Broly is a bit of a nightmare for the casual Dragon Ball fan. Honestly, he’s everywhere and nowhere all at once. If you’re trying to figure out what movie is Broly in, you have to first realize that there are actually two different guys with the same name. Basically, you have the 1990s powerhouse who was "non-canon" and the 2018 reboot who is officially part of the main story.
It’s messy.
If you’re just looking for the quick list, Broly appears in four standalone movies. He also has a weird cameo in the latest one.
The Original 90s Broly: The "Z" Era
In the 1990s, Toei Animation realized they had a hit on their hands. People loved a giant, screaming meathead who could toss Goku around like a ragdoll. This version of Broly—often called "Z Broly"—is a total psychopath. He doesn't have much of a motive other than hating Goku because Goku cried in the crib next to him when they were babies.
Yeah, it's kinda silly when you say it out loud.
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1. Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993)
This is the big one. This is the movie that started the cult following. In this film, Vegeta is lured to a "New Planet Vegeta" by Broly’s father, Paragas. It’s a trap, obviously. Broly eventually snaps, turns into a massive hulking beast with greenish-yellow hair, and beats the entire Z-Team into the dirt.
2. Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming (1994)
He didn’t die! Well, he did, but he came back. In this sequel, a frozen Broly wakes up on Earth after hearing the crying of Goten (who looks just like Goku). This movie is famous for the "Family Kamehameha" scene where Gohan, Goten, and a ghost-spirit-thing of Goku finally blast him into the sun.
3. Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly (1994)
Most fans try to pretend this one doesn't exist. It’s pretty bad. Scientists use a drop of Broly's blood to clone him, but the process goes wrong and he turns into a giant, melting pile of purple mud. It barely looks like Broly. If you’re a completionist, watch it once and then never again.
The New King: Dragon Ball Super
For years, the old movies were considered "side stories" that didn't actually happen in the main show. That changed in 2018. Akira Toriyama, the creator of the series, decided he wanted to make Broly "official."
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4. Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)
If someone asks you what movie is Broly in today, this is the one they are likely talking about. It’s a total reimagining. In this version, Broly isn't a mindless killer; he’s a gentle soul who was exiled to a harsh planet by King Vegeta and manipulated by his father.
The animation in this movie is on a completely different level. It covers the history of the Saiyans, Frieza’s betrayal, and features a massive fight in the Arctic. It’s also the movie where Gogeta (the fusion of Goku and Vegeta) finally becomes canon.
5. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022)
Broly isn't the villain here. In fact, he’s barely in it. He has a few scenes on Beerus’s planet training with Goku and Vegeta. It’s mostly a cameo, but it’s important because it proves he’s still around and part of the "good guys" now.
Wait, Which One Should You Watch?
It really depends on what you're looking for.
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If you want nostalgia and a villain who is just pure, unadulterated evil, the 1993 original is your best bet. It captures that 90s Dragon Ball Z energy perfectly. But if you want a coherent story with actual character development and incredible modern visuals, Dragon Ball Super: Broly is objectively the better film.
There's also some confusion about the timeline. The "Z" movies don't fit anywhere in the show's timeline—Goku is alive when he should be dead, Gohan is a kid when he should be a teen, etc. They are basically "what if" scenarios. The Super movie, however, takes place right after the Tournament of Power arc in the Dragon Ball Super anime.
Finding the Movies
You can usually find these on Crunchyroll or Funimation, though licensing changes all the time. The 2018 film is widely available on Blu-ray and digital storefronts like Amazon or Vudu.
If you’re diving into Broly for the first time, don't overthink the "canon" stuff too much. Just enjoy the spectacle. The guy is a powerhouse in every iteration.
Start with the 2018 movie to see the "real" story. Then, go back to 1993 to see why the character became such a legend in the first place. You can skip Bio-Broly unless you really like watching sentient goop fight Android 18. Honestly, life is too short for that one.
Next steps for your watch list:
- Watch the 2018 Dragon Ball Super: Broly first to get the current story.
- Check out the 1993 original to see the "Legendary" form's debut.
- If you want to see how he interacts with the cast now, watch the 2022 Super Hero film for his training cameos.