Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball Watch Order

Dragon Ball → Dragon Ball Z Kai (not the original Z — Kai cuts the filler) → Dragon Ball Super. Movies and GT are optional.

Updated April 17, 2026

Viewing order

  1. 1

    Dragon Ball

    TV1986· 153 epsRequired

    Goku's childhood. Establishes the entire franchise.

  2. 2

    Dragon Ball Z Kai

    TV2009· 98 epsRequired

    Recommended over the original DBZ — Kai cuts filler and matches the manga pacing.

  3. 3

    Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters

    TV2014· 61 epsRequired

    Buu saga, Kai version.

  4. 4

    Dragon Ball Super

    TV2015· 131 epsRequired

    Canon sequel. Weak start; hits peak at the Tournament of Power.

  5. 5

    Dragon Ball Super: Broly

    Movie2018Required

    Canon movie — retcons Broly into canon.

  6. 6

    Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero

    Movie2022Required

    Canon sequel movie — focuses on Gohan and Piccolo.

  7. 7

    Dragon Ball Daima

    TV2024· 20 epsOptional

    Side-story Toriyama arc set between Buu and Super. Optional.

  8. 8

    Dragon Ball GT

    TV1996· 64 epsOptional

    Non-canon sequel. Some fans love it, most skip it now that Super exists.

Dragon Ball's watch order is simpler than its reputation suggests — the confusion is "Z vs Kai" and "GT vs Super." Dragon Ball Z Kai re-cuts DBZ to remove filler and pad-frames, matching the manga pacing. It's the recommended way to watch Z in 2026 unless you specifically want the nostalgia. Dragon Ball GT is non-canon and was replaced in canon by Dragon Ball Super. Most of the classic Dragon Ball / Z movies are non-canon one-offs and can be skipped; the only canon movies are Battle of Gods, Resurrection F (both adapted into Super), Broly, and Super Hero.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kai. It cuts hundreds of episodes of filler and re-paces the story to match the manga. Original Z has ~40% filler; Kai has almost none.