over the Earth.
Following the Tournament of Power, Saiyan survivors Broly and his father Paragus are rescued by the Frieza force and join Frieza in his revenge against Goku while Paragus vows revenge against Vegeta due to his history with Vegeta's father, King Vegeta.
The young warrior Son Goku goes on an outrageous quest to acquire seven magical orbs, along the way beating up evil persons who want to steal the orbs for their own ends.
In Dragonball Evolution, a young Goku discovers his past and sets out to fight the evil alien warlord Lord Piccolo, who wishes to gain the powerful Dragon Balls and use them to take over Earth.
^Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies was originally licensed to Harmony Gold USA around December 28, 1989, who dubbed and released the film in conjunction with Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure.
^The second version was produced by Funimation as a pilot to sell the Dragon Ball series to American syndicators. It originally premiered on syndication on September 9, 1995 (along with the first episode of the "Emperor Pilaf Saga").
^On April 6, 2010 Funimation announced that Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies would be released to a bilingual DVD on July 27, 2010, but the release was delayed to December 28, 2010, 21 years to the day after Harmony Gold's dub. Funimation announced the voice cast for a new English dub of the film on November 12, 2010.
^Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle was released on December 15, 1998 in VHS and on December 6, 2005 on DVD as part of the Dragon Ball Movie Box Set.
^Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure was aired on December 28, 1989, by Harmony Gold USA broadcast their dub along with Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies.
^It was redubbed by Funimation, and released on November 21, 2000 on VHS, and February 27, 2001 on DVD.
^Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone was released on December 17, 1997 on DVD by Pioneer.
^It was re-released on May 31, 2005, on DVD and redubbed by Funimation.
^Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest was released on August 26, 1998, on DVD by Pioneer.
^It was re-released on November 14, 2006 on DVD and redubbed by Funimation, along with Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might.
^Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might was aired in the broadcast on November 15 and 22, 1997, by Saban.
^It was released on March 13, 1998, on DVD by Pioneer.
^It was re-released on November 14, 2006, on DVD and redubbed by Funimation, along with Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest.
^Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug was produced by Funimation and released to VHS and DVD on August 7, 2001.
^Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge was released on DVD and VHS on January 22, 2002, by Funimation. In 1996, Creative Products Corporation made an English dub for the Philippines with the title Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Strongest. It was shown in theaters and was released on VHS there.
^Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler was released on DVD in the United States on August 13, 2002, by Funimation.
^Also known as Extreme Battle! The Three Great Super Saiyans
^Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! was released in North America on DVD by Funimation on February 4, 2003.
^Also known as Dragon Ball Z: Burn Up!! A Close Fight - A Violent Fight – A Super Fierce Fight and Dragon Ball Z: The Burning Battles
^Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan was released on August 26, 2003, on DVD by Funimation.
^Also known as Dragon Ball Z: The Galaxy's at the Brink!! The Super Incredible Guy
^Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound was released on DVD on August 17, 2004, by Funimation.
^Also known as The Dangerous Duo! Super Warriors Never Rest and Dragon Ball Z: Dangerous Rivals
^Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming was released in North America on April 5, 2005, on DVD by Funimation.
^Also known as Dragon Ball Z Super Warrior Defeat!! I'll Be The Winner and Dragon Ball Z: Attack! Super Warriors
^Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly was released on September 13, 2005, on DVD by Funimation.
