Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods Reigns Supreme
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods has taken the top spot in Netflix's rankings, with a staggering 4.6 million views. This dominance is a testament to the film's enduring popularity and its ability to captivate both old and new fans of the franchise.
The data from Netflix's 2026 engagement report reveals that Battle of Gods has left its competitors in the dust, with Dragon Ball: Broly coming in second with 0.3 million views. The significant gap between the two films demonstrates the impact of Battle of Gods on the franchise's resurgence.
The Inspiration Behind Battle of Gods' Success
The film's success can be attributed to its unique storyline, which explores the theme of Dragon Ball in a fresh and exciting way. The introduction of Beerus, the God of Destruction, adds a new layer of complexity to the narrative, making it appealing to a broader audience.
Furthermore, the film's release in 2013 marked a significant event in the franchise's history, as it was the first Dragon Ball film to be personally supervised by series creator Akira Toriyama. This factor undoubtedly contributed to the film's massive success, as fans of the franchise were eager to experience Toriyama's vision.
Battle of Gods also marked the first animated Dragon Ball film to hit theaters since 1996's Dragon Ball: The Path to Power. Its story of Beerus seeking an opponent worthy of his cosmic power is one that perfectly captures Dragon Ball's themes, reviving the otherwise dormant franchise and bringing back some humor to the iconic anime world at the same time.
Unsurprisingly, it opened in first place at the Japanese box office and eventually enjoyed a domestic Japanese box office intake of ¥3 billion (~$32 million USD). It also scored a North American theatrical release, and it grossed $17.9 million outside of Japan — with $15.5 million of that coming from Latin America.
Dragon Ball's Animated Revival Movies Continue to Thrive
Though Battle of Gods was the clear winner in the Netflix rankings, the other Dragon Ball animated revival films still earned enough viewer engagement to be included in the 2026 report. Battle of Gods and Resurrection 'F' are both more than a decade old, and Broly and Super Hero were also released several years ago, making their continued success proof of Dragon Ball's longevity.
For now, no plans have been announced for any further Dragon Ball films. Toei Animation's current focus is on the television side, specifically on Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol. A remaster of the Battle of Gods arc, Dragon Ball Super: Beerus, has been teased to premiere sometime in 2026.
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods is now streaming on Netflix. Check out more news on the franchise and its upcoming projects. 
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