Film

Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'

Name: Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'
Genre: Action, Animation, Science Fiction
Released: 2015
Cast: Masako Nozawa, Ryo Horikawa, Ryusei Nakao, Koichi Yamadera, Masakazu Morita

A slick, high-octane Dragon Ball film where the franchise's most iconic villain returns for revenge. It's a showcase for kinetic animation and escalating power displays, built on the appeal of seeing beloved characters face an old threat remade. For fans of the series, it's essential viewing; for newcomers, it's a confident, satisfying entry point that doesn't require deep lore knowledge.

TMDb rating

3.5

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you love a long-running shonen saga where the fights carry the storytelling, and you already know Goku's crew well enough to enjoy them squaring up again.

Skip it if the franchise's loud, bombastic energy and nonstop shouting may wear thin if you came for character drama, and a feature-length film built around big set pieces leaves little room for quieter moments.

What it asks of you: Ninety-three minutes of nonstop escalation, with little pause for breath, and it expects you to already be comfortable with a cast of screaming warriors and a loose, comic-book logic.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods2013

The previous film that introduced the gods-of-destruction mythology this sequel builds on. Gorgeously animated martial arts with genuine emotional stakes and character development that gives weight to the action sequences.

But Requires familiarity with the Dragon Ball Z universe to land properly. The pacing can feel slow if you're not invested in the interpersonal dynamics.

My Hero Academia: Two Heroes2018

A similar energy: bright, earnest action animation with a hero-vs-villain structure, spectacular hand-to-hand combat, and character moments that matter between the fights. Great if you loved the animation here.

But Set in a completely different universe with different characters. You're starting from zero if you haven't seen the show.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train2020

Phenomenal animation of sword-based combat with emotional depth underneath the spectacle. Proves that anime films can be both visually stunning and genuinely moving, not just power-fantasy indulgence.

But The preceding TV series is essential context. Without it, the character relationships feel hollow and the stakes ring hollow.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train poster

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Kill la Kill2013

Both celebrate animation as a medium by staging increasingly impossible fights, but where Resurrection F uses animation to show power fantasy, Kill la Kill uses it to question power itself. Same appetite, opposite ideology.

Maximalist action animation that shares DBZ's love of showing off technique and spectacle, but channels it into surreal, gender-subversive storytelling. Visually inventive, propulsive, and genuinely weird in ways that make it memorable.

But The constant sexual imagery (even as satire) will alienate some viewers. It's also deliberately chaotic and refuses to slow down for plot exposition.

Attack on Titan2013

Large-scale action animation with a similar sense of escalating threat and desperation. The character arcs have real weight, and the animation during combat sequences rivals theatrical releases.

But It's part of a long-running series; jumping in here leaves you completely lost. Also tonally darker and grittier than Resurrection F.

Jujutsu Kaisen 02021

Stunning animation and a prequel film that works as a standalone story. Delivers action spectacle with surprising emotional maturity and a villain whose motivations feel genuine rather than just evil-for-evil's-sake.

But The Jujutsu Kaisen TV series would give you more context, though this film stands reasonably well alone. Modern anime sensibility might feel different from DBZ's older style.

One Piece Film Red2022

Vibrant, joyful action animation in a similar shonen wheelhouse. Adventure, humor, and spectacle balanced well; the production values are stunning and the energy is infectious.

But One Piece has a massive, winding story. Without knowing the characters, you're watching action with pretty colors but no real investment.

Naruto Shippuden the Movie2007

Solid ninja-action animation from the same era as DBZ. Good pacing, clear stakes, and enough character work to make the combat sequences feel earned rather than just showing off.

But The Naruto series is even longer and more complex. This assumes knowledge you may not have, and the animation is noticeably dated now.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War2022

Beautiful action animation with a sharp character ensemble. The final arc of a long series, but structured with newcomer-friendliness in mind. Visually some of the best anime has achieved.

But Still requires familiarity with Bleach's universe and character relationships. The emotional payoffs are for long-time fans.

Arcane: League of Legends2021

Both use animation's freedom to create impossible physics and visual beauty, but Arcane prioritizes emotional consequences while Resurrection F prioritizes spectacle. They answer the same question—what can animation do?—very differently.

A Western animated series with anime sensibilities that builds genuine emotional stakes from character work. The action sequences are stunning but never overshadow story. Proves animation can do intimate character drama as well as spectacle.

But Slow-burn first act. No familiarity with League of Legends helps or hurts (probably helps). Not a pure action show—as much time on grief and systemic injustice as on fighting.