Dragonball: Evolution

2009, Adventure/Fantasy, 1h 26m

62 Reviews 100,000+ Ratings

What to know

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 critic reviews

You might also like

Land of the Lost
The Spy Next Door
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore
Inkheart
The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Where to watch

Rent/buy from $3.99 Rent/buy from $3.99

Rate And Review

User image

Verified

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you buy your ticket?

    Let's get your review verified.

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you buy your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

Dragonball: Evolution Photos

View All Photos (67)

Movie Info

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.
  • Rating:
    PG (Intense Sequences of Action|Brief Mild Language|Intense Sequences of Violence)
  • Genre:
    Adventure, Fantasy, Action
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    James Wong
  • Producer:
    Stephen Chow
  • Writer:
    Ben Ramsey
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $9.4M
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    20th Century Fox

Cast & Crew

Justin Chatwin
Goku
Chow Yun-Fat
Master Roshi
Emmy Rossum
Bulma
Jamie Chung
Chi Chi
James Marsters
Lord Piccolo
Joon Park
Yamcha
Eriko Tamura
Mai
Randall Duk Kim
Grandpa Gohan
Ernie Hudson
Master Mutaito
Texas Battle
Carey Fuller
Megumi Seki
Seki
Ian Whyte
Oozaru
Richard Blake
Agundes
Jon Valera
Moreno
Rafael Valdez
Butler
Mike Wilson
Hildenbrand
James Wong
Director
Ben Ramsey
Screenwriter
Stephen Chow
Producer
Akira Toriyama
Executive Producer
Tim Van Rellim
Executive Producer
Robert McLachlan
Cinematography
Bruton Jones
Production Design
Matt Friedman
Film Editing
Brian Tyler
Original Music
Mayes C. Rubeo
Costume Design
John Papsidera
Casting
Charles Daboub Jr.
Art Director
Roberto Bonelli
Set Decoration
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Dragonball: Evolution

All Critics (62) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (9) | Rotten (53)
Full Review… Chris Stuckmann ChrisStuckmann.com Full Review… Drew Toal Time Out Full Review… Anthony Quinn Independent (UK) Full Review… Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com Full Review… Simon Abrams New York Press Full Review… Aaron Hillis Village Voice Full Review… Justin Brown Medium Popcorn Full Review… Charlie Jane Anders io9.com Full Review… Simon Miraudo Quickflix Full Review… Dave White Movies.com Full Review… Steve Biodrowski Cinefantastique Full Review… Anders Wotzke Moviedex
View All Critic Reviews (62)

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
See all Audience reviews

Movie & TV guides