'

Dragonball: Evolution

Play trailer

Dragonball: Evolution

PG

Released Apr 10, 2009

1h 26m

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

14%

Tomatometer

63 Reviews

19%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

On his 18th birthday, Goku (Justin Chatwin) receives a mystical Dragonball as a gift from his grandfather. There are only six others like it in the whole world, and legend has it that whomever possesses all seven will be granted one perfect wish. When the arrival of a dark force triggers a tragedy, Goku and his companions (Chow Yun-Fat, Emmy Rossum) are propelled into an epic quest to collect the seven Dragonballs and save the Earth from destruction.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Executed with little panache or invention, Dragonball Evolution lacks the magic that made the books upon which it was based a cult sensation.

Read Critics Reviews

Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

Dragonball: Evolution is my least-favorite film of all time. I hate it with every fiber of my being. If you were ever curious about the show Dragon Ball or the manga... please, avoid this cinematic disaster at all costs.

Feb 3, 2016

Full Review

Drew Toal

Time Out

Rated: 1/5

Nov 16, 2011

Full Review

Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

A rather tame live-action sci-fi flick.

Rated: 1/5

Apr 17, 2009

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

It’s a hyperactive, eye-rolling affair.

Rated: 1/4

Dec 1, 2023

Full Review

Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

They clearly didn't know what they were doing, terrible. But hey, they made their money back? ... and I do like the movies, this was just really really dumb...

Rated: 1/5

Dec 12, 2020

Full Review

Charlie Jane Anders

io9.com

There are balls of lint smarter than Dragonball Evolution.

May 21, 2018

Full Review

Read all reviews

Paul S

This movie is absolutely horrible. It seems like someone read the Dragonball Wikipedia page and tried to make a movie. Never have I seen a live-action adaptation that was so detached from the source material. However, this movie was so much fun to watch. It was so bad that it made me laugh so hard, and I ended up enjoying it. Despite its beautiful awfulness, I can't recommend watching it.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/22/25

Full Review

Stephen C

Who the **** thought this movie was supposed to be good? It's not.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/16/25

Full Review

TROY S

The story is juvenile and predictable, the dialogue is terrible either being cheesy or due to the delivery very rarely ringing true and the direction is bland.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/12/25

Full Review

Bryan V

Dragon ball evolution was a horrible thrown together movie that thrown a big time anime name into the ground. Starting with a horrible cast that was just thrown together for a quick buck, undoubtedly the worst cast created for a live action anime movie. They turned the movie into a laughing stock American movie by throwing him into high school and being a laughing stock. I wouldn't want anyone to see this movie if your a fan of the anime Dragon ball as you will want to rip your eyes out watching this. i would rate this 0/10 but one let me on here. Don't waste your time watching this.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/08/25

Full Review

Val S

Only a 5* because it was so bad toriyama came back to write super to make up for it

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/05/25

Full Review

Isaac b

El peor live action que exitio de verdad Blancanieves no sé merece tener menos calificacion que esta porquería en imb está película debió ser un fracaso que horror

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/04/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

James Wong

Director

Justin Chatwin

Goku

Chow Yun-Fat

Master Roshi

Emmy Rossum

Bulma

Jamie Chung

Chi Chi

James Marsters

Lord Piccolo

Maleficent

54%

70%

Maleficent

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Maleficent

Dragonheart: A New Beginning

40%

34%

Dragonheart: A New Beginning

Watchlist

Shorts

46%

32%

Shorts

Watchlist

Conan the Destroyer

29%

38%

Conan the Destroyer

Watchlist

The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl

20%

33%

The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

On his 18th birthday, Goku (Justin Chatwin) receives a mystical Dragonball as a gift from his grandfather. There are only six others like it in the whole world, and legend has it that whomever possesses all seven will be granted one perfect wish. When the arrival of a dark force triggers a tragedy, Goku and his companions (Chow Yun-Fat, Emmy Rossum) are propelled into an epic quest to collect the seven Dragonballs and save the Earth from destruction.

Director: James Wong
Producer: Stephen Chow
Screenwriter: Ben Ramsey
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Star Overseas
Rating: PG (Intense Sequences of Action|Brief Mild Language|Intense Sequences of Violence)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 10, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.4M
Runtime: 1h 26m

Most Popular at Home Now