The Dragon Ball franchise is over 30 years old, which is why we felt the need to create a Dragon Ball Watch Order Guide. There's a lot to consider before diving into this shonen anime, so we wrote this primer to help even die-hard fans ease their friends into it.The series follows Goku, a superpowered being on Earth, as he defends the planet from various threats such as androids and alien invaders. It revolves around the titular Dragon Balls, seven magic balls that can grant any wish if gathered together.Since the story spans three, technically four with GT, series, and multiple movies, this Dragon Ball watch order guide will detail everything needed as to what to watch and when.Dragon Ball watch order guide: watch order, filler list, movie list, OVAs, and TV specialsThere are roughly two ways to experience Dragon Ball: the straightforward way involves watching the entire series from the original Ball to Super or this way. The latter ensures that the audience follows the canon and has plenty of time to catch up on the series before it returns in 2023.If any potential fans want to skip the massive amount of filler in DBZ, this Dragon Ball watch order guide suggests watching in the following order:DB, all episodesDBZ Kai, until the end of the Frieza Saga.DBZ: Bardock — The Father of Goku (TV Special)DBZ Kai, from the end of the Frieza Saga to the Cell Saga.DBZ: The History of Trunks (TV Special)DBZ Kai, the Cell Saga until the end of the Majin Buu Saga.DB Super, all episodes barring the adaptation of Ressurection F as the events are better told in the movie.Dragon Ball Watch Order method 2: watching all official Dragon Ball material in Chronological orderDragon Ball Z@dragonballzThe time has arrived! The entire Dragon Ball Z English dub is now available on @Crunchyroll! Start your rewatch: got.cr/watchdbz-tw6069767The time has arrived! The entire Dragon Ball Z English dub is now available on @Crunchyroll! 🐉Start your rewatch: got.cr/watchdbz-tw https://t.co/OR7zvQVApQIf the previous method seems too simple and hardcore fans want to include all of the movies and filler episodes, this Dragon Ball watch guide is the way to go. According to Mangaka Akira Toriyama, this means that movies are not generally considered canon to the overall series.This part of the watch order guide will fully list all of the watchable content with asterisks denoting non-canon material, should viewers want a more complete experience.Dragon BallCurse of the Blood Rubies* (movie)Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle* (movie)Mystical Adventure* (movie)The Path to Power (movie)DBZ: Dead Zone* (movie)DBZ episodes 1-86DBZ: Bardock — The Father of Goku (TV Special)DBZ episodes 87-107Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock* (movie)DBZ: The World’s Strongest* (movie)DBZ: The Tree of Might* (movie)DBZ: Lord Slug* (movie)DBZ episodes 108-123DBZ: The History of Trunks (TV Special)DBZ episodes 124 and 125DBZ: Cooler’s Revenge* (movie)DBZ episodes 126-146DBZ: Super Android 13* (movie)DBZ episodes 147-173DBZ: The Return of Cooler* (movie)DBZ: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan* (movie)DBZ to episodes 174-194DBZ: Bojack Unbound* (movie)DBZ episodes 195-207DBZ: Broly’s Second Coming* (movie)DBZ episodes 208-250DBZ: Bio-Broly* (movie)DBZ episodes 251-253DBZ: Fusion Reborn* (movie)DBZ episodes 254-288DBZ: Wrath of the Dragon* (movie)DBZ episodes 289-finishDB GT, all episodes*DB Super episodes 1-3DBZ: Battle of Gods (movie)DB Super episodes 4-18DB Z: Resurrection F* (movie) - Recommend watching F and skipping the associated episodes.DB Super episode 19-finishDB Super: Broly (movie)DB Super: Super Hero (movie)Super DB Heroes*Filler listDragon Ball:Episode 30: Pilaf and the Mystery ForceEpisode 31: Wedding Plans?Episode 32: The Flying Fortress - Vanished!Episode 33: The Legend of a DragonEpisode 45: Danger in the AirEpisode 79: Terror and PlagueEpisode 80: Goku vs. Sky DragonEpisode 81: Goku Goes to Demon LandEpisode 82: The Rampage of InoShikaChoEpisode 83: Which Way To Papaya Island?Episode 127: Quicker than LightningEpisode 128: Secret of the WoodsEpisode 129: The Time Room Episode 130: Goku's DollEpisode 131: Walking Their Own WaysEpisode 132: Hotter than LavaEpisode 149: Dress in FlamesEpisode 150: The Fire-EaterEpisode 151: Outrageous OctagonEpisode 152: Mystery of the Dark WorldEpisode 153: The End, The BeginningDBZ:Episode 9: The Strangest RobotEpisode 10: A New FriendEpisode 12: Global TrainingEpisode 13: Goz and MezEpisode 14: Princess SnakeEpisode 15: Dueling Piccolos Episode 16: Plight of the ChildrenEpisode 39: Friends or Foes?Episode 40: Held CaptiveEpisode 41: Look Out BelowEpisode 42: The Search ContinuesEpisode 43: A Friendly SurpriseEpisode 100: Gohan ReturnsEpisode 102: Duel on a Vanishing PlanetEpisode 108: The Heavens TrembleEpisode 109: Black Fog of Terror Episode 110: Battle in Kami's LookoutEpisode111: Fight With PiccoloEpisode 112: Call For Restoration Episode 113: Suicidal CourseEpisode 114: Extreme MeasuresEpisode 115: The World AwakensEpisode 116L Brief Chance for VictoryEpisode 117: Krillin's ProposalEpisode 124: Z Warriors PrepareEpisode 125: Goku's OrdealEpisode 170: A Girl Named Lime Episode 171: Memories of GohanEpisode 174: The Puzzle of General Tao Episode 195: Warriors of the Dead Episode 196: Tournament BeginsEpisode 197: Water FightEpisode 198: Final RoundEpisode 199: Goku vs. PikkonEpisode 202: Gohan's First DateEpisode 203: Rescue VidelEpisode 274: Mind TrapEpisode 288: He's Always LateDBZ Kai:Episode 101: Videl's Crisis? Gohan's Urgent Call-out!Episode 145: Peace Returns! A Time of Rest for the Warriors!DB Super:Episode 4: Aim for the Dragon Balls! Pilaf Gang in Action! Episode 15: Make a Miracle, Satan the Hero! A Challenge from Outer SpaceEpisode 42: Trouble at the Victory Celebration! Showdown at Last?! Monaka vs. Son GokuEpisode 43: Goku's 'Ki' is Out of Control?! Looking After Pan is A Lot of TroubleEpisode 44: Seal of Planet Potofu - Secret of the Superhuman Water is UnleashedEpisode 45: Vegeta Disappears?! The Threat Of Duplicated Vegeta!Episode 46: Goku vs. Duplicated Vegeta! Who's Gonna Win?!Episode 68: Come Forth, Shenron! Whose Wish Will Be Granted?!Episode 69: Goku vs Arale! A Ridiculous Battle Will End The Earth?! Episode 70: Champa's Challenge! This Time We Fight With Baseball! Episode 73: Gohan's Misfortune! An Unexpected Great Saiyaman Movie?! Episode 74: For the Ones He Loves! The Unbeatable Great Saiyaman!!Episode 75: Goku and Krillin Back to the Old Training GroundsEpisode 76: Defeat These Terrifying Enemies! Krillin's Fighting Spirit Returns!On a general note, Dragon Ball GT is an anime-only series and thus all its episodes are technically considered filler in that they don't have a manga counterpart. Thus, it's best to consider GT a separate canon and/or a spin-off series.Movie listDB:Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986)Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle (1987)Mystical Adventure (1988)The Path to Power (1996)DBZ:Dead Zone (1989)The World's Strongest (1990)The Tree of Might (1990)Lord Slug (1991)Cooler's Revenge (1991)The Return of Cooler (1992)Super Android 13! (1992)Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993)Bojack Unbound (1993)Broly – Second Coming (1994)Bio-Broly (1994)Fusion Reborn (1995)Wrath of the Dragon (1995)DB Super:Battle of Gods (2013)Ressurection F (2015)Broly (2018)Super Hero (2022)OVAsOVA 1: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans/Super Saiyans (1993/2010)OVA 2:Yo! Son Goku and Friends Return!!/Dragon Ball: The Return of Son Goku and Friends! (2008)OVA 3: Episode of Bardock/Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock (2011)TV SpecialsDBZ: Special 1: Bardock - The Father of Goku (1990)Special 2: Movie Overview Special (1992)Special 3:The History of Trunks (1993)Special 4: Looking Back at it All: The Dragon Ball Z Year-End Show! (1993)Crossover Special: Dream 9 Toriko & One Piece & Dragon Ball Z Super Collaboration Special (2013)DB GT special:A Hero's Legacy (1997)DB Super specials:This is the Ultimate Battle in all the Universes! Son Goku vs Jiren!!* (2017)*As part of DB Super episodes 109 and 110, this aired as a one-hour special to promote the debut of Ultra Instinct Sign.History of Japan (2017)Right Before the Dragon Ball Super Movie Debuts! Looking Back on the TV Show's Climax (2018)Dragon Ball plot synopsisAs Dragon Ball comes first, this watch order guide suggests that series first. The first series begins with a young monkey-tailed boy named Goku befriending a teenage girl named Bulma after nearly being run over by her. Together, they journey to locate the seven mystical Dragon Balls. These balls have the ability to summon the powerful eternal dragon Shenron, who can grant whoever summons him one wish.By DBZ, Goku and Bulma have both grown up. Goku is married and has a son named Gohan. But when Gohan is kidnapped by Goku's supposed brother Raditz, Goku has to jump into action with former enemy Piccolo to save his son. It only gets crazier from there.By Super, Goku is now enjoying a somewhat peaceful life. Then the god of destruction Beerus shows up looking for a Super Saiyan God. Goku turns out to be that God and enters a whole new chapter of fighting, time travel, and tournaments, deciding the fate of the multiverse!Be sure to follow us for all anime and manga news.