Synopsis
After defeating Frieza, Goku returns to Earth and takes his son Gohan and his friend Krillin on a camping trip, hoping for a stretch of quiet time away from battle. That peace is broken when Cooler, Frieza's older brother, arrives on the planet with a squad of elite henchmen, intent on settling the score for his younger sibling's death.
The film centers on Goku as he is pulled back into combat, with Gohan and Krillin caught in the crossfire. Cooler serves as the principal antagonist, an arrogant and calculating warrior who regards himself as the stronger of the two brothers and who commands loyal soldiers willing to hunt the heroes down on his behalf.
What follows is an extended confrontation in which Goku must face an opponent whose abilities exceed anything he has previously encountered. The central conflict turns on whether he can protect his family and friends from a foe who has traveled to Earth specifically to challenge him.
Trailer
Should You Watch It?
Watch it if you enjoy
- Watch if you want a self-contained Dragon Ball Z movie set after Frieza's defeat, with Goku, Gohan, and Krillin pulled into a new fight.
- Watch if you enjoy Cooler as Frieza's older brother, an arrogant and calculating villain backed by elite henchmen.
- Watch if you want a short, action-focused theatrical side story rather than a serialized Android Saga installment.
- Watch if you are following the DBZ movie run or want the setup before Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler.
It may not suit you if
- May not suit viewers seeking main-continuity DBZ progression; this film unfolds in an alternate continuity to the Android Saga.
- May not suit those who prefer longer features, as it runs about 48 minutes and centers on an extended confrontation.
- May not suit viewers unfamiliar with Goku's Super Saiyan payoff and Frieza's defeat, since the premise builds on that turning point.
- May not suit people wanting a deep expansion of Cooler's family history or Frieza's empire beyond the revenge setup.
The primary starting work is a movie, so the full film is the natural Volluble Test Drive. This gives you the complete story instead of applying an episodic trial to a feature-length work.
Why It Connects With Audiences
Why people love it
- Cooler's introduction as Frieza's estranged older brother gives the movie a personal revenge motive and a commanding antagonist.
- The camping trip turned ambush creates clear family-and-friends stakes for Goku, Gohan, and Krillin.
- The build toward Goku's Super Saiyan transformation against a foe said to exceed his previous opponents offers a familiar DBZ payoff.
- Its 1991 Toei Anime Fair release and dubbed availability make it an accessible standalone entry in the DBZ movie lineup.
Common criticisms
- Some may find the story slight because it is a self-contained alternate-continuity side story rather than a main-timeline arc.
- The roughly 48-minute runtime leaves limited room for character development beyond the established heroes and Cooler's revenge plot.
- The premise assumes familiarity with Frieza's defeat and Super Saiyan, so newcomers may feel the emotional stakes are already set.
- Viewers less interested in villain-of-the-movie structures may find it familiar within the DBZ feature run.
Volluble DNA
A quick profile of the title’s dominant storytelling ingredients.
Characters and Voice Actors17 characters
Gokuu Son
Main character- Japanese: Masako Nozawa
- English: Sean Schemmel
- English: David Gasman
Gohan Son
Main character- Japanese: Masako Nozawa
- English: Stephanie Nadolny
- English: Jodi Forrest
Cooler
Main character- Japanese: Ryuusei Nakao
- English: Andrew Chandler
- English: Douglas Rand
Piccolo
Supporting character- English: Christopher Sabat
- Japanese: Toshio Furukawa
- English: Paul Bandey
Yajirobe
Supporting character- Japanese: Mayumi Tanaka
- English: Mike McFarland
- English: Ed Marcus
Chi-Chi
Supporting character- Japanese: Naoko Watanabe
- English: Cynthia Cranz
Oolong
Supporting character- English: Bradford Jackson
- Japanese: Naoki Tatsuta
- English: David Gasman
Kuririn
Supporting character- Japanese: Mayumi Tanaka
- English: Sonny Strait
- English: Sharon Mann
Muten Roushi
Supporting character- English: Mike McFarland
- Japanese: Kouhei Miyauchi
- English: Ed Marcus
Karin
Supporting character- Japanese: Ichirou Nagai
- English: Mark Britten
- English: Douglas Rand
Sauzer
Supporting character- Japanese: Shou Hayami
- English: David Gasman
- English: Michael Marco
Higher Dragon
Supporting character- Japanese: Naoki Tatsuta
Doore
Supporting character- English: Mike McFarland
- Japanese: Masaharu Satou
Neiz
Supporting character- English: Bill Townsley
- Japanese: Masato Hirano
- English: Paul Bandey
Freeza
Background character- English: Linda Young
- Japanese: Ryuusei Nakao
- English: Paul Bandey
Bardock
Background character- English: Sonny Strait
- Japanese: Masako Nozawa
Narrator
Background character- English: Kyle Hebert
- Japanese: Jouji Yanami
Production and Staff26 credits
View all 14 additional credits
Production Background
Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge is the fifth animated theatrical feature tied to the Dragon Ball Z television series, arriving in Japanese cinemas on July 20, 1991 as part of the Toei Anime Fair. It runs roughly 48 minutes and carries the Japanese title ドラゴンボールZ とびっきりの最強対最強, which translates loosely as a contest between the very best of the strong. The film sits between Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug and Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler in the franchise's movie lineup.
The movie draws on the Dragon Ball manga as its source material rather than adapting a specific storyline from the ongoing anime, and it unfolds in an alternate continuity relative to the Android Saga. Its central addition to the cast is Cooler, introduced here as the estranged older brother of Frieza, who comes to Earth seeking to avenge his sibling's defeat. That premise gives the feature a self-contained conflict built around the established Saiyan heroes while remaining separate from the main serialized timeline.
Beyond its initial Japanese run, the film reached international audiences through dubbed releases. It premiered in the Philippines on July 11, 1996 under the title Dragon Ball Z: The Greatest Rivals, with an English dub produced by Creative Products Corporation. An English dub is available, and the movie can be streamed through Bilibili TV and Crunchyroll.
Where This Fits in Dragon Ball
A spoiler-light guide to where this exact work fits within the broader Dragon Ball franchise.
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Step 1
Begin with the main Dragon Ball Z series and reach the end of the Frieza arc so Goku's Super Saiyan transformation and Frieza's defeat carry weight.
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Step 2
Treat Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge as an alternate-continuity side story that can be watched after that arc; it does not require the previous DBZ films.
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Step 3
If you want Cooler's full arc, continue with Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler, which follows this movie.
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Step 4
For a broader DBZ movie run, this is the fifth feature, arriving after Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug and before The Return of Cooler, but its story stands apart from the Android Saga.
Franchise Path
- Main DBZ path: watch Dragon Ball Z through the Frieza arc, then this alternate-continuity movie; it sits after Lord Slug and before The Return of Cooler.
After You Finish
Continue with
- Continue with Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler, which follows this movie and completes Cooler's film arc.
Community Verdict
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