While Dragon Ball Z is famous for its long, sprawling anime series, the franchise also produced released theatrically in Japan between 1989 and 1995. Unlike the main series, these movies are non-canon —they don’t fit into the main timeline. Instead, they act as “what-if” side stories, parallel adventures, or condensed remixes of major arcs.
Dragon Ball Z run, in their release order: Dead Zone (1989): A prequel where Garlic Jr. seeks immortality. The World's Strongest (1990): Dr. Wheelo attempts to steal the world's strongest body. The Tree of Might (1990): An evil Saiyan look-alike, Turles, plants a life-draining tree. Lord Slug (1991): An ancient, wicked Namekian attempts to terraform Earth. Cooler's Revenge (1991): Frieza’s brother arrives on Earth seeking vengeance. The Return of Cooler (1992): Cooler returns as a metallic army on New Namek. Super Android 13! (1992): Three new Androids are activated to kill Goku. Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993): The debut of the unstoppable Saiyan powerhouse. Bojack Unbound (1993): Set after the Cell Games, Gohan must defend Earth from space pirates. Broly – Second Coming (1994): Broly returns to terrorize Gohan, Goten, and Trunks. Bio-Broly (1994): A clone of Broly is accidentally unleashed as a slime monster. Fusion Reborn (1995): Janemba breaks Hell, forcing Goku and Vegeta to fuse into Gogeta. Wrath of the Dragon (1995): The origin of Trunks' sword and the giant monster Hirudegarn. Show more The Modern "Canon" Films While the original 13 are "side stories," the modern movies written by Akira Toriyama are considered official continuations of the story: 10 sites Akira Toriyama saw the Dragon Ball movies as separate from ... Sep 12, 2025 —
. Most are non-canon "what-if" side stories that don't fit perfectly into the main timeline. Essential DBZ Movie Guide dragonball z movies
For years, fans have debated where these films fit into the timeline. Traditionally, the first 13 films are considered —they exist in "alternate dimensions" or as "what-if" scenarios. Many of them contain continuity errors that make it impossible for them to happen in the main series (for example, Goku and Vegeta being dead at the same time Gohan is on Earth in Fusion Reborn ). Facebook·The Anime Nerds District 👺 Everything is canon in own timelines - Facebook
: A dark, emotional look at Future Trunks' apocalyptic timeline. Fusion Reborn While Dragon Ball Z is famous for its
If you're looking for the best entry points or the most "canon-adjacent" content, these are the top recommendations: Bardock – The Father of Goku
The Dragon Ball Z (DBZ) movie franchise is a cornerstone of modern anime cinema. Spanning over three decades, these films have evolved from low-budget weekly theatrical shorts to global blockbuster events. While originally designed as supplemental "side stories" to the main anime series, the franchise shifted in the 2010s to become canonical continuations of the manga, significantly Dragon Ball Z run, in their release order:
The represent a high-octane, experimental corner of one of the world's most popular anime franchises. Between 1989 and 2015, Toei Animation released 15 theatrical films under the "Z" banner. These movies are famous for introducing legendary villains like Broly and Cooler , as well as showcasing iconic transformations and techniques that often never appeared in the main TV series. The Eternal Debate: Canon vs. Non-Canon
