Young Goku's adventures collecting Dragon Balls and training in martial arts.
The original series. More adventure-focused than Z.
Watch SeriesSimple Watch Order
Dragon Ball Watch Order - Complete Guide 2026
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The legendary martial arts saga following Goku from childhood to becoming one of the universe's greatest warriors. The series that defined the battle shounen genre.
639+Episodes
21Movies
1986-2024Years
Toei AnimationStudio
How do I watch Dragon Ball in order?
Watch Dragon Ball (γγ©γ΄γ³γγΌγ«) in release order, starting with Dragon Ball (1986, 153 episodes) and finishing with Dragon Ball GT (1996). This guide covers 9 entries β 4 essential to the main story and 5 optional side stories, spin-offs or recaps β released across 1986 to 2024. By format that is 5 TV series and 4 films, 639 episodes in all, roughly 250 hours of viewing, animated by Toei Animation. The essential run is Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball Super: Broly. It is a simple watch order: the entries follow one another with no branching. The numbered list underneath is the short version; the timeline after it gives every entry its year, episode count, essential-or-optional status and the notes that explain why. If you are working outwards from here, our Naruto, One Piece and Bleach watch orders cover the neighbouring franchises.
- Dragon Ball (1986)
- Dragon Ball Z (1989) or Dragon Ball Z Kai
- Dragon Ball Super (2015)
- Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022)
Complete Dragon Ball Watch Order
Follow this order for the best viewing experience. Entries marked as "Essential" are required for the main story.
1
2
Adult Goku defends Earth against increasingly powerful threats.
Has about 20% filler. Consider watching Kai instead.
Filler Episodes (click to expand)
9-17, 20, 39-44, 100-117, 125-127, 170-171, 195-199, 288-291
3
Remastered DBZ with filler removed and improved pacing.
ALTERNATIVE to DBZ. Better pacing, less filler. Includes Kai: The Final Chapters.
Watch Series4
Continuation set after the Buu Saga. Universe survival arcs.
Skip first 27 episodes if you watched Battle of Gods and Resurrection F movies.
Watch Series5
Goku faces Beerus, the God of Destruction. Canon.
Covered in Super episodes 1-14. Watch movie for better animation.
Watch Movie6
Frieza returns with new power. Canon.
Covered in Super episodes 15-27. Movie has superior animation.
Watch Movie7
Goku and Vegeta face the legendary Saiyan Broly. Canon.
Watch after Super episode 131. Incredible animation.
Watch Movie8
Gohan and Piccolo take center stage against the Red Ribbon Army.
Set after Broly. Uses 3D animation style.
Watch MovieFrequently Asked Questions
Should I watch Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Z Kai?
Kai is recommended for new viewers. It removes filler, has better pacing, and remastered audio. Z is for nostalgia or if you want the complete original experience.
Can I skip the original Dragon Ball?
You can start with Z/Kai, but the original Dragon Ball provides important backstory and is beloved in its own right. It's more adventure-comedy focused.
Is Dragon Ball GT worth watching?
GT is not canon and wasn't written by Toriyama. It has its fans but is generally considered the weakest series. Skip it unless you're a completionist.
What about Dragon Ball Super's early episodes?
Episodes 1-27 retell the Battle of Gods and Resurrection F movies with worse animation. Watch the movies instead, then start Super at episode 28.
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