Dragon Ball isn’t just a staple of shōnen: it’s one of the cornerstones of anime. It’s been a foundation of the art form since it was first released in 1986, and nearly 40 years later, it’s still going strong. From Dragon Ball, to Dragon Ball Z, to Dragon Ball GT, to Dragon Ball Super, to the most recent Dragon Ball DAIMA, there’s still plenty of story to tell.
With all the iterations of Dragon Ball, it can be hard to tally just how much time exists within the canon and lesser-canon of the franchise. There are three series in the main timeline, one series that supposedly exists in the main timeline, and one series that doesn’t whatsoever.
There are also over 20 movies and specials, making it difficult for a new Dragon Ball fan to find their way into the series. Dragon Ball might take a while to watch, but there’s no doubt that it’s absolutely worth it.
How Many Episodes of Dragon Ball Are There?
Gohan with a red line in the background during his transformation into Super Saiyan 2 in Dragon Ball Z.
Dragon Ball can seem like a complicated show to try and get into with the various iterations of the hit franchise, but it isn’t too hard to understand. The franchise started with the original Dragon Ball back in 1986. It starred Goku as a child with a tail on Earth and detailed his adventures as a young martial artist looking for the titular Dragon Balls.
Dragon Ball Z is the most well-known series of the franchise and exploded the series’ popularity in America. It’s twice as long as Dragon Ball and the longest series in the franchise. Dragon Ball Z was the series that saw Goku turn Super Saiyan for the first time, a transformation now known as the most famous in the entire art form.
After Dragon Ball Z came Dragon Ball GT, a series often regarded as the absolute worst in the franchise. Then came Dragon Ball Z Kai, a version of Dragon Ball Z that looked to make the series more succinct at nearly 100 fewer episodes in total.
Series
Number of Episodes
Dragon Ball
153
Dragon Ball Z
291
Dragon Ball Z Kai
197
Dragon Ball GT
65
Dragon Ball Super
131
Super Dragon Ball Heroes
50
Dragon Ball DAIMA
20
How Long Will It Take to Watch Dragon Ball?
Counting every iteration of Dragon Ball, including Super Dragon Ball Heroes and the most recent entry into the franchise, Dragon Ball DAIMA, there are exactly 907 episodes of Dragon Ball to watch. At an average of 25 minutes an episode, that’s 22,675 minutes, or 377.92 hours, or 15.75 days.
There are plenty of different ways to watch Dragon Ball depending on where you want to start, but there are more than enough episodes for a healthy binge.
How Many Dragon Ball Movies are There?
Super Saiyan Goku smiling in Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
Dragon Ball has a ton of movies to watch, and some of them are spectacular. The most recent Dragon Ball Super films, Broly and Super Hero, are easily some of the best anime movies in general. Most Dragon Ball films aren’t canon. They’re fun side adventures that don’t take place in the main timeline, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth watching.
The most recent films, including Broly and Super Hero, are canon, and they’re definitely worth watching. Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ are also canon.
Outside the films, there are a handful of Dragon Ball specials that are somewhere between a full-length movie and a normal episode. These include the unreal Episode of Trunks and the two Bardock movies that put Goku’s mysterious father front and center.
Movie Name
Release Date
Runtime
Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
1986
50 Minutes
Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle
1987
45 Minutes
Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure
1988
46 Minutes
Dragon Ball: The Path to Power
1996
80 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone
1989
42 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest
1990
58 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might
1990
65 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug
1991
52 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge
1991
47 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler
1992
46 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13!
1992
46 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan
1993
72 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound
1993
51 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming
1994
52 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly
1994
46 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn
1995
52 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon
1995
52 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods
2013
85 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’
2015
94 Minutes
Dragon Ball Super: Broly
2018
100 Minutes
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
2022
99 Minutes
Special Name
Release Date
Runtime
Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father of Goku
1990
48 Minutes
Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks
1993
48 Minutes
Dragon Ball GT: A Hero’s Legacy
1997
46 Minutes
Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!!
2009
35 Minutes
Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock
2011
20 Minutes
Dream 9 Toriko x One Piece x Dragon Ball Z Super Collaboration Special!!
2013
46 Minutes
Is Dragon Ball Worth Watching?
Dragon Ball didn’t become one of the world’s most popular media properties out of nowhere. It’s one of the best stories in the world, and after nearly 1,000 episodes, it still has plenty more to show off. Goku, Vegeta, and the rest of the characters in the series are some of the most entertaining in shōnen, and they bring a lot of energy to the series.
It’s no understatement to say that Dragon Ball is a massive franchise. With more than 20 movies and close to 1,000 episodes, it’s one of the longest-running anime franchises ever created. Because it’s so big, it can feel a little intimidating to get into, but it doesn’t have to be.
There are three main ways to watch Dragon Ball: for the hardcore fans, start with the original Dragon Ball series and continue the series from there. For those who don’t want to watch the 80s animation and want something more recent, check out Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super.
Finally, for those who want to consume Dragon Ball as quickly as possible to see if they like, check out Dragon Ball Z Kai. There’s a good argument to be had that the original Dragon Ball Z is better than the updated version, but the new version does have nearly 100 fewer episodes, making it an easier watching experience for fans who want to binge it quickly.
No matter how you choose to binge Dragon Ball, it’s one of the best anime ever created, and it has defined several generations through awesome storytelling, amazing characters, and some of the best fights ever televised.
Created by
Akira Toriyama
Latest TV Show
Super Dragon Ball Heroes
First Episode Air Date
April 26, 1989