Dragon Ball Z is the longest chapter in Akira Toriyama’s signature shonen series and it’s frequently regarded as the best of the lot. Many of the franchise staples that audiences associate with Dragon Ball are introduced in Dragon Ball Z, whether it’s exciting Super Saiyan transformations, the concept of fusion, or trips to Other World and outer space. There are nearly 300 Dragon Ball Z episodes, which tell a remarkable, evolving story that continually pushes the characters to new heights.
However, Dragon Ball Z also benefits from over a dozen feature films that celebrate grandiose villains and suspenseful situations that are too big to fit into a standard episode of the series. There are some widely celebrated Dragon Ball Z movies, like Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan, Fusion Reborn, and The Return of Cooler, but there are also plenty of Dragon Ball Z films that don’t get the respect that they deserve.
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10 Wrath Of The Dragon Celebrates A Kaiju-Sized Catastrophe
Release Date: July 15, 1995
Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon is the series’ 13th and final film before Battle of Gods leads into Dragon Ball Super nearly two decades later. There are high expectations placed on this movie as the franchise’s “last” and it unfortunately gets lost in the shuffle due to the many ideas that it juggles regarding the Konatsians’ history. The film’s central threat, Hirduegarn, is a Godzilla-like monster that wreaks havoc on West City, but there are some complicated ideas that surround the villain, such as how Hirudegarn is intangible, expect when he attacks, and that two halves of him are locked away inside Tapion and Minotia.
Wrath of the Dragon gives a lot of attention to Tapion and Minotia, who are almost the film’s protagonists in many ways. Wrath of the Dragon is a little tricky to follow on a first watch, but it’s appreciated that it attempts something a little more esoteric. The disaster scale in Wrath of the Dragon is unprecedented and a true sense of doom is felt. The movie may not return to the fused heights of Gogeta, like in Dragon Ball Z’s previous film, but a Super Saiyan 3 Goku finale is still extremely satisfying, especially with the surprising Dragon Fist technique that’s introduced.
9 Bio-Broly Turns The Legendary Super Saiyan Into A Killer Clone In A Kid-Coded Adventure
Release Date: July 9, 1994
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Broly, the Legendary Super Saiyan, is such a popular movie villain that he’s even become canonically incorporated into Dragon Ball Super and made his way into the series’ core cast. It’s understandable why a character of this magnitude would get multiple opportunities to shine, but Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly – the character’s third film – definitely suffers from diminishing returns. It also doesn’t help that the previous film, Broly – Second Coming, was only released four months before Bio-Broly. Bio-Broly is definitely the weakest of the Broly movies and one of Dragon Ball Z’s least effective films. That being said, there’s still a lot to appreciate in this movie once it gets out of its own way and is approached with an open mind.
The movie is admittedly disappointing when it comes to its central villains and Broly lacks any real motivation because he’s just a creepy clone of the real thing. The same is true for the hordes of Bio-Warriors that attack the heroes. However, Bio-Broly tells a story that puts Goten and Trunks in the spotlight, with Android 18 and Krillin in powerful supporting roles. At the time of Bio-Broly’s release, the lack of Goku and Vegeta frustrated fans, but it’s now regarded as a creative opportunity for the franchise to break free of its established formula. There’s also some really gorgeous animation present in Bio-Broly that helps elevate the film to greater heights.
8 The Tree Of Might Features An Evil Saiyan & An Environmental Message
Release Date: March 17, 1998
Dragon Ball Z’s third movie, The Tree of Might, gets a lot of attention for not just featuring an evil Saiyan as its villain, but one who looks nearly identical to Goku. This is an exciting turn of events, but it’s also a film that’s typically reduced to the “Evil Goku” movie and not appreciated for its greater depth. As Dragon Ball Z’s third movie, it’s also set long before Goku attains Super Saiyan strength. There’s a tendency to dismiss these movies simply because they’re set during a simpler time in the series when Super Saiyan transformations weren’t on anyone’s radar. However, this actually becomes one of The Tree of Might’s greatest assets and it culminates in an epic Saiyan clash that shares a lot in common with Goku’s Saiyan Saga battle against Vegeta.
Turles is a fun foe and the Tree of Might itself is an interesting concept that Super Dragon Ball Heroes has done a lot with after the fact. One of the biggest reasons that The Tree of Might deserves more respect is that it’s the only movie to feature all the original Z-Fighters — Piccolo, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu — and allows them to help Goku out in the grand battle. On top of compelling action sequences that give everyone something to do, there’s also a powerful environmental message at The Tree of Might’s core that makes it far more than just a collection of ferocious fights.
7 Broly – Second Coming Brings Back Its Burly Saiyan Brawler For Another Round
Release Date: March 12, 1994
Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan is one of Dragon Ball Z’s most successful cinematic endeavors. Its sequel, Broly – Second Coming, generates a lot of the same goodwill, but it’s regarded to be a step backwards from its predecessor. It’s easy to denigrate Broly – Second Coming as a retread of the first movie. However, there’s a strong case to be made for why it’s just as good as the original, if not even better, because of its unique approach to the character and who is involved in this adventure. The biggest difference between these two movies is that Broly – Second Coming removes Goku and Vegeta from the equation and instead lets Gohan do a lot of the heavy lifting.
The film’s climax, where Super Saiyan 2 Gohan gives his all against Legendary Super Saiyan Broly, arguably tops the heights of the previous film. Furthermore, the Family Kamehameha that ends the movie is a better conclusion and easily one of the franchise’s most cathartic moments. It’s also just nice to have Videl in the mix. She’s woefully overpowered by Broly, but the danger that she experiences is an effective way to bring out Gohan’s killer instinct.
6 Super Android 13! Unleashes A Trio Of Evil Androids On The Saiyans
Release Date: July 11, 1992
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Killer cyborgs have been a running concern in each Dragon Ball series and this threat reaches a fever pitch in Dragon Ball Z when Dr. Gero activates several evil Androids and launches his diabolical plan with Cell. Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! returns to this idea and brings three more artificial humans into the world – Androids 13, 14, and 15 – who are activated by Dr. Gero’s supercomputer. These Androids are designed to kill Goku, which is a solid premise for a movie, but this malevolent trio aren’t nearly as powerful or compelling as Androids 16, 17, and 18.
Super Android 13! still stands out for being the first Dragon Ball Z movie that features Future Trunks, who is responsible for some of the movie’s best scenes. It’s also satisfying to see Dragon Ball Z evolve into a more Saiyan-centric story structure that celebrates Goku, Vegeta, and Future Trunks, each of whom has their own Android target. This is another Dragon Ball Z movie where the animation really goes above and beyond and the final setpiece between Goku and Super Android 13 is genuinely beautiful. The whole Spirit Bomb Super Saiyan spectacle that Goku experiences is also an underrated concept that doesn’t get enough attention.
5 Cooler’s Revenge Introduces Frieza’s Evil Brother To Great Success
Release Date: July 20, 1991
Cooler is another popular Dragon Ball Z movie villain who is nearly on par with Broly and the only other antagonist to receive a sequel to his evil exploits. Cooler’s Revenge isn’t a disliked Dragon Ball Z movie. However, the issue is that many fans will defer to its sequel, The Return of Cooler, because it’s the first Dragon Ball Z movie that features Vegeta and it tells a bigger story that puts the Saiyan duo up against a whole army of cybernetic enemies. Fans’ fascination with Meta-Cooler is understandable, but it does a disservice to his introduction movie, which is a better film in many respects.
There’s a more personal quality to Cooler in Cooler’s Revenge. The animosity that Cooler exhibits towards Goku is intense, but his resentment towards his deceased brother, Frieza, is even stronger. There’s a raw intensity to Cooler’s battle against Goku, not to mention the glorious visuals that complement this conflict. Cooler’s Armored Squadron are also severely underrated supporting enemies who are on par with the Ginyu Force. They help highlight how deadly Piccolo can be when he’s pushed into a corner.
4 Dead Zone Goes For Broke With An Immortal Enemy With Delusions Of Grandeur
Release Date: July 15, 1989
It’s inevitable that Dragon Ball Z’s first movie would be heavy in flaws. It features a simplified cast, Goku doesn’t have any of his signature techniques that he learns in the series, and it’s technically set before Dragon Ball Z’s first episode when Goku and Piccolo are still enemies. However, there’s still plenty to appreciate in Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone and how it strips its story down to barebones elements for maximum effect.
Dead Zone beautifully foreshadows Gohan’s inner potential and it’s the only film in the franchise that remembers that Kami is actually a capable martial artist who knows how to defend himself. The demon designs for Garlic Jr.’s lackeys are frightening and effective, too. It’s surprisingly common for Dragon Ball Z movie villains to successfully make a wish on the Dragon Balls, but Dead Zone stands out for the fact that Garlic Jr. actually acquires immortality. Dead Zone gets picked on a lot as a Dragon Ball Z movie, but this tight 41-minute does a better job with the material than the anime’s ten-episode Garlic Jr. Saga.
3 Lord Slug Highlights The Horrors Of A Nefarious Namekian Antagonist
Release Date: March 9, 1991
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Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug is frequently referred to as the franchise’s messiest movie. It admittedly can’t compete with Dragon Ball Z’s best efforts, but it definitely receives more hate than it deserves and it doesn’t get enough credit for its exploration of some compelling ideas. Lord Slug’s greatest asset is that its titular villain is an evil Namekian, which is something that doesn’t happen nearly enough in the franchise.
Lord Slug cycles through all the Namekian’s signature techniques, like gigantification, regeneration, and the malleable Demon Hand ability, all of which highlight the genuine threat of a Namekian antagonist. There’s some creative outside the box thinking when it comes to Lord Slug’s defeat and it’s appreciated that Piccolo really gets to take the lead in this adventure. Lord Slug’s agenda to block out the sun, freeze the planet, and terraform Earth into a new spaceship is also a unique mission that goes beyond the standard villainy that’s present in Dragon Ball Z’s movie antagonists.
2 Bojack Unbound Puts Gohan In The Spotlight As He Leads The Charge Against Some Excellent Enemies
Release Date: July 10, 1993
Bojack Unbound isn’t an unpopular Dragon Ball Z movie, but it’s not often brought up as anyone’s favorite film in the franchise, which is a shame. Bojack Unbound is one of two Dragon Ball Z films that makes Gohan their main character, since they’re set during Goku’s extended stay in Other World following his death against Cell. Martial arts tournaments are par for the course in Dragon Ball and Bojack Unbound begins under the inauspicious circumstances of the Intergalactic World Tournament.
However, this playful competition is invaded by genuine threats – Bojack and his Galaxy Soldiers – who are some of the most creative and memorable villains to come out of Dragon Ball Z movies. Bojack, Kogu, Zangya, Bido, and Bujin all stand out, plus any opportunity for Super Saiyan 2 Gohan strength is an exciting celebration. Bojack Unbound is an underrated Gohan showcase, but it also understands how to celebrate Dragon Ball Z‘s other overlooked players. Future Trunks, Piccolo, Krillin, and even Tien all hold their own against their brutal space pirates.
1 The World’s Strongest Is A Scintillating Sci-Fi & Action Hybrid That Slips Through The Cracks
Release Date: March 10, 1990
The first handful of Dragon Ball Z movies are viewed as entertaining diversions, but they’re not given the same respect as the franchise’s later films. The World’s Strongest is the series’ second movie and it pushes Dragon Ball Z’s shonen theatrics into campy science fiction territory. Dr. Kochin uses the Dragon Balls to revive his leader, Dr. Wheelo, from an icy prison. However, Wheelo’s body has been decimated and all that’s left is his giant brain. Goku, Piccolo, Master Roshi, Krillin, and Gohan find themselves in a tense situation where they’re all potential vessels for Dr. Wheelo’s brain as he searches for the perfect host body. Meanwhile, Dr. Wheelo makes due as a giant mecha, which leads to some exaggerated visuals and one of the series’ most interesting battles.
The World’s Strongest really showcases the power of Goku’s Kaio-Ken Attack and Spirit Bomb, both of which were recent developments around the time of The World’s Strongest’s release. This movie also gives Master Roshi a ton to do and his fights against the Bio-Men, along with Piccolo’s encounters, are just as satisfying as Goku’s battles. The icy terrain and sinister laboratory that make up The World’s Strongest’s environments also facilitate some exceptional battle choreography. Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest is such a passionate early entry for the franchise that’s not talked about nearly as much as it deserves.