Finding exactly where to watch Dragon Ball Z Battle of Gods used to be a massive headache. For years, the rights were tangled up between Funimation, Toei, and various digital storefronts. It felt like the movie was constantly jumping from one platform to another, or worse, just disappearing entirely for months at a time.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a relief that things have finally settled down. As of early 2026, the streaming landscape for Goku’s first scrap with Beerus is the most stable it’s been in a decade. You aren't stuck hunting for shady mirror sites anymore.
The Best Streaming Services for Battle of Gods Right Now
If you’re looking to stream this without paying an extra "per-view" fee, you've basically got two heavy hitters.
Netflix finally pulled the trigger and added Battle of Gods to its library in late 2025. It’s available in the United States, Canada, and several other regions like Brazil and South Africa. The cool thing about the Netflix version is that they usually have pretty clean subs and dubs, though some fans have complained that it's the theatrical cut rather than the extended edition.
Then you have Crunchyroll.
Crunchyroll is basically the "forever home" for Dragon Ball at this point. After the whole Sony/Funimation merger finished up, they've been consolidating everything. They added the movie back to their catalog in August 2025. If you already pay for an anime sub, this is probably where you’re going to watch it. They offer both the English dub (with Sean Schemmel and Chris Sabat) and the original Japanese audio with subtitles.
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Interestingly, Hulu and Disney+ (specifically in Canada) have also been spotted carrying the movie recently. It seems Disney’s bundle with Hulu is making it easier for these licenses to bleed over, especially since they have a history with the franchise through the old Fox distribution deal.
Buying vs. Renting: The Permanent Option
Streaming is great until a license expires and the movie vanishes from your "Watch List" overnight. If you're a die-hard fan, you might just want to own it.
- Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu): This is one of the few places where you can specifically choose between the Theatrical version and the Uncut version. The Uncut version is roughly 20 minutes longer and fills in some of the weird pacing gaps.
- Apple TV & iTunes: Usually the highest bitrate if you care about visual quality.
- Amazon Prime Video: You can rent it for a few bucks or buy the digital HD version.
- Google Play / YouTube: Simple, works on everything, but sometimes the interface for switching between sub and dub is a bit clunky.
Most of these digital storefronts have it for rent for around $3.99, while buying it usually sets you back about $12.99 to $14.99.
What Version Should You Actually Watch?
This is where people get confused. There are technically three "ways" to experience this story.
First, there's the Theatrical Cut. It's 85 minutes long. It’s fast, it’s punchy, and it gets straight to the point. Most streaming platforms like Netflix default to this.
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Then there is the Uncut / Special Edition. This one clocks in at 105 minutes. It adds a lot of character beats—mostly more Beerus and Whis being hilarious and hungry—and a few extra bits of action. If you can find it on Crunchyroll or Fandango, this is the superior way to watch it. It just feels more like a complete "Z" experience.
Finally, you have the Dragon Ball Super TV Arc.
Don't do this to yourself. Unless you really love 2015-era "melted face" animation and a story stretched out over 14 episodes, stick to the movie. The movie has a much higher budget, better choreography, and frankly, the "Flow" fight scene near the end is one of the best looking moments in the entire franchise. The TV version just can't compete with the theatrical animation.
Why This Movie Still Matters in 2026
It’s crazy to think this movie came out in 2013. It literally saved the franchise. Before Battle of Gods, Dragon Ball was basically a legacy property that only lived on in video games like Raging Blast or Budokai Tenkaichi.
Beerus changed the power scaling forever. He introduced the idea of "God Ki," which eventually gave us Super Saiyan Blue, Ultra Instinct, and everything else we see in the modern Dragon Ball Super manga. Without this movie, we wouldn't have Dragon Ball Daima or Sparking! ZERO. It was the spark that reignited the fire.
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Regional Availability Check
Streaming rights are a moving target. If you are outside the US or Canada, your options might look a bit different:
- United Kingdom: Usually on Crunchyroll, but occasionally pops up on Sky or Now TV.
- Australia: AnimeLab used to be the spot, but that’s all Crunchyroll now.
- Europe: Netflix is the most consistent bet for most of the EU.
If you can't find it on your local Netflix or Crunchyroll, it's almost certainly available for digital purchase on the Microsoft Store or PlayStation Store.
Quick Recap for Your Watch Party
Check Netflix first since you likely already have it. If it’s not there or you want the Uncut version, head over to Crunchyroll. If you want to own it forever and never worry about streaming rights again, buy the Uncut version on Fandango or Apple TV.
Once you finish Battle of Gods, the direct sequel is Resurrection 'F', which is usually found on the exact same platforms. Watching them back-to-back is the perfect way to bridge the gap between the end of the Buu Saga and the start of the Super era.
Verify your subscription tier on Crunchyroll before starting, as some "free" accounts may only have access to the subtitled version or may require a premium sub for movie-length content. Check the "Uncut" tag specifically in the metadata if you want the extra 20 minutes of footage.