Dragon Ball Z (1996)

Action · Adventure · Animation

Now happily married and with a son, martial arts champion Goku must defend Earth from a series of extraterrestrial invaders bent on destruction.

IMDb rating: 8.8 (181,507 votes)
Episode average: 7.8 -1.0 vs IMDb
Seasons: 16
Streaming (US): Crunchyroll
Language: JA
Type: TV series

Rating trend: this show's seasons do not settle into one shape. Rising Shows ranks whole shows by the shape of their rating trend rather than one average score, which is how you find a show that got better rather than a show that started well.

Browse shows by rating shape → Open in Rising Shows app → View on IMDb

Ratings refreshed Oct 3, 2026 · 16 seasons indexed

Cast

Seasons

Season 1 (1996)

7.96 avg 26 episodes 7.8 → 8.6 24 min avg

Rebound

Season 1 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	The Arrival of Raditz	7.8	1,783
2	The World's Strongest Team	8.0	1,507
3	Gohan's Hidden Powers	8.1	1,435
4	Goku's Unusual Journey	8.2	1,435
5	Gohan's Metamorphosis	7.8	1,298
6	Gohan Makes a Friend	7.5	1,260
7	Trouble on Arlia	7.5	1,256
8	Home for Infinite Losers	7.3	1,226
9	Princess Snake's Hospitality	7.4	1,223
10	Escape from Piccolo	7.3	1,204
11	Showdown in the Past	7.6	1,197
12	The End of Snake Way	7.8	1,206
13	A Fight Against Gravity... Catch Bubbles!	7.8	1,196
14	The Legend of the Saiyans	7.8	1,186
15	A Black Day for Planet Earth	8.0	1,226
16	The Battle Begins... Goku Where Are You?	7.9	1,225
17	The Saibamen Strike	8.0	1,210
18	Nappa... The Invincible?	8.1	1,262
19	Tien Goes All Out!!	8.2	1,219
20	Time's Up!	8.0	1,217
21	The Return of Goku	8.3	1,284
22	Goku Strikes Back	8.4	1,264
23	Goku vs. Vegeta... a Saiyan Duel!	8.8	1,666
24	Vegeta... Saiyan Style!	8.4	1,278
25	Stop Vegeta Now!	8.4	1,284
26	The Battle Ends	8.6	1,439

Season 2 (1997)

7.96 avg 27 episodes 7.6 → 8.8 24 min avg

Big finale

Season 2 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	A New Goal... Namek!	7.6	1,113
2	Journey to Namek	7.6	1,107
3	Friends or Foes?	7.3	1,093
4	Hunt for a Dragonball	7.6	1,089
5	Who's Who?!	7.7	1,085
6	Touchdown on Namek	8.0	1,129
7	Face-Off on Namek	8.0	1,152
8	The Ruthless Frieza	8.0	1,139
9	The Nameks Versus Frieza	8.2	1,156
10	Escape from Dodoria	8.1	1,155
11	Secrets Revealed	8.2	1,140
12	A Collision Course	8.0	1,103
13	Stay Away from Frieza	8.2	1,132
14	Zarbon Transformed	8.0	1,392
15	The Eldest Namek	8.1	1,118
16	Get Vegeta!	8.1	1,118
17	Vegeta Revived	8.1	1,116
18	A Heavy Burden	8.0	1,110
19	Immortality Denied	8.2	1,119
20	Big Trouble for Bulma	7.3	1,057
21	Scramble for the Dragon Balls!	7.3	1,054
22	Arrival of the Ginyu Force	8.1	1,093
23	Elite Fighters of the Universe... The Ginyu Force	8.0	1,075
24	Time Tricks and Body Binds	7.9	1,082
25	No Refuge from Recoome	8.1	1,139
26	Enter Goku	8.4	1,187
27	Goku... Super Saiyan?	8.8	1,476

Season 3 (1999)

8.06 avg 7 episodes 8.2 → 8.0 25 min avg

Season 3 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Ginyu Assault	8.2	1,203
2	Incredible Force!	8.1	1,182
3	Frieza Approaches	7.9	1,160
4	Goku is Ginyu and Ginyu is Goku	8.2	1,110
5	Calling the Eternal Dragon	7.9	1,076
6	Gohan, Defeat Your Dad!!	8.1	1,109
7	Captain Ginyu... The Frog	8.0	1,083

Season 4 (1999)

8.25 avg 33 episodes 7.9 → 8.1 24 min avg

Mid-peak

Season 4 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Password is Porunga	7.9	1,075
2	Piccolo's Return	8.1	1,076
3	The Fusion	8.1	1,083
4	Fighting Power: One Million??	8.3	1,143
5	Gohan Attacks	8.3	1,125
6	Piccolo the Super-Namek	8.2	968
7	Déjà vu	8.1	1,084
8	Frieza's Second Transformation	8.1	1,077
9	Another Transformation	8.3	1,086
10	Dende's Demise	8.0	1,071
11	The Renewed Goku	8.3	1,095
12	The End of Vegeta	8.9	1,564
13	The Ultimate Battle	8.3	1,200
14	Clash of the Super Powers	8.2	1,124
15	Frieza's Boast	7.8	1,081
16	Bold and Fearless	7.9	1,095
17	Embodiment of Fire	8.0	1,127
18	Trump Card	7.9	1,201
19	Keep the Chance Alive	8.0	1,173
20	Power of the Spirit	8.2	1,154
21	Transformed at Last	9.6	5,102
22	Explosion of Anger	8.8	1,576
23	Namek's Destruction	8.3	1,188
24	A Final Attack	8.3	1,166
25	Approaching Destruction	8.2	1,140
26	Gohan Returns	8.1	1,117
27	The Last Wish	8.1	1,096
28	Duel on a Vanishing Planet	8.3	1,173
29	Pathos of Frieza	8.4	1,166
30	Frieza Defeated!!	8.8	1,369
31	Mighty Blast of Rage	8.3	1,176
32	Namek's Explosion... Goku's End?	8.1	1,131
33	Goku's Alive!	8.1	1,112

Season 5 (2000)

7.43 avg 10 episodes 7.3 → 6.8 24 min avg

Bad finale

Season 5 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	The Heavens Tremble	7.3	1,014
2	Black Fog of Terror	7.5	1,020
3	Battle in Kami's Lookout	7.4	999
4	Fight with Piccolo	7.5	1,004
5	Call for Restoration	7.6	990
6	Suicidal Course	7.5	991
7	Extreme Measures	7.5	988
8	The World Awakens	7.5	989
9	Brief Chance for Victory	7.7	990
10	Krillin's Proposal	6.8	1,015

Season 6 (2000)

8.09 avg 8 episodes 8.1 → 7.5 24 min avg

Season 6 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Frieza's Counterattack	8.1	1,092
2	The Mysterious Youth	8.3	1,118
3	Another Super Saiyan?	8.9	1,530
4	Welcome Back Goku	8.3	1,078
5	Mystery Revealed	8.6	1,182
6	Goku's Special Technique	7.4	1,027
7	Z Warriors Prepare	7.6	1,013
8	Goku's Ordeal	7.5	1,074

Season 7 (2000)

7.90 avg 14 episodes 8.1 → 7.5 24 min avg

Season 7 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	The Androids Appear	8.1	1,041
2	A Handy Trick	8.1	1,035
3	Double Trouble for Goku	8.1	1,037
4	Upgrade to Super Saiyan	8.6	1,175
5	The Secret of Dr. Gero	8.3	1,080
6	More Androids?!	7.9	987
7	Follow Dr. Gero	7.8	972
8	Nightmare Comes True	7.8	983
9	Goku's Assassin	7.9	996
10	Deadly Beauty	8.0	1,052
11	No Match for the Androids	7.9	1,001
12	Last Ditch Effort	7.3	959
13	Closing In	7.3	962
14	Unwelcome Discovery	7.5	961

Season 8 (2000)

7.77 avg 13 episodes 7.6 → 8.0 24 min avg

Season 8 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Seized with Fear	7.6	985
2	The Reunion	7.7	966
3	Borrowed Powers	7.9	989
4	His Name Is Cell	7.8	973
5	Piccolo's Folly	7.6	956
6	Laboratory Basement	7.4	948
7	Our Hero Awakens	7.6	976
8	Time Chamber	7.5	967
9	The Monster Is Coming	7.9	970
10	He's Here	8.0	988
11	Up to Piccolo	8.0	980
12	Silent Warrior	8.0	982
13	Say Goodbye, 17	8.0	986

Season 9 (2000)

7.72 avg 13 episodes 8.1 → 7.4 24 min avg

Season 9 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Sacrifice	8.1	1,012
2	Saiyans Emerge	7.8	968
3	Super Vegeta	8.3	1,110
4	Bow to the Prince	8.1	1,028
5	Hour of Temptation	7.7	965
6	Krillin's Decision	7.6	961
7	The Last Defense	7.6	976
8	Cell Is Complete	7.6	1,012
9	Vegeta Must Pay	7.5	1,007
10	Trunks Ascends	7.6	1,010
11	Saving Throw	7.4	994
12	Ghosts from Tomorrow	7.6	1,004
13	The Cell Games	7.4	1,001

Season 10 (2000)

7.60 avg 29 episodes 7.0 → 8.0 24 min avg

Season 10 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	What Is the Tournament?	7.0	997
2	The Doomsday Broadcast	7.0	1,000
3	Meet Me in the Ring	7.2	1,002
4	No Worries Here	7.3	1,001
5	A Girl Named Lime	7.1	977
6	Memories of Gohan	6.9	987
7	A New Guardian	7.1	988
8	Dende's Dragon	7.3	974
9	The Puzzle of General Tao	7.1	961
10	The Games Begin	7.2	990
11	Losers Fight First	7.6	1,022
12	Goku vs. Cell	7.8	1,101
13	Cell's Bag of Tricks	7.5	1,031
14	No More Rules	7.7	1,030
15	The Fight Is Over	7.7	1,013
16	Faith in a Boy	7.7	1,009
17	Gohan's Plea	7.5	1,018
18	Android Explosion	7.9	1,004
19	Cell Juniors Attack!	8.0	1,071
20	The Unleashing	8.8	2,220
21	The Unstoppable Gohan	8.3	1,123
22	Cell's Break Down	8.1	1,042
23	A Hero's Farewell	8.4	1,133
24	Cell Returns!	7.3	1,044
25	The Horror Won't End	7.3	1,067
26	Save the World	8.4	1,311
27	Goku's Decision	7.8	1,022
28	One More Wish	7.4	984
29	Free the Future	8.0	1,043

Season 11 (2001)

7.38 avg 15 episodes 8.0 → 7.6 24 min avg

Season 11 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Warriors of the Dead	8.0	986
2	Tournament Begins	7.5	932
3	Water Fight	7.6	937
4	Final Round	7.8	938
5	Goku vs. Pikkon	8.0	971
6	Gohan Goes to High School	7.3	979
7	I Am Saiyaman	7.1	960
8	Gohan's First Date	6.5	952
9	Rescue Videl	6.9	940
10	Blackmail	7.0	935
11	I'll Fight Too!	7.0	960
12	The Newest Super Saiyan	7.3	950
13	Take Flight Videl	7.2	940
14	Gather for the Tournament	7.9	958
15	Camera Shy	7.6	933

Season 12 (2001)

7.73 avg 10 episodes 7.7 → 8.0 24 min avg

Rebound

Season 12 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	The World Tournament	7.7	945
2	Trunks vs. Goten	7.5	940
3	Best of the Boys	7.4	935
4	Big Trouble, Little Trunks	7.2	942
5	Who Will Fight Who?	7.7	941
6	Forfeit of Piccolo	7.6	932
7	A Dark and Secret Power	8.1	978
8	Videl Is Crushed	8.3	1,006
9	Identities Revealed	7.8	942
10	Energy Drain	8.0	954

Season 13 (2001)

7.93 avg 12 episodes 7.9 → 7.9 24 min avg

Season 13 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	The Wizard's Curse	7.9	957
2	King of the Demons	7.9	951
3	Vegeta Attacks	8.1	1,001
4	Next Up, Goku	7.8	972
5	Battle Supreme	7.2	940
6	Eighteen Unmasks	7.3	931
7	Pay to Win	7.6	937
8	Heart of a Villain	8.0	970
9	The Dark Prince Returns	8.3	1,115
10	Vegeta's Pride	8.7	1,403
11	The Long Awaited Fight	8.5	1,205
12	Magical Ball of Buu	7.9	972

Season 14 (2001)

7.75 avg 22 episodes 7.7 → 8.1 24 min avg

Season 14 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Buu Is Hatched	7.7	945
2	The Losses Begin	7.9	956
3	The Terror of Mr. Buu	7.8	957
4	Meal Time	8.0	972
5	The Warrior's Decision	8.3	1,055
6	Final Atonement	9.5	3,031
7	Evil Lives On	7.9	963
8	Find the Dragon Balls	7.5	959
9	Revival	7.4	942
10	Global Announcement	7.5	941
11	Learn to Fuse!	7.2	951
12	The Z Sword	7.4	945
13	Race to Capsule Corp.	7.4	949
14	Super Saiyan 3?!	8.3	1,123
15	Buu's Mutiny	8.0	982
16	The Fusion Dance	7.1	960
17	Goku's Time Is Up	7.6	964
18	Return to the Other World	7.4	957
19	Out from the Broken Sword	7.4	945
20	Gotenks Is Born	7.3	969
21	Unlikely Friendship	7.9	976
22	I Kill No More	8.1	994

Season 15 (2002)

7.45 avg 22 episodes 8.2 → 7.2 24 min avg

Season 15 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	The Evil of Men	8.2	1,017
2	Buu Against Buu	8.2	994
3	Empty Planet	7.6	966
4	Time Struggle	7.3	963
5	Super Moves of Gotenks	7.2	979
6	Trapped in Forever	7.6	975
7	Feeding Frenzy	7.7	973
8	Gotenks Is Awesome	7.0	988
9	Unlucky Break	7.3	990
10	A Whole New Gohan	8.1	1,032
11	Search for Survivors	7.7	974
12	Majin Buu Transforms	7.8	970
13	The Old Kai's Weapon	7.7	961
14	Ready to Fuse?	7.4	960
15	Union of Rivals	7.8	1,011
16	Meet Vegito	7.6	1,094
17	Rip in the Universe	7.5	1,006
18	Vegito... Downsized	6.9	1,018
19	The Incredible Fighting Candy	6.7	1,013
20	The Innards of Buu	6.8	971
21	Mind Trap	6.6	967
22	Deadly Vision	7.2	965

Season 16 (2002)

7.70 avg 16 episodes 7.6 → 7.1 24 min avg

Mid-peak

Season 16 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Evil Kid Buu	7.6	1,019
2	End of Earth	7.9	1,018
3	True Saiyans Fight Alone	7.8	1,003
4	Battle for the Universe Begins	7.8	993
5	Vegeta's Respect	8.5	1,211
6	Minute of Desperation	7.9	1,015
7	Old Buu Emerges	7.8	975
8	Earth Reborn	7.7	975
9	Call to Action	7.6	990
10	People of Earth Unite	8.1	1,035
11	Spirit Bomb Triumphant	8.5	1,277
12	Celebrations with Majin Buu	7.6	986
13	He's Always Late	7.4	981
14	Granddaughter Pan	6.8	1,004
15	Buu's Reincarnation	7.1	973
16	Goku's Next Journey	7.1	1,128