Dragon Ball is a series filled to the brim with some of the biggest fights in anime history. Watching combatants scream their hearts out, unleash blows that can destroy boulders, use ki attacks to decimate enemies, and unlock transformations to become stronger never ceases to engage.
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That is why many fights in Dragon Ball Z feels as cinematic as they come, with everything from the stakes in each battle to the stunning art direction playing a huge role in making these fights feel larger than life.
8 Goku VS Kid Buu
The final fight in Dragon Ball Z ends with a bang
- Set in: Kid Buu Saga, Dragon Ball Z
The final battle to save the entire universe takes place on the Planet of the Kais, where Goku is the only fighter who can take out Kid Buu. Vegeta witnesses the duo's fight and gives one of the most iconic monologues in the series in which he acknowledges his rival's superiority.
After Goku resorts to the Spirit Bomb, everyone in the universe wants Goku to deliver the final blow. His energy dies down, only for Porunga's last wish to give this hero the boost he needs to wipe out Kid Buu and save everyone one last time in Dragon Ball Z.
7 Goku & Vegeta VS Broly
The movie ends with a long fight with varying points of view and amazing attacks
- Set in:Dragon Ball Super: Broly
Dragon Ball Super: Broly is a movie where the fight doesn't stop when Goku and Vegeta decide to take Broly seriously. The legendary Super Saiyan goes berserk all the time, making it clear to the Saiyan duo that their combined efforts must become more literal.
After performing the Fusion Dance, Gogeta's first canon appearance wows the crowd as this fused fighter shows Broly just how out of his depth he is. Before a Limit Ultra Kamehameha can wipe him out at the end of a fantastically animated battle, Cheelai wishes Broly to be saved, and everything is back to normal.
6 Goku VS Kefla
The sliding Kamehameha is an incredible image to end the fight
- Set in: tournament of power, Dragon Ball Super
The fight against Caulifla and Kale is a huge test for Goku, who chooses to push his body when he is on the edge in a two-on-one fight of all time. He manages to hold his own until the two decide to fuse, and an underpowered Goku is unable to keep up.
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But at the height of his desperation, Goku unlocks the Ultra Instinct Sign form and decides to end things in one fell swoop before all his energy runs out. It's a mad dash to the finish as Goku closes the distance between him and Kefla, whose power runs amok as she tries to stop Goku. She feels like she has Goku in her crosshairs as she unleashes a beam attack, only for Goku to slide over this beam with his charged Kamehameha in one of the coolest shots of Dragon Ball story as he unleashes a dot black Kamehameha to take out Kefla for good.
5 Goku VS Beerus
The final fight in Dragon Ball Z ends with a bang
- Set in:Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods
After Goku achieves the Super Saiyan God is formed Battle of GodsBeerus decides to test this form in battle. What follows is an explosion of effects and stunning animation as the duo engage in a battle for the ages, fighting on a level no one has ever seen before.
Ironically, the battle becomes more cinematic when Beerus threatens to destroy the world. Angered by Beerus' comments, Goku unleashes an earth shattering scream as the fight kicks into high gear. The Saiyans attack Beerus as they land punch after punch until they reach the stratosphere, where the fight ends on a bombastic note.
4 Goku, Frieza and Android 17 VS Jiren
The Surviving Members Of Universe 7 go all out to defeat the tournament's biggest threat
- Set in: tournament of power, Dragon Ball Super
The final fight in the Tournament of Power is a powerful way to end Dragon Ball Superdrive. The Universe 7 trio are out of juice but must band together to take out Jiren, with the fate of their world hanging in the balance.
This leads to an iconic moment where Android 17 lends support as Goku and Frieza form an unlikely tag team to take out Jiren. The Pride Trooper doesn't give up until the end when Goku pushes himself past his limits and struggles to become a Super Saiyan before summoning the final powers and eliminating Jiren with Frieza's help.
3 Gohan VS Cell
Gohan pulls out all the stops to end the fight with one of the most iconic Kamehamehas of all time
- Set in: Cell Games Saga, Dragon Ball Z
For the longest time, Gohan had been built up as one of the strongest characters in the Dragon Ball Z who could reach unheard of heights of power if given a push. After watching his friends struggle and Android 16 die at the hands of Cell, Gohan snaps and unlocks the perfected Ascended Super Saiyan form.
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He lets his rage take over as he kills the Cell Juniors and humiliates their parent with a single punch, only for Cell to pull out a Hail Mary move as he begins to self-destruct. His father makes the ultimate sacrifice, only for Cell to come back stronger than ever. He kills Trunks and breaks the arm of Gohan, who has to fire a Kamehameha with one hand to engage in an epic beam collision. Doubting himself, Gohan is about to lose, only for his father's spirit to keep him going as he unleashes a Father-Son Kamehameha for the ages that eliminates Cell for good.
2 Goku VS Vegeta
The first clash between the Saiyan Duo is a battle for the ages with many iconic moments
- Set in: Saiyan Saga, Dragon Ball Z
The first battle between Goku and Vegeta is one of the best shots in a series of battle. Everything from the framing of each image to the poses struck by the two Saiyans is iconic in every way. As the fight begins, fans can't help but cheer for Goku, especially when he uses his Kamehameha to counter Vegeta's Galick Gun in one of the series' most iconic beam clashes.
The fight doesn't end here though, as Vegeta uses the Great Ape transformation to emerge victorious. The moment that follows when Goku is backed up by his friends is also pretty good, but that's the opening phase of this battle there Dragon Ball Z turned into pure cinema and delighted fans from all over the world.
1 Goku VS Frieza
The battle to defeat Frieza takes place on a planet that is minutes from destruction
- Set in: Frieza Saga, Dragon Ball Z
Seeing Goku become a Super Saiyan after this legend has been built up time and time again is an amazing moment that fans love. From the moment this transformed warrior takes on Frieza, fans are treated to a series of iconic and cinematic moments. Things kick off with Goku's Super Saiyan speech setting the tone for an epic battle.
After realizing how powerful Goku had become, Frieza decides to blow up Namek and sentence the Saiyan to death. However, the fight does not end, with everyone but Goku and Frieza escaping this doomed planet. Seeing the two smash each other to a pulp against the backdrop of an exploding Namek is an incredible moment that proves why this clash between Goku and Frieza is the most cinematic battle in Dragon Ball Z.
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Dragon Ball Z
- Release date
- April 26, 1989
- Studio
- Toei animation
- Creator
- Akira Toriyama
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Dragon Ball Super
- Release date
- July 5, 2015
- Studio
- Toei animation
- Creator
- Akira Toriyama
