How to Watch Dragon Ball in Order: The Definitive Watch Guide

One of the most popular and enduring series ever, Dragon Ball first debuted as a manga in 1984, ending in 1995. The first anime adaptation, Dragon Ball, began airing in 1986 with the series ending in 1989.

Dragon Ball is a fun series for those wanting to relive it, or for those new to the iconic series. It may also help connect a lot of the cultural crossovers and references in other series.

So this is the definitive guide to the Dragon Ball watching order (not Dragon Ball Z). The Dragon Ball watching order includes all movies – although, these aren’t necessarily canon – and all episodes including fillers. Movies will be inserted where they should be watched based for storyline consistency.

Below, you will find the full list, canon list, mixed canon list, and filler episode list for Dragon Ball. For reference, the Dragon Ball anime ends with chapter 194 of the manga, from which, chapter 195 becomes Dragon Ball Z.

How to watch Dragon Ball in order with movies

1. Dragon Ball (Season 1 “Emperor Pilaf Saga,” Episodes 1-13)
2. Dragon Ball (Season 2 “Tournament Saga,” Episodes 1-15 or 14-28)
3. Dragon Ball (Season 3 “Red Ribbon Army Saga,” Episodes 1-15 or 29-43)
4. Dragon Ball (Movie 1: “Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies”)
5. Dragon Ball (Season 3 “Red Ribbon Army Saga,” Episodes 16-17 or 44-45)
6. Dragon Ball (Season 4 “General Blue Saga,” Episodes 1-12 or 46-57)
7. Dragon Ball (Season 5 “Commander Red Saga,” Episodes 1-11 or 58-68)
8. Dragon Ball (Season 6 “Fortuneteller Baba and Training on the Road Saga,” Episodes 1-2 or 69-70)
9. Dragon Ball (Movie 2: “Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle”)
10. Dragon Ball (Season 6 “Fortuneteller Baba and Training on the Road Saga,” Episodes 3-14 or 71-82)
11. Dragon Ball (Season 7 “Tien Shinhan Saga,” Episodes 1-19 or 83-101)
12. Dragon Ball (Season 8 ” King Piccolo Saga,” Episodes 1-17 or 102-118)
13. Dragon Ball (Movie 3: “Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure”)
14. Dragon Ball (Season 8 “King Piccolo Saga,” Episodes 18-21 or 119-122)
15. Dragon Ball (Season 9, ” Heavenly Training and Piccolo Jr. Saga,” Episodes 1-31 or 123-153)
16. Dragon Ball (Movie 4: “The Path to Power”)

The list below will only include manga canon and mixed canon episodes. The list will remove fillers.

How to watch Dragon Ball in order with movies (without fillers)

1. Dragon Ball (Season 1 “Emperor Pilaf Saga,” Episodes 1-13)
2. Dragon Ball (Season 2 “Tournament Saga,” Episodes 1-15 or 14-28)
3. Dragon Ball (Season 3 “Red Ribbon Army Saga,” Episode 1 or 29)
4. Dragon Ball (Season 3 “Red Ribbon Army Saga,” Episodes 6-16 or 34-44)
5. Dragon Ball (Movie 1: “Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies”)
6. Dragon Ball (Season 4 “General Blue Saga,” Episodes 1-12 or 46-57)
7. Dragon Ball (Season 5 “Commander Red Saga,” Episodes 1-11 or 58-68)
8. Dragon Ball (Season 6 “Fortuneteller Baba and Training on the Road Saga,” Episodes 1-2 or 69-70)
9. Dragon Ball (Movie 2: “Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle”)
10. Dragon Ball (Season 6 “Fortuneteller Baba and Training on the Road Saga,” Episodes 3-10 or 71-78)
11. Dragon Ball (Season 7 “Tien Shinhan Saga,” Episodes 1-19 or 83-101)
12. Dragon Ball (Season 8 ” King Piccolo Saga,” Episodes 1-17 or 102-118)
13. Dragon Ball (Movie 3: “Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure”)
14. Dragon Ball (Season 8 “King Piccolo Saga,” Episodes 18-21 or 119-122)
15. Dragon Ball (Season 9, ” Heavenly Training and Piccolo Jr. Saga,” Episodes 1-4 or 123-126)
16. Dragon Ball (Season 9, ” Heavenly Training and Piccolo Jr. Saga,” Episodes 11-26 or 133-148)
17. Dragon Ball (Movie 4: “The Path to Power”)

The list below will be manga canon episodes only. Luckily, aside from fillers, there are only three mixed canon episodes.

Dragon Ball canon episodes list

1. Dragon Ball (Season 1 “Emperor Pilaf Saga,” Episodes 1-13)
2. Dragon Ball (Season 2 “Tournament Saga,” Episodes 1-15 or 14-28)
3. Dragon Ball (Season 3 “Red Ribbon Army Saga,” Episodes 6-13 or 34-41)
4. Dragon Ball (Season 3 “Red Ribbon Army Saga,” Episode 15 or 43)
5. Dragon Ball (Season 4 “General Blue Saga,” Episodes 1-12 or 46-57)
6. Dragon Ball (Season 5 “Commander Red Saga,” Episodes 1-11 or 58-68)
7. Dragon Ball (Season 6 “Fortuneteller Baba and Training on the Road Saga,” Episodes 1-10 or 69-78)
8. Dragon Ball (Season 7 “Tien Shinhan Saga,” Episodes 1-19 or 84-101)
9. Dragon Ball (Season 8 ” King Piccolo Saga,” Episodes 1-17 or 102-122)
10. Dragon Ball (Season 9, ” Heavenly Training and Piccolo Jr. Saga,” Episodes 1-4 or 123-126)
11. Dragon Ball (Season 9, ” Heavenly Training and Piccolo Jr. Saga,” Episodes 11-26 or 133-148)

With just the canon episodes, that drops the number of episodes to 129 of 153 episodes. With the relatively low number of fillers and mixed canon episodes, Dragon Ball makes for a streamlined viewing experience.

Dragon Ball watching order

1. Dragon Ball (1988-1989)
2. Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996)
3. Dragon Ball GT (1996-1997)
4. Dragon Ball Super (2015-2018)

It’s important to note that Dragon Ball GT is an anime-exclusive non-canonical story. It has no relation to the manga. Dragon Ball Super is the adaptation of Akira Toriyama’s sequel series of the same name, the ongoing manga beginning in 2015.

Dragon Ball movie order

1. “Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies” (1986)
2. “Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle” (1987)
3. “Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure” (1988)
4. “Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone” (1989)
5. “Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest” (1990)
6. “Dragon Ball Z: Tree of Might” (1990)
7. “Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug” (1991)
8. “Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge” (1991)
9. “Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler” (1992)
10. “Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13!” (1992)
11. “Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan” (1993)
12. “Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound” (1993)
13. “Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming” (1994)
14. “Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly” (1994)
15. “Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn” (1995)
16. “Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon” (1995)
17. “Dragon Ball: The Path to Power” (1996)
18. “Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods” (2013)
19. “Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F'” (2015)
20. “Dragon Ball Super: Broly” (2018)
21. “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero” (2022)

Note that the final Dragon Ball movie, “The Path to Power,” is a retelling of the Dragon Ball series.

The last two Dragon Ball Z movies actually set the stage for the first two seasons of Dragon Ball Super the anime. “Super Hero” is set to release in April 2022.

Below is a list of filler episodes for Dragon Ball should you want to view the fillers.

How to watch Dragon Ball fillers

1. Dragon Ball (Season 3 “Red Ribbon Army Saga,” Episodes 2-5 or 30-33)
2. Dragon Ball (Season 3 “Red Ribbon Army Saga,” Episode 17 or 45)
3. Dragon Ball (Season 6 “Fortuneteller Baba and Training on the Road Saga,” Episodes 11-14 or 79-82)
4. Dragon Ball (Season 7 “Tien Shinhan Saga,” Episode 1 or 83)
5. Dragon Ball (Season 9, ” Heavenly Training and Piccolo Jr. Saga,” Episodes 5-10 or 127-132)
6. Dragon Ball (Season 9, ” Heavenly Training and Piccolo Jr. Saga,” Episodes 27-31 or 149-153)

That’s only 21 filler episodes.

Can I skip Dragon Ball fillers?

As they’re filler episodes, yes, you can skip them all, though they do tend to be comedic.

Can I watch Dragon Ball Z without watching Dragon Ball?

Yes, for the most part. Dragon Ball Z focuses on new stories with many new characters, though many of the characters in Dragon Ball do play pivotal roles. Some of the backstory is mentioned, but not all. However, aside from the first main arc with Raditz, the events of Dragon Ball don’t play as pivotal a role in the story of Dragon Ball Z.

Can I watch Dragon Ball Super without watching Dragon Ball?

Yes, even more than Dragon Ball Z. The story in Dragon Ball Super is completely new with several new characters. The events of Dragon Ball have little bearing on the story of Dragon Ball Super aside from the presence of long-standing characters such as Goku, Piccolo, Muten Roshi, Krillin, and others.

How many episodes and seasons are there of Dragon Ball?

There are nine seasons with 153 total episodes. There are three mixed canon episodes and 21 filler episodes, bringing the canon episodes total to 129.

While not as fondly remembered as its sequel in Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball is what set the stage for the latter’s popularity. Relive the early events of favorites such as Goku, Bulma, Tao Pai Pai, “Jackie Chun,” and Piccolo!

If you’re searching for your next anime to binge, look no further: here is our Seven Deadly Sins watch guide for you!