Dragonball: Evolution

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Dragonball: Evolution

PG

2009

1h 26m

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

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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.

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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.

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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

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Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

A rather tame live-action sci-fi flick.

Rated: 1/5

Apr 17, 2009

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London Evening Standard

The producer, Stephen Chow, made the funny and original Kung Fu Hustle, but here he and director James Wong get into a terrible mess.

Rated: 1/5

Apr 17, 2009

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

It’s a hyperactive, eye-rolling affair.

Rated: 1/4

Dec 1, 2023

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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

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Charlie Jane Anders

io9.com

There are balls of lint smarter than Dragonball Evolution.

May 21, 2018

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Dylan C.

This was Anything BUT like the show -_-

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/03/25

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Donavin D

I wish I had the words to describe the exact disappointment that I got from watching this. It was bad, bad in a way that I felt no one could really enjoy this unless maybe ironically? Watching it as a fan of the anime is almost disrespectful. Watching it as a fan of action movies? I can’t, it’s too shallow and uninteresting. Watching it as a casual moviegoer? Maybe some might find things they enjoy but on the whole, it’s just weak. The writing is borderline terrible, the characterization of every single one of its characters shows disdain for or disinterest in the source material and the effects and combat are both laughable. The only positive thing I can say is that I actually did laugh a few times at how awful this thing is. Live action anime adaptations are usually not very good but this one unfortunately hangs on the lowest rung of those adaptations. It’s fortunate that this was a solitary attempt and that, in terms of films, Dragon Ball has been hitting it out of the park in since then. But this film is better forgotten in the filmography of anything associated with Dragon Ball.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/28/25

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I Am F

Conventional yet stupid.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/22/25

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Aman S

Really bad - from https://perfectlyhired.com/

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/11/25

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Carson K

never seen it but why is goku white

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

08/08/25

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Oaklee D

Dragonball: Evolution is laughably horrid.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/27/25

Full Review

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James Wong

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Justin Chatwin

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Chow Yun-Fat

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Emmy Rossum

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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

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