Home Cinema 10 Most Underrated Dragon Ball Movies In The Entire Franchise, Ranked

10 Most Underrated Dragon Ball Movies In The Entire Franchise, Ranked

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10 Most Underrated Dragon Ball Movies In The Entire Franchise, Ranked


Movies in the Dragon Ball the franchises are sadly uneven in quality. For what they are, The dragon’s wrath And Battle of the Gods are quite spectacular, while Return of the cooler And Great Android 13! represent the worst of what the film series has to offer. Of course, no fandom is monolithic, and many episodes don’t have the reputation they should.

Dragon Ball films don’t always get the appreciation they deserve, especially not those that aren’t from the DBZ era. Original Dragon Ball films are often ignored, while Great films are among the most controversial. There are also a number of Dragon Ball Z films that receive far too much vitriol, especially in light of the praise lesser entries tend to receive.

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Table of Contents

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10

Bojack Unbound has a distinct identity and combat atmosphere

Gohan only plays the main role in one Dragon Ball Z movie

Unbound Bojack tends to be one of the most forgotten DBZ films. This can most likely be attributed to its forgettable villains, and it was released between the much more recognized versions. Broly movies. But even though Bojack and his pirate crew lack personality, the film surrounding them is full of it.

The first half of Unbound Bojack is nothing but fun, with its tournament setup allowing fans to spend some free time with Gohan between the Cell and Buu sagas for the first and only time. It also allows for battles in distinct, lovingly detailed locations, as well as an unexpected fight between Future Trunks and Tien Shinhan. While the final act of Bojack is formulaic, it’s the only time Gohan is able to defeat a film’s main villain on his own, and the power-up sequence that leads up to this is magnificent.

9

World’s Strongest is one of the best Dragon Ball Z movies

World’s Strongest is exceptionally original

Goku uses his Power Pole on Dr. Wheelo in Dragon Ball Z: World's Strongest.
Image via Toei Animation

The strongest in the world is notable for being one of the only Dragon Ball Z films with an essentially original story. While Dr. Wheelo’s attempt to acquire the body of the world’s greatest fighter isn’t the most gripping of plots, it is serviceable and sets up a number of excellent fights. More importantly, this allows Master Roshi to get in on the action for the only time in all Dragon Ball Z movie.

Because of when it’s settled, The strongest in the world is able to challenge Goku in creative ways that don’t just involve throwing powerful opponents at him. It also benefits from fantastic animation, making the most of the charming art style shared by the early DBZ films, and the Bio Warriors are one of the most entertaining groups of henchmen in the film series. The film is also notable for featuring Oolong, starting the trend of him spending much more screen time in the films than in the anime and giving him a strange but adorable friendship with Gohan.

8

Dragon Ball Super: Broly presented a controversial but beautiful version of the Dragon Ball story

Broly sports the best animation of any Dragon Ball movie

Super Saiyan God Vegeta fights back against Broly in Dragon Ball Super: Broly.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly was controversial even before its release. Between the canonization of Broly, the changes to the legendary Super Saiyan’s personality and the canonization of Goku’s reestablished origin since Dragon Ball Less, we understand why some people don’t like it. However, what some see as weaknesses, others may see as strengths, and it can’t be argued that it disregards its main selling point, the combat.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly is more of a visual spectacle than any other DB media. Although its artistic style may not appeal to everyone, Dragon Ball fights have never been so beautifuland the clashes between Goku, Vegeta, Frieza and Gogeta against Broly are all masterpieces of animation. And while Broly may not be the character fans remember, this version of him is infinitely more likable and endearing than the original War of All Time.

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7

The Curse of the Blood Ruby exudes palpable Dragon Ball charm

The curse of the blood rubies does not deserve the hatred it arouses

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Ruby Poster
Image via Toei Animation

Curse of the Blood Ruby was the first Dragon Ball film never produced. The movie is frequently criticized for wasting much of its running time recapping the events of the Pilaf sagaleaving little time for its original story. While this is a fair criticism, it’s not enough to rank it among the worst films in the series, as is so often the case.

Blood Curse Ruby offers much of the same humor and character interactions as the Pilaf saga, making it a quick alternative to a full replay of the arc. Its original plot isn’t bad at all, centering around a girl named Panzy and her quest to save her village from the cursed Gurumes kings. The final resolution is both creative and heartwarming, and the sequence is enhanced by lovely colors.

The Path to Power is a great way to relive the beginnings of Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball Movie Special Path to Power
Image via Toei Animation

The path to power is technically the only Dragon Ball GT film, but it is not based on DBZ controversial sequel at all. Rather, it is a story of Goku’s first adventures, mixing elements of the Pilaf Army and Red Ribbon sagas. While it doesn’t seem too special, the film does a lot to improve on its source material, even if it can feel rushed.

Dragon Ball has probably never been as beautiful as in The path to powerwith both the classic art style of the series and animation that lives up to the best of Dragon Ball Super. It also features details true to the manga, like Bulma’s purple hair, and wholesome interactions between Goku and his friends, including Eighter. The path to power also solves one of the Red Ribbon Army’s biggest problems, its anti-climax, by turning the final encounter between Goku and Staff Officer Black into an exciting, if equally short, battle.

5

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero excels for most of its runtime

The superhero is only spoiled by its finale

Fans don’t like Dragon Ball Super: Super Heroes for various reasons. Some find its art style and animation a significant step down from Brolyothers find the marginalization of Goku, Vegeta, and Broly frustrating, and there are also fans who object to the new transformations introduced and the way the final battle against Cell Max plays out. While it’s true that the film doesn’t look as good as its predecessor and the third act is exceptionally clunky, the absence of the typical protagonists is in fact one of the The superheroes many advantages.

Gohan and Piccolo are equally important to Dragon Ball like Goku and Vegeta, and since fans have also wanted better material for Pan for decades, the three more than deserved a movie for themselves. All of their interactions and detours throughout the first two-thirds of the film are delightful, and Gamma-1 and Gamma-2 are extremely fun antagonists to take on. The introductions of Beast Gohan, Orange Piccolo, and Cell Max are undoubtedly sloppy, especially the first, given Gohan’s lack of relevance to much of the story, but they are still beneficial for the future of the storyline .

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4

The Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle is the least derivative Dragon Ball movie

The Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle is the only original Dragon Ball film with an entirely original story

Lucifer blocks Goku's punch in Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle.
Image via Toei Animation

Princess sleeping in the devil’s castle is the awkward middle child of the original Dragon Ball cinematic trilogy. Taking place during Goku and Krillin’s training with Master Roshi, it is the only one of the first three films. not be used primarily to retell the events of the anime. But what it lacks in memorable iconography, it more than makes up for in atmosphere and laughs.

Chronicle of Goku and Krillin’s battle against the villain Lucifer, Princess sleeping in the devil’s castle features one of the strongest scores of any DB film, as well as the most distinct color palette. The art and music fit the campy horror vibe of the film perfectly, and even the story has a solid twist to keep it from being too simple. It’s also one of the funniest DB films, with many gags not present in the original anime, but which would fit in perfectly.

3

Mystical Adventure perfectly captures the spirit of the original series

Mystical Adventure learns from the mistakes of the Blood Ruby Curse

Dragon Ball Mystical Adventure - Goku and Arale
Image via Toei Animation

Even if it is not the best constructed film, there are few Dragon Ball films more entertaining than Mystical adventure. While Curse of the Blood Ruby suffered from recapping the events of the anime before telling its own story, Mystical adventure harmoniously blends its new and original elements into his account of the events of the Red Ribbon Army and the sagas of the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament. Its first two acts are perfectly paced and the climax, while strange, is oddly fitting to end this continuity.

Featuring a particularly vibrant color palette, Mystical adventure takes pleasure in taking familiar characters and placing them in new roles. Recasting Chiaotzu and Tien Shinhan as emperor and bodyguard works exceptionally well and allows for some truly emotional drama, while Upa and Bora can act as independent heroes, rather than just Goku’s allies. The film is hilarious, with tons of memorable gags, the most notable being Arale’s sudden entrance in the third act to help Goku beat the mercenary Tao.

2

Broly: Second Coming is a worthy sequel to Goku’s first fight with the legendary Super Saiyan

Videl, Goten and Trunks make a fun main trio

Goku, Gohan and Goten begin a family Kamehameha in Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming.
Image via Toei Animation

Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan is one of the most popular films in the entire series. On the other hand, its two sequels are generally placed among the franchise’s worst offerings. Even though it is true that Broly – Second Coming lacking in story and action compared to its predecessor, it makes up for that with its other merits.

Second Coming spends the first half of its run following the unusual trio of Goten, Trunks, and Videl, allowing for some charming interactions between them, and allowing Videl to gain the upper hand as they search for the Dragon Balls. The situation of the heroes stumbling upon a village performing human sacrifices and having to figure out what to do is an engaging hook, and it’s almost a shame when a mysteriously alive Broly shows up to spoil the drama. The fight between Broly and the upgraded kids lasts a little too long, but is redeemed by Gohan’s final battle against Broly and the iconography of the Kamehameha family.

1

Bio-Broly is the most unfairly hated Dragon Ball movie

Bio-Broly’s Reception Proves Fans Don’t Want Anything New From Dragon Ball

The last payment of Broly trilogy, Bio-Broly is a delightfully silly film with a unique cast of characters, an interesting setup, and well-animated action. Despite this, it is by far the least popular of the original 13. Dragon Ball Z movies. The most common criticisms of the film are that it is too juvenile and that it makes fun of Broly’s character, but Dragon Ball has always been juvenile, and Broly was never a character worthy of respect in the first place.

However Dragon Ball fans claim they want to see new ideas and stories about characters other than Goku, Bio-Broly proves that this is only true in theory. Goten, Trunks, Mr. Satan, Android 18, and Krillin make the most random team possible, but the way they interact with each other and the way their storylines collide are major treats. Bio-Broly may be ugly, but a slime monster isn’t automatically a worse design than an overly muscular brute, and the final battle against him has one of the highest production values ​​of any year 90. Dragon Ball battle.

  • The Dragon Ball Z cast, including characters such as Son Goku, Vegeta, and Piccolo, among others, walks toward the camera in the series' poster.

    Dragon Ball

    Dragon Ball tells the story of a young warrior named Son Goku, a peculiar young boy with a tail who embarks on a quest to become stronger and learns of the Dragon Balls, when once the 7 reunite , grants any wish of choice.

  • dragon-ball-z-1989.jpg

    With the help of the powerful Dragonballs, a team of fighters led by Saiyan warrior Goku defends planet Earth from alien enemies.

  • Dragon Ball GT TV Poster

    After Goku is turned back into a child by the Black Star Dragon Balls, he sets out on a journey to regain his former self.

  • Dragon Ball Super Poster

    With Majin Buu’s defeat six months prior, peace returns to Earth, where Son Goku (now a radish farmer) and his friends now lead peaceful lives.

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