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For a first-time viewer, watch Dragon Ball, then choose Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Z Kai, followed by Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO, and Dragon Ball DAIMA. Watch Dragon Ball GT separately as an optional post-Z continuation. If you want strict story chronology, place DAIMA between Z or Kai and Super; for most viewers, release-oriented order is easier.
This guide covers the anime television series and animated films. It separates the main modern route from older movies and promotional material, which prevents a first viewing from becoming a confusing mix of overlapping or alternate continuities.
The recommended Dragon Ball watch order
This is the best first-time route through the major Dragon Ball anime series and modern films:
- Dragon Ball — 153 episodes
- Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Z Kai — choose one
- Dragon Ball Super — 131 episodes
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly — 2018 film
- Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO — 2022 film
- Dragon Ball DAIMA — watch here for release-oriented viewing
Optional: Watch Dragon Ball GT after Z or Kai as a separate post-Z continuation. The older Z-era movies, The Path to Power, and Super Dragon Ball Heroes are also optional and should not interrupt the main route on a first viewing.
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| Order | Title | Format | Why it belongs here |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dragon Ball | TV series | Introduces Goku, Bulma, the Dragon Balls, the martial-arts world, and the core cast. |
| 2 | Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Z Kai | TV series | Continues the story into the Z era. Kai is the streamlined option; Z is the original broadcast experience. |
| 3 | Dragon Ball Super | TV series | Begins the modern continuation and covers the events that lead into the later films. |
| 4 | Dragon Ball Super: Broly | Film | Expands the modern Super-era story and introduces its version of Broly. |
| 5 | Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO | Film | Follows the Super-era status quo established by the series and Broly. |
| 6 | Dragon Ball DAIMA | TV series | It was produced later and is easiest to approach after the rest of the modern anime route, even though its story occurs earlier. |
The episode counts and historical dates below follow official Toei Animation listings. The placement of the major films follows the official Dragon Ball chronology, while DAIMA’s in-universe position is stated in Crunchyroll’s official release announcement.
1. Start with Dragon Ball
Begin with the original Dragon Ball anime, not Z. It follows Goku as a child and establishes his relationships with Bulma, Krillin, Master Roshi, and the rest of the principal cast. It also introduces the Dragon Balls, the tournament structure, the series’ martial-arts setting, and concepts that later seasons assume you already understand.
Toei lists the original series at 153 episodes, originally broadcast from February 24, 1986, through April 19, 1989. Its comedy, adventure, and tournament storytelling are different from the more battle-focused Z era, but that change is part of the franchise’s intended progression.
Starting with Z is possible, especially if you first encountered Dragon Ball through English-language television, but it removes much of the context behind Goku’s friendships and the significance of the early adventures. For a first viewing, the complete original series is the right starting point.
2. Choose Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Z Kai
After the original series, choose one version of the Z storyline:
- Dragon Ball Z: the original broadcast production, listed by Toei at 291 episodes. It originally aired from April 26, 1989, through January 31, 1996.
- Dragon Ball Z Kai: a recut presentation of the same central Z story, designed to move at a more streamlined pace and reduce much of the padding associated with the original broadcast.
Which version should you watch?
Choose Kai if you want the most efficient first pass through the Z storyline, less filler, and pacing that is generally closer to the manga’s core narrative. Choose Z if you want the original broadcast identity, its longer pacing, and the version that defined the experience for many longtime fans.
Neither choice changes what you watch next. Once you finish either version, continue with Dragon Ball Super. Watching Z and Kai back-to-back is usually unnecessary because they cover the same main era; save the other version for a later comparison if you want to experience both edits.
3. Continue with Dragon Ball Super
Watch the 131-episode Dragon Ball Super television series after Z or Kai. This begins the modern continuation of the franchise and supplies the background needed for the two Super-era films.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe opening portion of Super revisits the events of Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F in television form. That gives you two valid ways to handle these films:
- Simplest route: watch all of Dragon Ball Super and treat the two films as optional alternate presentations of the opening material.
- Film-first route: watch Battle of Gods and Resurrection F first, then begin Super after the television series’ overlapping adaptations. An episode guide can identify the point at which the non-overlapping material begins.
For a first-time viewer, watching the complete television series is less confusing. If you prefer the films’ pacing and presentation, watching both films before Super is also reasonable, but avoid treating the same opening events as completely new story material twice.
4. Watch Dragon Ball Super: Broly
Watch Dragon Ball Super: Broly after completing the Super television series. The official chronology lists it as a 2018 release.
This is the modern Super-era version of Broly. It is distinct from the older Z-era Broly films, which belong to the optional historical movie catalog. The newer film connects Goku, Vegeta, Frieza, Cheelai, Lemo, and Gogeta to the modern storyline, so it makes more sense after you have completed Super’s setup.
Do not insert the original Broly trilogy before this film. The older movies can be watched separately after Z or Kai, but they are not prerequisites for understanding the 2018 film.
5. Follow it with Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO
Next, watch Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO, the 2022 film in the official chronology.
It belongs to the same modern film continuity as Dragon Ball Super: Broly and works best after the Super television series. Watching it earlier can expose you to character developments, transformations, and relationships before the surrounding story has established them.
For the cleanest modern route, the sequence is therefore:
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- Dragon Ball Super: Broly
- Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO
6. Watch Dragon Ball DAIMA
For release-oriented viewing, finish with Dragon Ball DAIMA. The series began broadcasting in 2024 and was produced after the Super-era anime and films, so placing it last lets the franchise develop in the order audiences encountered its major modern entries.
DAIMA has an important chronology wrinkle: its story is set one year after Dragon Ball Z and before Dragon Ball Super. That makes it a later-produced story set earlier in the in-universe timeline. It can function as a pre-Super adventure chronologically, but watching it after Super is usually the smoother first-time experience.
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For viewers who prefer physical ownership, the Dragon Ball DAIMA Blu-ray is another option. Crunchyroll announced a North American release for August 11, 2026; availability and edition details should be checked against the current retailer listing because that date is region-specific.
Release order versus strict story chronology
Best order for most first-time viewers
- Dragon Ball
- Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Z Kai
- Dragon Ball Super
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly
- Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO
- Dragon Ball DAIMA
This route follows the major production eras, avoids unnecessary backtracking, and keeps the modern Super storyline together.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallStrict in-universe order for the main modern route
- Dragon Ball
- Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Z Kai
- Dragon Ball DAIMA
- Dragon Ball Super
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly
- Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO
Choose this version if the date on the fictional timeline matters more to you than the order in which the anime was made. The trade-off is that DAIMA is a newer production being used as an earlier chapter, so its tone and presentation may feel like a detour before Super rather than a natural continuation of Z.
Where Dragon Ball GT fits
Dragon Ball GT is an optional post-Z continuation. Toei lists it at 64 episodes, originally broadcast from February 7, 1996, through November 19, 1997.
It is not required preparation for Dragon Ball Super, Broly, SUPER HERO, or DAIMA. Treat it as its own branch rather than trying to place it inside the modern Super storyline.
A viewer who wants to include it can use this order:
- Dragon Ball
- Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Z Kai
- Dragon Ball GT
- Dragon Ball Super
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly
- Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO
- Dragon Ball DAIMA
Alternatively, save GT until after the modern route so that it does not interrupt the transition from Z into Super. Both approaches are valid because GT is an optional separate continuation, not a required bridge between the main series.
Where the older Dragon Ball movies fit
The older Z-era theatrical movies—including the original Broly trilogy, the Cooler films, Garlic Jr. material, and other releases made alongside Z—are best treated as optional side stories. They are valuable if you want the franchise’s complete historical film catalog, but they should not be inserted into the main first-time route as though every film were a required chapter.
For a completionist viewing, watch them approximately alongside the Z era by release date. That preserves their historical context but creates continuity questions because many were designed as standalone theatrical adventures and do not fit cleanly between specific television episodes.
For most viewers, the better plan is to finish Z or Kai first, then sample the older movies separately. This also makes the distinction between the older films and the modern Dragon Ball Super: Broly clear.
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Other optional anime material
Dragon Ball: The Path to Power
Dragon Ball: The Path to Power is an anniversary-style retelling of the beginning of the original Dragon Ball story. Watch it after completing the 153-episode series, or save it for a later retrospective. It is not a substitute for the full original anime.
Super Dragon Ball Heroes
Super Dragon Ball Heroes is promotional and alternate-continuity material built around large battles, crossover-style scenarios, and fan-service matchups. It is not needed to understand the primary route in this guide. Watch it only after becoming familiar with the main series and films, and approach it as an optional promotional anime rather than the next canonical chapter.
Where to stream the franchise
Streaming availability changes by country, date, language track, and licensing arrangement. Do not assume that one service carrying one Dragon Ball series also carries every series, film, special, dub, or subtitle option.
Crunchyroll has official pages for Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and Dragon Ball DAIMA, and it has announced the addition of the original Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball GT in its catalog. It is therefore a sensible first place to watch Dragon Ball on Crunchyroll, but its catalog should still be checked title by title before subscribing. A service page may also show a film as a separate rental or purchase rather than including it with the subscription.
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Before starting, verify:
- Whether the service is available in your country or region.
- Whether the listing is included with a subscription or requires a separate purchase or rental.
- Whether the exact version is available: original Z, Kai, Japanese audio, English dub, subtitles, or another language track.
- Whether the films are included, since film licensing can differ from television-series licensing.
For legal viewing, use the current official listings from licensed services and retailers. Catalogs can change after this guide is published.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Physical ownership options
Physical media is useful when you want a dependable copy of a long series and do not want your watch order interrupted by changing streaming licenses.
The official Crunchyroll Store lists a Dragon Ball Z complete Blu-ray set as a 36-disc, Region A collection containing episodes 1–291. It covers the original Dragon Ball Z series only—not the original Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Super, GT, the films, or the entire franchise. Check your player’s regional compatibility before buying, and verify current stock and pricing with the retailer.
Crunchyroll also lists Dragon Ball DAIMA: The Complete Season on Blu-ray. The announced North American release date is August 11, 2026, so readers outside North America should confirm their local release schedule and edition.
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The shortest sensible plan
If you want one uncomplicated checklist, use this:
- Watch all 153 episodes of Dragon Ball.
- Watch either all 291 episodes of Dragon Ball Z or the streamlined Dragon Ball Z Kai.
- Watch all 131 episodes of Dragon Ball Super.
- Watch Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
- Watch Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO.
- Watch Dragon Ball DAIMA.
- Return for Dragon Ball GT, the older Z movies, The Path to Power, and Super Dragon Ball Heroes only if you want the optional material.
Using the original Z rather than Kai, the three main pre-DAIMA television series total 575 episodes before counting films or DAIMA. That is why choosing one Z version—and postponing optional material—is the most practical way to begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I watch Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Z Kai?
No. Watch Dragon Ball Z if you want the original 291-episode broadcast experience, or choose Dragon Ball Z Kai for a more streamlined version of the same central story. Watching both on a first pass is usually unnecessary.
Do I need to watch Dragon Ball GT before Super?
No. GT is an optional post-Z continuation and is not needed to understand Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball Super: Broly, SUPER HERO, or DAIMA. Watch it after Z or Kai if you want a separate Dragon Ball adventure.
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For release-oriented viewing, watch DAIMA after SUPER HERO. In the in-universe timeline, DAIMA is set one year after Z and before Dragon Ball Super. Both orders are valid, but release order is usually better for a first viewing.
Where do the old Dragon Ball Z movies fit?
They are optional side stories. The older Broly trilogy and other Z-era films were made alongside the television series and do not all fit cleanly into its continuity. Finish Z or Kai first, then watch the older films separately if you want the historical catalog.
Can I watch the entire Dragon Ball franchise on one streaming service?
Not reliably. Services license different series, films, cuts, dubs, and subtitles separately, and catalogs vary by country and date. Check each title’s current official listing before subscribing or assuming the full franchise is available.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Watch Dragon Ball, then choose Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Z Kai, continue with Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO, and finally Dragon Ball DAIMA. Add Dragon Ball GT and the older movies separately. Move DAIMA between Z/Kai and Super only if you want strict in-universe chronology.
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