Is Watching the Movies Necessary?

[Zephyr]

I'd throw in the Trunks TV special along with that lot, as its a marked improvement in many ways over the manga chapter its based on (since we're also going with "Toei's strongest story additions").

Fair.

while still granting a solid dose of Kikuchi, Yanami, and Nozawa in some of Toei's strongest original story additions.

Well, not that solid if the audio is that muffled ass shit that sounds like it was recorded with a potato.

If it sounds like "muffled as shit that sounds like it was recorded with a potato", you might want to find a release. If you can't find a listenable version, might as well stick to the manga.

[PacificOceanDub]

Whenever I do a full watch-through of DB(Z), I tend to lean on the movies during the parts where the filler in the series is pretty unbearable, or the story is dragging and getting to be a little monotonous. Biggest examples are the Namek Saga (where I usually pause to watch the first 4 movies) and then later in the Super Buu part (I’ll watch movies 10 and 12 there)

[sangofe]

Just a few of the movies are worth it. And they don't need to be watched at all to complement the story.

[ratbomb]

They're not necessary, but some of them such as Bardock and History of Trunks add some lore to the series, but the other movies can be pretty fun to watch.

[ABED]

They're not necessary, but some of them such as Bardock and History of Trunks add some lore to the series, but the other movies can be pretty fun to watch.

What lore was added?

[KBABZ]

They're not necessary, but some of them such as Bardock and History of Trunks add some lore to the series, but the other movies can be pretty fun to watch.

What lore was added?

We found out about the history of Goku's father and his story leading up to his death and the destruction of Planet Vegeta, as well as a little insight of Frieza's mind at the time. History of Trunks expands the Trunks: The Story bonus chapter and significantly fleshes out the state of affairs of the original bad future that Trunks comes from, as well as certain characters like Future Bulma and Future Gohan. Overall those two stories are focused a bit more on their characters rather than "Awesome Super-Amazing Guy shows up!" as a villain like most of the other movies.

[ABED]

Other than the bits about Goku's dad, I don't see how we found out anything new about Freeza. Trunks' story gives the story more room to breathe but it doesn't give us anymore "lore".

[8000 Saiyan]

The Bardock and Trunks TV specials are, without a doubt, necessary to watch. Same goes for BoG and RoF.

It isn't necessary for you to see the other movies, but they're enjoyable.

[ABED]

I would consider them "necessary" watch because they are both really good stories.

[sangofe]

They're not necessary, but some of them such as Bardock and History of Trunks add some lore to the series.

And they're not movies but ovas.

[Cipher]

Not even a little, though they're fun enough distractions if you're looking for more Dragon Ball.

Maaaaaaybe give 13 a watch before GT, just for the incorporation of its titular move. (And also nods to Great Saiyaman II, I suppose, who never otherwise appears in the series. Toei basically seems to have considered that one to be in continuity.)

This is referring only to the original run of theatrical films--not the TV specials or modern Toriyama-scripted movies.

And they're not movies but ovas.

They're not even OVAs. They're TV specials. How did this become so convoluted? Because of Funimation's branding?

Ten years ago there was zero ambiguity what you were referring to if you said "the TV specials," and no one referred to them as anything else.

[sangofe]

Not even a little, though they're fun enough distractions if you're looking for more Dragon Ball.

Maaaaaaybe give 13 a watch before GT, just for the incorporation of its titular move. (And also nods to Great Saiyaman II, I suppose, who never otherwise appears in the series. Toei basically seems to have considered that one to be in continuity.)

This is referring only to the original run of theatrical films--not the TV specials or modern Toriyama-scripted movies.

And they're not movies but ovas.

They're not even OVAs. They're TV specials. How did this become so convoluted? Because of Funimation's branding?

Ten years ago there was zero ambiguity what you were referring to if you said "the TV specials," and no one referred to them as anything else.

Right, my error there was due to AB calling them "ova's".

[Gaffer Tape]

Maaaaaaybe give 13 a watch before GT, just for the incorporation of its titular move. (And also nods to Great Saiyaman II, I suppose, who never otherwise appears in the series. Toei basically seems to have considered that one to be in continuity.)

Funnily enough, I just watched Z episode 287 an hour ago, and Great Saiyaman 2 is in it. So there is that.

[Cipher]

Funnily enough, I just watched Z episode 287 an hour ago, and Great Saiyaman 2 is in it. So there is that.

Never mind then!

[KBABZ]

Funnily enough, I just watched Z episode 287 an hour ago, and Great Saiyaman 2 is in it. So there is that.

Never mind then!

Yeah I do recall it being used in the post-Buu episode, and was even kept in the Kai version!

[ShadowBardock89]

If anyone wants context for some of the reoccurring movie characters (Broly, Cooler, Gogeta, Janemba, etc.) that appear in other media, then I would recommend the movies be watched.
Take Dragon Ball FighterZ, for instance. That game has nods that those who have seen the movies Cooler and Broly were in would only notice.

[SheonGT]

Necessary? No, but I feel like the movies have an oddly specific fanbase, at least in the US. Despite being short, and noncanon, there's a loooot of hype for Cooler, Broly, and Janemba, especially among the early 2000s Toonami crowd.

So if I understand your question, you might want to watch movies 5,6,8,and 12 in order to be part of that discussion.
And they're well animated little stories, so I'll leave it up to you. The two specials are nonoptional though.

[ABED]

I would also suggest watching DBZ movie 1 as it has some of the best fight sequences in all of DB. Goku dodging attacks from multiple opponents are among my favorite moments in any fight.

[Forte224]

I would also suggest watching DBZ movie 1 as it has some of the best fight sequences in all of DB. Goku dodging attacks from multiple opponents are among my favorite moments in any fight.

I have a particular soft spot for when Ginger pulls those scimitars out of his back. The animation looked really good there.