The live-actionDragonball Evolutionwas poorly received when it was released in 2009, but it just earned a surprising win. In today’s era of reboots, remakes, and reimaginings, Hollywood just can’t seem to stop turning animated favorites intolive-action spectacles. From anime series to classic Disney films, the industry keeps digging into its animated vaults, hoping that nostalgia will turn into box office gold. But for every success story, such as Netflix’sOne Piece, there are projects that completely miss the mark.
For years,Dragonball Evolutionwas the go-to example of how bad things could gowhen turning anime into live action. With a 2.5 out of 10 rating on IMDb, the film was widely criticized for its weak plot, awkward pacing, and unrecognizable take on beloved characters. It quickly became a cautionary tale for Hollywood: a reminder that simply having a recognizable name isn’t enough to make a hit movie. Despite its poor reception, though, the film has just earned a small victory.
Snow White Sits At 1.6 Stars
Custom Image by Milica Djordjevic
Enter Disney’sSnow Whiteremake, which opened on March 20th. As of early April 2025, the film holds a low IMDb rating of 1.6 out of 10, officiallyovertakingDragonball Evolutionas one of the most poorly received live-action adaptations to date.
It’s a remarkable drop, especially given Disney’s track record with remakes. The backlash has been intense, with audiences frustrated by controversial casting decisions and sweeping changes to the time-tested story. Critics have pointed out its lack of charm and emotional depth, arguing that the film feels disconnected from the classic fairytale that helped define the Disney legacy. What was meant to be a modern update on a classic ended up alienating both longtime fans of the original and new viewers alike.
Meanwhile,Dragonball Evolutionhas had more than a decade to build its reputation as a cinematic misfire. Starring Justin Chatwin as Goku and James Marsters as Piccolo, the 2009 film failed to resonate with both fans of the original anime and general audiences. With a budget of around $30 million and a global box office total of $58.2 million, it may have technically covered its production costs—but once marketing and distribution were factored in, the film likely lost money. More importantly, it lost credibility with fans, many of whom saw it as a hollow, unrecognizable version of the source material.
Back in 2009, fans were curious—if a little skeptical—aboutDragon Ballmaking the jump to live action. There was hope that the film could introduce the story to a broader audience while staying true to the original. But when the first reviews hit, that optimism vanished. Many fans chose to skip the film entirely.
David Edwards of theDaily Mirrorsummed up the reaction bluntly: “Faced with the choice of watching Dragonball: Evolution again and perishing in a fiery apocalypse, I’d take Judgment Day every time.” Justin Chang ofVarietywas equally unimpressed, writing, “The pic’s chintzy look and feel are unlikely to please even the most forgiving fans.” It didn’t take long for the film to earn its reputation as a complete misfire.
Hollywood Tiptoes Back Into Anime—Cautiously
The New Low Bar for Live-Action Letdowns
The bad feelings surroundingDragonball Evolutionlingered for years. With a few exceptions, such as 2017’sGhost in the Shell, Hollywood backed away from anime adaptations, wary of repeating the same mistakes. It wasn’t until Netflix’sOne Pieceseries debuted in 2023 that the industry began to see a live-action anime project succeed both critically and commercially. Now, withlive-action adaptations ofNarutoandMobile Suit Gundamcurrently in development, studios are once again testing the waters. But forDragonball Evolution, the damage was long done. It remained the benchmark for failure—untilSnow Whitecame along and, against all odds, managed to fall even further.
“I Cautioned Them”: Dragon Ball’s Creator Really Did His Best to Salvage Dragonball Evolution
Dragonball Evolution is one of the most poorly received live-action anime adaptations of all-time, and Akira Toriyama warned filmmakers in advance.
Now, whileDragonball Evolutionis still far from being considered a good movie, it’s no longer the worst in its category. Whether that shift signals any kind of redemption or just a new low for Hollywood’s remake machine, one thing’s clear: even in a crowded field of disappointing adaptations, there’s always room for improvement.
Dragonball Evolution
Cast
Dragonball Evolution is a live-action adaptation of the popular Japanese manga and anime series Dragon Ball. Directed by James Wong, the film stars Justin Chatwin as Goku, who embarks on a quest to collect the seven Dragon Balls and prevent the evil Lord Piccolo from destroying the world. The movie diverges from its source material, offering a modernized take on the beloved franchise.
