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Quick Answer

  1. Dragon Ball(TV · 153 eps)
  2. Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies(Movie · 1 eps)
  3. Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle(Movie · 1 eps)
  4. Dragon Ball Z(TV · 291 eps)
  5. Dragon Ball GT(TV · 64 eps)
  6. Dragon Ball: The Path to Power(Movie · 1 eps)
  7. Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy(Special · 1 eps)
  8. ...and 37 more below

Total: ~909 episodes / 364h watch time

Dragon Ball Watch Order(2026)

Wondering where to start with Dragon Ball? There are 44 entries total. The order below follows release dates, which is usually the safest way to go for a first watch.

44 entries ~364h total9 series21 movies8 OVA/specials

Full Watch Order (Release Order)

4
Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Z

8.21TV291 eps~116h1989Toei Animation
Finished Airing

Tips for First-Timers

What you can skip

Most Z/GT movies and Heroes are non-canon — only Broly and Super Hero matter for Super's continuity

Common mistake

Starting with Super or GT without watching Dragon Ball or Z first

Short on time?

Watch Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z (or Kai), and Dragon Ball Super

Start Watching Dragon Ball

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best order to watch Dragon Ball?

Release order. Start with Dragon Ball and go down the list. This is how the creators intended the story to unfold — later entries build on what came before, and watching out of order can spoil key reveals.

How long does it take to watch all of Dragon Ball?

About 364 hours total across 909 episodes and 44 entries. At 3-4 episodes per day, that's roughly 260 days.

Can I skip the movies and OVAs?

It depends. Recap movies are always safe to skip — they just compress the TV episodes. Original movies and OVAs range from "fun side stories" to "actually important for the plot." When you're unsure, just watch them where they fall in the list above. Better to have extra context than miss something.

Release order or chronological order?

Go with release order for your first time through. Chronological can be tempting, but shows are written with release order in mind — reveals hit harder and character arcs make more sense. Save chronological for a rewatch if you want a different perspective.

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