Dragonball Evolution

2009

Dragonball Evolution

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.

15%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 61

20%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 210,058

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Movie Info

James Wong adapts the rich mythos of the Dragonball series that grew from a manga into various popular animated series with this 20th Century Fox production starring Justin Chatwin. The plot revolves around Goku (Chatwin), Earth's greatest champion, who must defend the planet against an invading race of alien warriors hell-bent on dominating the universe. Wong directs from his own script, with Kung Fu Hustle's Stephen Chow producing. Buffy the Vampire Slayer's James Marsters co-stars as the film's villain, Piccolo, with Jamie Chung playing Chi Chi and Emmy Rossum portraying Bulma. Hong Kong legend Chow Yun-Fat rounds out the cast as Master Roshi, Goku's mentor in the film. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

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Cast

Justin Chatwin
as Goku
James Marsters
as Lord Piccolo
Jamie Chung
as Chi Chi
Emmy Rossum
as Bulma
Eriko Tamura
as Mai
Eriko
as Mai
Joon Park
as Yamcha
Yun-Fat Chow
as Master Roshi
Randall Duk Kim
as Grandpa Gohan
Luis Arrieta
as Teto
Ernie Hudson
as Sifu Norris
Texas Battle
as Carey Fuller
Megumi Seki
as Seki
Ian Whyte
as Oozaru
Richard Blake
as Agundes
Jon Valera
as Moreno
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Critic Reviews for Dragonball Evolution

All Critics (61) | Top Critics (12)

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

    Apr 17, 2009 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…
    London Evening Standard
    Top Critic

  • Evolution is far more entertaining than it deserves to be, unless you're a 10-year-old boy, in which case it's only the greatest movie ever made.

    Apr 13, 2009 | Full Review…

    Aaron Hillis

    Village Voice
    Top Critic

  • There are a few entertaining fight scenes. But there is also uneven CGI, bad dialogue and a host of clichéd moments that make Dragonball Evolution just another disappointing matinee movie.

    Apr 13, 2009 | Rating: 1/4

    Jennie Punter

    Globe and Mail
    Top Critic

  • The film is crammed with treats for old-school Dragonball fans. For everyone else, this amounts to another seen-it-before, probably-willing-to-see-it-again distraction, a passable collection of 'splosions and special effects for a slow film weekend.

    Apr 13, 2009 | Rating: C- | Full Review…

    Tasha Robinson

    AV Club
    Top Critic

  • Fans of the best-selling Dragonball comics (and cartoons, and videogames...) might have a shot at untangling the knotty dream-logic that strangles Dragonball: Evolution's live-action adaptation.

    Apr 13, 2009 | Rating: C | Full Review…

    Adam Markovitz

    Entertainment Weekly
    Top Critic

  • The giddy, anything-goes spirit of Japanese manga comics and Hong Kong martial arts flicks animates Dragonball Evolution. Not enough to make it a good movie, mind you, but enough so you won't hate yourself if you sit through it with the kids.

    Apr 13, 2009 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Joel Brown

    Boston Globe
    Top Critic
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Audience Reviews for Dragonball Evolution

  • Dec 26, 2015
    Don't worry, people. I bet they won't make another sequel ever again due to how messy this film was and there's obviously no way they can ruin Dragon Ball Z for good.
    EpicLadySponge t Super Reviewer
  • Aug 06, 2012
    The phrase "worst movie ever" is thrown around a lot, but every so often a movie like Dragonball: Evolution comes along with that special something that shows us all what a truly awful movie is. The thing is complete trash from opening scene to end credits. It's astonishingly bad in every conceivable way. Dragonball: Evolution is an appalling, horrendous piece of garbage that embarrasses itself.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Jul 25, 2012
    MY GOD. There is funny bad (Like "The Room"), there is offensive bad (Like "North") and there is obscenely disgusting. This. This is the Hitler of japanese-made-american movies. Their personalities are apocalyptically wrong, the cast is SO wrong. The history is so bad I screamed at the end of the movie and almost cried. Never had I seen a movie that failed in every aspect: Casting. Wardrobe. Effects. History. Music. Congratulations, you got an EPIC FAIL. I think the problem most people have with this movie is that is based on GOD-SENT-TO-EARTH EPICNESS. And they made it SHIT. A 10 year old kid would make a more accurate Dragon Ball movie. I don't know how Akira Toriyama allowed them to DARE to use the name.
    Mark S Super Reviewer
  • Nov 08, 2011
    It is bad, and is worse when compared with the original series, the film grabbed the elements of the series and ruined.
    Rodrigo R Super Reviewer
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