Dragon Ball Movie With 95% On Rotten Tomatoes Just Dropped On Hulu

Alright, Dragon Ball fans—if you've been waiting for 'Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero' to make its streaming debut somewhere easier to find, you finally have your wish. As of today, Hulu's picked up the movie, so you can dive in as soon as you’re ready for another round of Saiyan chaos.

Why This Movie Matters (Even if You’re Not Deep in Dragon Ball Lore)

Let’s get the big details out of the way:

• This is the 21st animated Dragon Ball movie (yes, there are that many), so if you thought they'd run out of ideas, apparently not.
• 'Super Hero' was directed by Tetsuro Kodama, but the bigger story is that Akira Toriyama—the man who created Dragon Ball in the first place—actually wrote the screenplay for this one. That makes this a bit more special, especially since it's one of the last things he worked on before he passed away in 2024 at age 68.
• The cast is pretty much a who's-who of the regulars: Masako Nozawa pulling triple duty as Gohan, Goku, and Goten; Toshio Furukawa as Piccolo; Ryō Horikawa is back as Vegeta; Takeshi Kusao as Future Trunks; Kappei Yamaguchi as Fu; and Mayumi Tanaka covering Kuririn and Yajirobe. If you've ever watched the Japanese dub, these names are basically the voice of your childhood.

Plot Time: What’s This One About?

Here’s a quick run-through—no jargon, just the basics: The old-school Red Ribbon Army, the villains from way back in the original days, are back in the mix. Though the original group was wiped out by Goku ages ago, some wannabe successors have rebuilt it and cranked out two new Androids: Gamma 1 and Gamma 2 (who, get this, call themselves 'Super Heroes'... not subtle at all). These guys set their sights on Piccolo and Gohan, which, frankly, never seems to end well for villains in this universe. But, plot twist: there’s more to the Red Ribbon Army's newest plan, and it’s not just about throwing punches or blowing up cities.

Production Notes & The Money Stuff

Toei Animation produced and distributed the whole thing (no surprise there). Norihiro Hayashida produced, with editing handled by Issa Currie, Emma Moore, and Josh Tyler, and composer Naoki Satō did the music.

And if you're wondering whether it actually did well: the runtime in theaters pulled in just about $97–102 million worldwide. Not bad for what some would call niche anime, but in the Dragon Ball world, that's just another Tuesday.

Critical Reception: This Wasn’t Just for Hardcore Fans

Here's where things get interesting. 'Super Hero' isn’t just another cash-in: critics actually liked it—a lot. Rotten Tomatoes has it sitting pretty at a 95% approval rating, the highest in Dragon Ball's long, wild history. Regular moviegoers? They liked it too, dropping a 96% audience score (because obviously, fans were always going to show up, but even the casuals had a good time).

'The Red Ribbon Army was once destroyed by Son Goku. Individuals who carry on its spirit have created the ultimate Androids, Gamma 1 and Gamma 2. These two Androids call themselves "Super Heroes." They start attacking Piccolo and Gohan… What is the New Red Ribbon Army's objective? In the face of approaching danger, it is time to awaken, Super Hero!'

So, if you’re looking for some nostalgia mixed with actual solid storytelling (for once), maybe stream this one—even if you’re only watching out of curiosity. And, hey, if you've ever wanted a Dragon Ball movie that feels like it has actual stakes? This is about as close as it gets.