How to watch Dragon Ball in order

Main story (release order)

1. 1
   Dragon BallTV series · 1986 · 153 ep.
2. 2
   Dragon Ball ZTV series · 1989 · 291 ep.
3. 3
   Dragon Ball GTTV series · 1996 · 64 ep.
4. 4
   Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy (Dragon Ball GT: Goku Gaiden! Yuuki no Akashi wa Suushinchuu)Special · 1997 · 1 ep.
5. 5
   Dragon Ball Z Kai (Dragon Ball Kai)TV series · 2009 · 97 ep.
6. 6
   Dragon Ball Z Kai: Bring Peace to the Future! Goku's Spirit is Eternal (Dragon Ball Kai: Mirai ni Heiwa wo! Goku no Tamashii yo Eien ni)Special · 2011 · 1 ep.
7. 7
   Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters (Dragon Ball Kai (2014))TV series · 2014 · 69 ep.
8. 8
   Dragon Ball SuperTV series · 2015 · 131 ep.
9. 9
   Dragon Ball Super: BrolyMovie · 2018
10. 10
    Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO (Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero)Movie · 2022
11. 11
    Dragon Ball DAIMATV series · 2024 · 20 ep.
12. 12
    Dragon Ball Super: BeerusTV series · 2026 · 19 ep.

Specials, films & side stories (optional)

These aren't needed to follow the main plot. Watch them after the series they come from (by date).

• Dragon Ball Movie 1: Curse of the Blood Rubies (Dragon Ball Movie 1: Shen Long no Densetsu)Movie · 1986 · Alternative version
• Dragon Ball Movie 2: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle (Dragon Ball Movie 2: Majinjou no Nemuri Hime)Movie · 1987 · Alternative version
• Dragon Ball SpecialsSpecial · 1988 · 2 ep. · Spin-off
• Dragon Ball Movie 3: Mystical Adventure (Dragon Ball Movie 3: Makafushigi Daibouken)Movie · 1988 · Alternative version
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 01: The Dead Zone (Dragon Ball Z Movie 01: Ora no Gohan wo Kaese!!)Movie · 1989 · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 02: The World's Strongest (Dragon Ball Z Movie 02: Kono Yo de Ichiban Tsuyoi Yatsu)Movie · 1990 · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 03: The Tree of Might (Dragon Ball Z Movie 03: Chikyuu Marugoto Choukessen)Movie · 1990 · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z Special 1: Bardock (Dragon Ball Z Special 1: Tatta Hitori no Saishuu Kessen)Special · 1990 · 1 ep. · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 04: Lord Slug (Dragon Ball Z Movie 04: Super Saiyajin da Son Gokuu)Movie · 1991 · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 05: Cooler's Revenge (Dragon Ball Z Movie 05: Tobikkiri no Saikyou tai Saikyou)Movie · 1991 · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z: Atsumare! Gokuu WorldOVA · 1992 · 1 ep. · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 06: The Return of Cooler (Dragon Ball Z Movie 06: Gekitotsu!! 100-oku Power no Senshi-tachi)Movie · 1992 · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 07: Super Android 13 (Dragon Ball Z Movie 07: Kyokugen Battle!! Sandai Super Saiyajin)Movie · 1992 · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z Special 2: The History of Trunks (Dragon Ball Z Special 2: Zetsubou e no Hankou!! Nokosareta Chousenshi - Gohan to Trunks)Special · 1993 · 1 ep. · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 08: Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan (Dragon Ball Z Movie 08: Moetsukiro!! Nessen, Ressen, Chougekisen)Movie · 1993 · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 09: Bojack Unbound (Dragon Ball Z Movie 09: Ginga Girigiri!! Bucchigiri no Sugoi Yatsu)Movie · 1993 · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans (Dragon Ball Z: Saiya-jin Zetsumetsu Keikaku)OVA · 1993 · 2 ep. · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z: Zenbu Misemasu Toshi Wasure Dragon Ball Z!Special · 1993 · 1 ep. · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 10: Broly - Second Coming (Dragon Ball Z Movie 10: Kiken na Futari! Super Senshi wa Nemurenai)Movie · 1994 · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 11: Bio-Broly (Dragon Ball Z Movie 11: Super Senshi Gekiha!! Katsu no wa Ore da)Movie · 1994 · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 12: Fusion Reborn (Dragon Ball Z Movie 12: Fukkatsu no Fusion!! Gokuu to Vegeta)Movie · 1995 · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 13: Wrath of the Dragon (Dragon Ball Z Movie 13: Ryuuken Bakuhatsu!! Goku ga Yaraneba Dare ga Yaru)Movie · 1995 · Side story
• Dragon Ball Movie 4: The Path to Power (Dragon Ball Movie 4: Saikyou e no Michi)Movie · 1996 · Alternative version
• Dragon Ball: Yo! The Return of Son-Goku and Friends!! (Dragon Ball: Ossu! Kaettekita Son Gokuu to Nakama-tachi!!)Special · 2008 · 1 ep. · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z: Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans (Dragon Ball: Super Saiya-jin Zetsumetsu Keikaku)OVA · 2010 · 1 ep. · Side story
• Dragon Ball: Episode of BardockSpecial · 2011 · 1 ep. · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (Dragon Ball Z Movie 14: Kami to Kami)Movie · 2013 · Side story
• Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' (Dragon Ball Z Movie 15: Fukkatsu no F)Movie · 2015 · Side story
• Nissin Cup Noodles x Dragon Ball ZSpecial · 2015 · 1 ep.
• Super Dragon Ball HeroesWeb series · 2018 · 56 ep. · Spin-off
• Dragon Ball Super: Broly - Skytree SuperSpecial · 2018 · 1 ep. · Side story

Recaps (skippable)

• The World of Dragon Ball ZOVA · 2000 · 1 ep. · Recap
• Dragon Ball GT: A Grand ProblemSpecial · 2003 · 1 ep. · Recap

Order and relationships from Kitsu's media-relationship data (sequel / prequel / side story), dates and episode counts as listed there; checked 2026-11-15. Release order is the safest first-watch order.