The 2022 anime film that became the highest-rated movie in the franchise’s history is set to begin streaming next month.
Four years after its theatrical release, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is preparing for its streaming debut on Hulu. Starting April 13, 2026, fans in the United States can watch both the original Japanese version with subtitles and the English dub on the platform. The film currently holds a 95 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated movie in the Dragon Ball franchise’s history.
The movie arrived in theaters in 2022 and marked a significant moment for the series. It was the last film released before the passing of Akira Toriyama, the manga artist who created the Dragon Ball universe in 1984. Toriyama was directly involved with Super Hero, handling the original story, screenplay, and character designs. The film also represented a shift in focus, placing Piccolo and Gohan in the lead roles rather than the usual spotlight on Goku and Vegeta.
What Dragon Ball Super Super Hero Is About
The story brings back the Red Ribbon Army, the villainous organization that Goku defeated in the original series. Now reformed under new leadership, the group creates two new android heroes, Gamma 1 and Gamma 2, who believe they are fighting for justice against the evil Piccolo and Gohan.
Piccolo discovers the army’s true plans, which include activating a new and dangerous weapon called Cell Max. The movie follows Piccolo’s efforts to push Gohan back into fighting shape while dealing with the android threat. The story builds toward the introduction of new transformations for both characters: Orange Piccolo and Beast Gohan.
The film earned 21 million dollars during its opening weekend in North America, the widest release ever for an anime film at the time with 3,900 theaters. It eventually crossed 102.5 million dollars globally.
Critical and Fan Response at Release
Critics responded positively to the movie when it came out. The New York Times called the film exquisitely gratifying, while the Los Angeles Times described it as a must-see for fans that salutes one of the series’ best relationships, referring to the connection between Piccolo and Gohan. Variety noted that the film mostly finds a sweet spot between fan service and narrative heft, and The Guardian praised the animation as mesmeric.
Crunchyroll, which distributed the film in North America, expressed excitement about the theatrical run. Mitchel Berger, the company’s senior VP of global commerce, said in a statement at the time:
We’re absolutely thrilled that Dragon Ball fans could come together to experience and enjoy this amazing film in theaters. Crunchyroll thanks all of the fans, whether or not you are a super fan or a newcomer, and we hope they come back again and again.
The movie’s Rotten Tomatoes critical consensus highlighted that it offered beautifully animated action with fresh character development that satisfied longtime followers of the franchise.
Where to Watch and Streaming Details
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero arrives on Hulu on April 13, 2026. The platform will offer both the original Japanese audio with English subtitles and the English dubbed version. The film joins the Dragon Ball Super television series, which is already available on Hulu for streaming.
For viewers outside the United States, the film remains available through various platforms depending on the region. The movie was originally released in Japan in June 2022, followed by a North American release in August of that year.
What Made This Movie Different
Unlike many earlier Dragon Ball films that centered on Goku, Super Hero gave its supporting characters the main stage. Piccolo and Gohan take on the primary roles throughout the story, with Goku and Vegeta appearing mostly in training sequences away from Earth.
The film also featured fully 3D CGI animation rather than the traditional 2D style used in most previous Dragon Ball productions. Toei Animation, the studio behind the film, used this approach to create more fluid camera movements during fight scenes.
The movie also served as a connection point between the film and manga versions of the story. The Dragon Ball Super manga adapted the events of Super Hero across several chapters, concluding the arc in late 2023 with chapter 100.
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The Legacy of Akira Toriyama’s Final Film
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero holds a unique place in the franchise as the last movie released during Akira Toriyama’s lifetime. Toriyama passed away in 2024, leaving behind a series that has continued to grow since its manga debut 40 years ago. The franchise has expanded into multiple anime series, films, video games, and merchandise lines worldwide.
In 2025, reports indicated that the Dragon Ball franchise had no plans to end following Toriyama’s death. The series continues with the Dragon Ball Super manga and various other projects in development.
For fans who missed the film during its theatrical run or those who want to revisit it, the Hulu release provides a chance to watch the final Dragon Ball movie that had direct creative input from the series’ original creator.
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