Frieza comes back from the dead in Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’, and the film devotes nearly two hours to showing that the Saiyans still know how to fight. The movie was directed by Tadayoshi Yamamuro and written by Akira Toriyama, who created the series. It takes place years after the events of Battle of Gods, and it marks Toriyama’s second movie as supervisor. The difference can be seen in both the animation and the stakes.
Trailer, via Crunchyroll Dubs.
The Return of Frieza
The setup is simple. Two remnants of Frieza’s army, Sorbet and Tagoma, arrive on Earth searching for the Dragon Balls. They succeed, and Frieza is revived. He is not whole. He was killed in pieces, and Sorbet’s minions reassemble him using advanced technology. Once restored, Frieza abuses some of his minions and plots revenge against the Super Saiyans.
Earth’s day begins quietly, until the wish grants its power and the calm shatters at once. Sorbet and Tagoma are not the chief peril. They serve merely as scouts for what comes next. The true danger belongs to Frieza, and the entire run of the movie builds up toward the instant he regains his full might.
Training and Invasion
After Goku’s strength grows far beyond what it was during their last meeting, Frieza puts off the invasion to train himself for the first time. This delay serves as a wise structural choice. Rather than hurrying straight into the final battle, the film takes a breath, giving viewers a chance to see Frieza’s growth. He is not the same tyrant who fell years ago. He is smarter, more patient, and fully aware of the gap between his power and the Saiyans’ up close before the fighting begins again.
Bulma receives a warning from Jaco the Galactic Patrolman: Frieza is coming near. While Goku and Vegeta train with Whis on Beerus’ planet, the remaining fighters — Gohan, Piccolo, Krillin, Master Roshi, Tien Shinhan, and Jaco — assemble to resist Frieza’s conquest, they clash with countless soldiers and overcome them. Yet the struggle proves nothing more than a trial, not a triumph.
The Final Showdown
Upon their return to Earth, Goku and Vegeta save their comrades and confront Frieza, with Whis and Beerus looking on from a distance. Goku engages Frieza alone and soon holds the upper hand. Realizing that Goku is holding back, Frieza guesses his opponent’s secret and the two adversaries consent to battle at full strength.
The movie’s reputation for spectacle is built here, with Goku adopting a godly Super Saiyan form marked by blue hair and a glowing aura, a look that would later be called Super Saiyan Blue. Frieza follows suit with a gold-plated form of his own, which he names Golden Frieza. The fight moves at a rapid pace, is violent, and carries numerous near-misses.
What Works
What stands out here is the animation itself. It grasps what makes Dragon Ball Z so appealing and keeps delivering frame after frame of striking action. The character designs endure throughout, particularly during the final battle, where the contrast between Goku’s blue aura and Frieza”s gold and his opponent’s colors gives every strike real weight.
The vocal performances are consistently solid throughout the production. Masako Nozawa handles three roles at once, voicing Son Goku, Son Gohan, and Son Goten. Ryo Horikawa voices Vegeta. Ryusei Nakao voices Frieza. Koichi Yamadera voices Beerus, while Masakazu Morita voices Whis. Hiromi Tsuru voices Bulma Briefs, Mayumi Tanaka voices Kuririn, Toshio Furukawa voices Piccolo, Takeshi Kusao voices Trunks, Hikaru Midorikawa voices Tenshinhan, and Natsuki Hanae voices Jaco. Each actor brings conviction and expression to their part, matching the story’s themes of vengeance and atonement.
Plot Weaknesses
In the middle portion, the pacing drags, with the opening scenes about Frieza training and the Saiyans getting ready feeling like filler next to the final battle. The film relies too much on explanation through talk, going over old fights and character histories instead of letting the action carry the story.
The side stories feel added rather than essential. Jaco has little screen time and mostly reacts to events around him, so his scenes with Bulma read more as a diversion from the central struggle. The movie performs at its peak when it keeps its eye on Frieza and Goku, and falters when it tries to juggle attention between too many people.
- The training scenes are well-animated but thin on plot.
- Jaco’s scenes with Bulma add texture but break the tension.
- The exposition-heavy middle stretches slow the pace.
| Element | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Animation | Dynamic, detailed | Some filler scenes |
| Voice acting | Confident, expressive | Heavy exposition |
| Plot | Strong climax | Weak middle stretch |
Legacy and Adaptation
The first Japanese film to be shown in IMAX 3D and given screenings at 4DX theaters was Resurrection ‘F’, which arrived in theaters on April 18, 2015. In North America, it had a limited theatrical run from August 4–13, 2015. Madman Entertainment handled the Australian and New Zealand release, with theaters running the film from August 6–19, 2015. Manga Entertainment brought the picture to the United Kingdom and Ireland on September 30, 2015.
Most reviewers gave the film a favorable reception, complimenting its animation and quick action sequences, while the plot drew some criticism. It was subsequently turned into the second story arc of Dragon Ball Super, with added scenes and subplots placed before its events.
Final Word
The film holds together well within the series. It stays faithful to the original material, offers a satisfying face-off, and sets a new bar for spectacle. A few scenes in the middle move slowly, and some side stories don’t seem essential, but the climax justifies the length.
Dragon Ball Z knows how to stage a fight, and this film serves as a reminder of that skill. The spectacle draws on decades of character history, and it pays off in the moments that matter most.
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