34 Years Later, Dragon Ball Z’s Coolest Movie Still Holds Up (& Its Villain Needs a Comeback)

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Today marks the 34th anniversary of the theatrical release of a classic Dragon Ball Z movie, and it remains enjoyable even now. Dragon Ball is experiencing a resurgence in popularity as the franchise celebrates 40 years since the original manga by Akira Toriyama first appeared in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. Exciting new anime projects are planned, promising many more stories to come.

Now is a great time to officially add Cooler, Frieza’s brother, to the Dragon Ball story. There’s potential for new storylines and tougher challenges for Goku and Vegeta, and Cooler could be a fantastic villain. The movie Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler, released in Japan in 1992, still feels relevant today and proves that this character deserves a modern update.

Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler Debuted 34 Years Ago Today

Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler was the sixth movie in the Dragon Ball Z series. Originally released in Japan in 1992, it came to the US on DVD and VHS around 2002. This film is notable for bringing back a villain from a previous movie – Cooler – alongside other powerful characters like Broly. Similar to Broly, Cooler’s story doesn’t fit into the main Dragon Ball storyline.

He’d likely be a good fit, similar to Broly, because Cooler has a strong tie to Goku and the overall story. This connection is clearer than some others – he’s directly related to Frieza and specifically hunted down the Saiyan who defeated his brother. While it wasn’t about genuine brotherly love, Cooler wanted to assert his dominance and eliminate anyone he saw as a threat to his pride. This new movie brings him back after his loss in Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge, and he’s been significantly powered up, making him appear nearly unbeatable.

In Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler, it’s revealed that the remains of Cooler were collected by Big Gete Star, a unique planet-sized intelligence. This planet grew by absorbing debris and technology, and it uses Cooler as a powerful agent of destruction. This means Goku and Vegeta face a massive army of Meta-Coolers, each as strong as the original Cooler. The film features a truly epic scale, making it one of the most ambitious Dragon Ball Z movies and delivering some of the best Super Saiyan transformations seen on film.

Dragon Ball Really Needs to Bring Back Cooler

Bringing Cooler back for another Dragon Ball Z movie was a smart move because he’s a compelling villain with a lot of potential. His connection to Frieza expands the scope of the villainous family, and it offers a new perspective on Frieza’s character. Unlike Frieza’s brief connection with King Cold, we hadn’t seen Frieza truly respect anyone before, making Cooler a unique addition.

Frieza is already incredibly powerful in the current Dragon Ball Super storyline, and if Cooler returned at that same level – or even surpassed it – it would create serious trouble for Goku and Vegeta. Unlike Frieza, who enjoys toying with them while holding back, Cooler is far more ruthless and wouldn’t hesitate to use his full strength. The franchise could really benefit from a villain of Cooler’s magnitude and terrifying power when the series returns.

It was exciting to see Akira Toriyama reimagine Broly and officially include him in the Dragon Ball story, making him a more compelling character. However, that creates a challenge for bringing back Cooler. Unfortunately, Toriyama is no longer with us to offer a fresh take on the character. Still, many fans would welcome a new version of the classic villain, and even after 34 years, Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler remains enjoyable.

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2026-03-07 23:11