For more detailed information on the Dragon Ball Z movies, be sure to visit the “Movie Guide” on this site. There, you’ll find in-depth information such as the original Japanese titles, fully translated cast and crew listings, theme songs, and more!
In August 2009, listings for new versions of Dragon Ball Z movie 1 and Dragon Ball Z movie 2 appeared on Amazon with a low price point ($9.98) and cover art mirroring single-disc releases for the Bardock and Trunks TV specials. These appear to be break-outs from the “Double Feature” versions, despite FUNimation announcing their acquisition of “Dragon Box” prints for the 13 Dragon Ball Z movies. In September 2009, online listings for these two movies indicated that they may have been canceled; indeed, the products never actually made it to store shelves.
Individual Disc Releases
FUNimation originally produced the first three Dragon Ball Z movies in conjunction with Pioneer Home Entertainment (who also handled the home distribution of the movies). These first three movies (released slightly out of order: 1, 3, 2) contain the original Japanese score on their English dubs. Pioneer’s (now Geneon’s) rights have since expired, reverting back to FUNimation. In order to maintain consistency with their “Ultimate Uncut Edition” initative for the first two seasons of Dragon Ball Z, FUNimation created a re-release of these three movies, including their own, new, completely re-dubbed English track (which does not feature the original Japanese score, or a faithful dialogue translation). They continue to feature an unedited Japanese language track, however. After re-releasing Dragon Ball Z movie 1 on its own in 2005, FUNimation released a box set entitled “First Strike” in November 2006 that contained the re-releases of the first three movies; the re-releases of Dragon Ball Z movie 2 & 3 cannot be purchased separately from this box set.
Movies 4 onwards have been released directly from FUNimation, themselves, from the start. Movies 4, 5, 8 and 9 contain a score in the English dub by “real” American bands, as opposed to the original Japanese score (or a score by Mark Menza, who handled movies 6 and 7, and later the GT TV series). The original Japanese versions, however, remain fully intact on all unedited releases. Be aware that there are also edited, English Dubbed Only releases of movies 4-9.
Movie 4’s opening theme is put before the prologue, a mistake which was corrected in future movie releases.
The opening themes of the movies follow the TV series’ animation sequences. Dragon Ball Z movie 1 contains the original, first animation sequence for “Cha-La Head-Cha-La,” while movie 2 uses the second animation sequence. Movie 3 is actually the only Dragon Ball Z movie to have its own, new animation produced for the opening theme (it showcases Gohan and friends gathering the Dragon Balls). Movies 4-5 contain the 2nd animation, and 6-9 the third animation (all “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA”). Movies 10-12 use “We Gotta Power” as their opening theme (which has only one animation sequence). Movie 13 has no opening theme.
For the TV and English-dubbed home video releases, there are some slight differences. The TV broadcasts of movies 1-3 used “Rock the Dragon” as the opening theme (with the same animations as the edited TV show). The TV versions of movies 4 and 5 (as well as the two TV Specials) no longer have music from “real” American bands, going with more generic background music. On the dub side of home releases, movies 4-5 use Bruce Faulconer’s untitled theme (with a slightly-edited 2nd “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA” animation). Movies 6, 7, and 9 use Mark Menza’s untitled theme), while movie 8 uses a version of Bruce Faulconer’s theme performed by the Ft. Worth, Texas-based band, Tendril. Both are set to the entirety of the 3rd animation (also “Cha-La Head-Cha-La”).
PIDA-1336V
Dragon Ball Z Movie #1 – “Dead Zone”
- 09 December 1997
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FN-02274
Dragon Ball Z Movie #1 – “Dead Zone”
- 31 May 2005
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
PIDA-0123V
Dragon Ball Z Movie #2 – “The World’s Strongest”
- 26 May 1998
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FN-02275
Dragon Ball Z Movie #2 – “The World’s Strongest”
- 14 November 2006
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
PIDA-0110V
Dragon Ball Z Movie #3 – “The Tree of Might”
- 17 March 1998
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FN-02276
Dragon Ball Z Movie #3 – “Tree of Might”
- 14 November 2006
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FP-03073
Dragon Ball Z Movie #4 – “Lord Slug”
- 07 August 2001
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FP-03075
Dragon Ball Z Movie #5 – “Cooler’s Revenge”
- 22 January 2002
- Released
- English / Spanish / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FP-03077
Dragon Ball Z Movie #6 – “The Return of Cooler”
- 13 August 2002
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FP-03079
Dragon Ball Z Movie #7 – “Super Android 13!”
- 04 February 2003
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FN-03081
Dragon Ball Z Movie #8 – “Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan”
- 26 August 2003
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FN-03812
Dragon Ball Z Movie #9 – “Bojack Unbound”
- 17 August 2004
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FN-03832
Dragon Ball Z Movie #10 – “Broly: Second Coming”
- 05 April 2005
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FN-03872
Dragon Ball Z Movie #11 – “Bio-Broly”
- 13 September 2005
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FN-03876
Dragon Ball Z Movie #12 – “Fusion Reborn”
- 28 March 2006
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FN-03878
Dragon Ball Z Movie #13 – “Wrath of the Dragon”
- 12 September 2006
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
Box Set Releases (Original DVD Versions)
11601
Dragon Ball Z Movie #1, #2, & #3
- 09 October 2001
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FN-03858
Dragon Ball Z Movie #1, #2, & #3 – “First Strike”
- 14 November 2006
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FP-03093
Dragon Ball Z Movie #4, #5, & #6
- 15 October 2002
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
FN-03856
Dragon Ball Z Movie #8, #10, & #11 – “Broly: Triple Threat”
- 12 September 2006
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 4:3 Standard / Uncut
- Format
Remastered Double-Feature Releases (DVD)
Continuing onwards with the success of their Dragon Ball Z TV season sets, FUNimation’s “remastered” Dragon Ball Z movies saw their release to DVD (as well as Blu-ray, seen below) beginning in May 2008, taking the place of the previous releases (though Dragon Ball Z movies 8 & 10 were released as a “Broly Double-Feature” previously on Blu-ray, seemingly as a test run for the format). Touted as a complete remastering, this release was produced in a (cropped) widescreen presentation with a “remastering” process by Video Post & Transfer in Texas. Of note is the inclusion of a new audio track, featuring FUNimation’s traditional voice track (with minor line alterations where appropriate) played alongside the original Japanese musical score (which was previously only available as an option in the 1997-1998 DVD releases of Dragon Ball Z movies 1, 2, & 3 in conjunction with Pioneer).
Within these new “remastered” releases, FUNimation chose to package Dragon Ball Z movies 7 and 9 together, creating the first chronological inconsistency of this style of release to date. The three Broli movies (8, 10, and 11) saw a combined release, similar to to the Broly – Triple Threat release of the past.
FN-05014
Dragon Ball Z Movies #1 & #2
- 27 May 2008
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format
FN-05015
Dragon Ball Z Movies #3 & #4
- 16 September 2008
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format
FN-05016
Dragon Ball Z Movies #5 & #6
- 11 November 2008
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format
FN-05017
Dragon Ball Z Movies #7 & #9
- 10 February 2009
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format
FN-05018
Dragon Ball Z Movies #8, #10, & #11
- 31 March 2009
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format
FN-05019
Dragon Ball Z Movies #12 & #13
- 19 May 2009
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format
Remastered Double-Feature Releases (Blu-ray)
FN-03861
Dragon Ball Z Movies #8 & #10
- 13 November 2007
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format
FN-05034
Dragon Ball Z Movies #1 & #2
- 27 May 2008
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format
FN-03862
Dragon Ball Z Movies #3 & #4
- 16 September 2008
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format
FN-03865
Dragon Ball Z Movies #5 & #6
- 11 November 2008
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format
FN-03866
Dragon Ball Z Movies #7 & #9
- 10 February 2009
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format
FN-03867
Dragon Ball Z Movies #8, #10, & #11
- 31 March 2009
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format
FN-03868
Dragon Ball Z Movies #12 & #13
- 19 May 2009
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format
Box Set Releases (Remastered DVD Versions)
In August 2011, listings for repackaged box sets of the movies began to appear online. Despite a timed release immediately following the Dragon Box masters of the TV series, FUNimation confirmed that these packs would be re-releases of their own prior masters, and not Dragon Box versions of the movies.
FN-08886
Dragon Ball Z Movie Collection One
- 11 November 2011
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format
FN-08887
Dragon Ball Z Movie Collection Two
- 06 December 2011
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format
FN-08888
Dragon Ball Z Movie Collection Three
- 03 January 2012
- Released
- English / Japanese
- Dialogue
- 16:9 Widescreen / Uncut
- Format