Shrek Movies In Order: The Ultimate Green Monster Guide

We are all familiar with Shrek – one of the most iconic animated franchises for years. The movie that established DreamWorks Animation as a worthy competitor to Pixar has gained for itself a massive fanbase, but not everyone knows how to watch all Shrek movies in order

No one expected to see a romantic comedy-fairy tale about an ugly monster on the big screen. But the lack of a Prince Charming wasn’t the only stumbling block in the making of “Shrek”. Directors and producers came and went. One of the lead roles had to be recast. And technology was posing more and more challenges. People in the industry were not fond of the idea at first, it seemed. 

But when the first film was publicly premiered on May 18, 2001, it instantly dominated the box office, gained widespread critical acclaim, and even won the first Oscar for the best-animated feature. More than two decades have passed, and “Shrek” still remains a beloved, outstanding story whose characters and quotes about fairy tales continue to have considerable influence on pop culture, reaching a new generation of audiences. 

But, hey, it’s been many years since the younger you were introduced to Shrek! Perhaps you will find yourself getting lost at all the movies and spin-offs now. There is always a list of childhood movies you need to go back to, like the comedy The Sweet Life Of Zack and Cody (featuring Cole and Dylan Sprouse), Hannah Montana, and for cartoons, you just can’t forget our sweet grumpy but sweet ogre. In case you are ready to travel to the land of Duloc again, here’s our complete guide to watching each installment of this animation series!

All Shrek Movies In Order

Dating back to the 2000s, the top iconic series pop up non-stop on our minds: from office-life comedies, such as movies like She’s The Man, and 13 going on 30, to Shrek universe; and as if we’re turning back the time of our party. 

While “Shrek” is often considered a series of movies, there are a variety of shorts, specials, and television shows that made up the Shrek universe. Hence, if you want to have a full Shrek experience, it would be much more complicated. In case you just want to go through the movies only, the most loyal fans would advise you to watch them in released order as follow: 

  • #1. Shrek (2001) 
  • #2. Shrek 2 (2004) 
  • #3. Shrek The Third (2007) 
  • #4. Shrek Forever After (2010)
  • #5. Puss In Boots (2011) 

Shrek Movies In Order – Shrek (2001) 

Shrek Movies In Order: The Ultimate Green Monster Guide - Shrek (2001)
Shrek 2001 – Source: Letterboxd

Ah, the beloved, original “Shrek” all of us remember! Shrek – a green ogre cherishes his peaceful life in an isolated swamp more than anything. One day, though, a swarm of fairy tale characters overruns the swamp after being exiled from their land by the nefarious Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow), completely ruining his serenity. 

To save his home and buddies, Shrek has no choice but to negotiate with Lord Farquaad. As part of the deal, he embarks on a journey to retrieve Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz), the Lord’s soon-to-be spouse. Little does he know, Fiona is keeping a dark secret that might put everyone close to her in danger. 

Shrek (2001) Trailer

The first movie in the series is usually the best, and “Shrek 1” is no exception. As mentioned, right after its release, it has been hailed as one of the most revolutionary animated pictures of our time by critics. From visuals to voice-acting, everything about “Shrek 1” is applaudable. What’s most important, though, is that DreamWorks Animation managed to create a movie for all ages. 

There is only a handful of children’s animations that can keep the attention of adult viewers, and “Shrek 1” does far better than just keeping their attention. The movie has done a good job delivering adult-oriented humor and deep messages in a light-hearted, enjoyable way, making it the perfect movie for both parents and children to enjoy. 

“Shrek 1” receives a rating of 7.9/10 on IMDb and an audience score of 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. Just as user “studioAT” wrote, “This film will remain a favorite for families for generations because the jokes and messages are so timeless.”

Shrek Movies In Order – Shrek 2 (2004) 

Shrek 2 (2004)
Shrek 2 – Source: DreamWorks

After returning from their honeymoon, Shrek and Fiona were dazed to receive an invitation: Princess Fiona’s parents have heard about her marriage to her one true love and wanted to invite the couple to the kingdom, “Far Far Away”.

There is one huge trouble here: Fiona’s parents have no idea about the curse that has come upon their daughter. Instead, they assume she has married a handsome prince. Of course, they don’t expect to see the 700-pound ogre she falls in love with and the talking donkey who accompanies him. 

Meanwhile, an evil Fairy Godmother plans to get rid of Shrek so that her son (who is a Prince Charming himself) can have his way with Fiona. It’s now up to the fantastic duo – Shrek and Donkey, along with a new ally – to stop her evil plan. 

Shrek 2 (2004) Trailer

With a considerable budget increase on this sequel ($150 million went to the production), the visual is obviously better. Together with the original humor style (which is slightly dated by the time of its release, I’d have to say), “Shrek 2” managed to awe critics and audiences once more time. 

Even after all the winged words the movie received, no one could see how much of a sensation “Shrek 2” would become at the box office. Entitled to DreamWorks’ most successful release to date, it has grossed about $920 million worldwide. Just like its predecessor, the movie was nominated for Oscar’s Best Animated Feature but regrettably lost to Pixar’s “Incredibles”. 

But, well, it doesn’t really matter. With an IMDb rating of 7.2/10 and an audience score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, “Shrek 2” has received recognition from fans. By the time the sequel was released, the parents were likely the ones dragging their kids to the theater, rather than the other way around!

Hold on! If these above are all enough for your days, switch to other genres like sci-fi action: The Witch Part 2. The Subversion and Avengers: Infinity War.

Shrek Movies In Order – Shrek The Third (2007) 

Shrek The Third (2007)
How about Shrek The Third (2007)? – Source: The Edge

“Shrek The Third” begins with our dear ogre being forced to inherit the kingdom of “Far Far Away”, following the death of Fiona’s father. He is conflicted, however, since he doesn’t think an ogre is fit to be the ruler. Unless he can find a suitable successor to replace, he will have to take responsibility. 

Since Fiona’s cousin, Artie (voiced by Justin Timberlake) is the best possible candidate for the crown, Shrek once again ventures to track him down and bring him back to rule over Far Far Away. Turned out, that mission is much more difficult than he thinks. 

Shrek The Third Trailer

Unlike the previous movies, “Shrek the Third” did not garner the same level of enthusiasm from critics and audiences. Several comments said the franchise was beginning to lose its charm. Despite this, the movie received good reviews from several outlets. According to film critic Hank Sartin, the third installment managed to maintain the original’s humor while establishing its own unique experience. 

By the time “Shrek The Third” was released, the franchise has created a name for itself among animation lovers and movieholics. That’s why some poor reviews had little effect on the film’s performance at the box office: Expected to be a summer blockbuster, “Shrek The Third” didn’t disappoint, grossing an astounding $813 million on a $160 million budget. It’s ranked as the fourth-highest-grossing picture to be released in 2007, just behind new installments of the (far larger) Spider-Man, Harry Potter, and Pirates of the Caribbean series. 

Shrek Movies In Order – Shrek Forever After (2010) 

Shrek Forever After (2010)
Shrek Forever After – Source: NPR 

After a few years of marriage, Shrek is now settled into his new home and has grown completely domesticated. This causes him to yearn for the old days at the swamp. As he comes across the mystical Rumpelstiltskin, Shrek asks for a day to live out his previous triumphs as a “true” ogre. Rumpel, who is secretly seeking vengeance for a past wrong, proposes a deal that will fulfill Shrek’s wish in exchange for the erasure of a moment from his childhood. 

As it turns out, the day that is erased happens to be Shrek’s birthday. That means that he only has 24 hours to break the contract and return home before he vanishes forever in a reality that he doesn’t even exist.

Shrek Forever After Trailer

According to critics, “Shrek Forever After” failed to stand out due to the habit of referring heavily to previous installments. Meanwhile, others thought it still maintained its own appeal: The storyline was much more unique and nuanced. On IMDb, many users said that they love the original idea of what if Shrek never existed. 

Nevertheless, the mixed critical reception couldn’t take down the veritable cinematic behemoth that is the Shrek franchise. “Shrek Forever After” still managed to gross $752 million on a budget of between $135 and 165 million dollars.

Shrek Movies In Order – Puss In Boots (2011) 

Puss In Boots (2011)
Puss In Boots (2011) – Source: Into Film

We have been introduced to Antonio Banderas’ Puss in Boots in previous installments, and in 2011, this beloved character got a movie for himself. 

Taking place before his encounter with Shrek, the film follows the adventurous feline on his mission to obtain a set of magical beans that will help him reach the goose that lays the golden gate. During the journey, he will face many different adversaries and go through incidents that change his life forever. 

Puss In Boots Trailer

At first, this Shrek spin-off seemed like a pointless installment but soon proved itself to be worth watching. Critics praised the movie’s effort but didn’t regard it as a revolution for animated cinema. Earning $555 million on a budget of $130 million, “Puss In Boots” showed us that even the longest-running series can strike back with enough talent and creativity. 

What Do We Know About The Fifth Installment So Far? 

What Do We Know About The Fifth Installment So Far?
So, will we have Shrek 5? – Source: Polygon

More than a decade has passed since 2011’s “Puss in Boots”, and the million-dollar question now is, will “Shrek 5” be released? 

We have some good news for fans here: Another entry is on the way! Universal Pictures announced in November 2018 that a new “Shrek” movie was in development. For the fifth installment, Chris Meledandri was entrusted to find a “fresh storyline”. Few updates have been leaked since the news first broke, but according to DreamWorks executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, the next movie is all about how Shrek came to be in that swamp and what happened to him before the event of “Shrek 1”. 

Fans are so excited about the film they made casting on fan casting sites and petitioned for their favorite actors like Keanu Reeves, Bruce Willis, and Ethan Hawke to star in the new sequel on Mycast.io.

Unfortunately, there has yet to be an official release date for “Shrek 5”. However, with “Puss In Boots: The Last Wish” set to premiere on September 23, 2022, we should expect to see the fifth installment in the fall of 2023. Still, that is purely speculative at this point.

Is Shrek On Disney Plus? Here’s How You Can Watch All Shrek Movies In Order! 

While we wait for the fifth movie, it’s a great time to rewatch the entire franchise from the beginning. Currently, though, there are no streaming services that feature all movies for viewers to enjoy back-to-back. 

Is Shrek On Disney Plus? Here’s How You Can Watch All Shrek Movies In Order!
To watch all Shrek movies, you will have to use different streaming service – Source: Medium

At the time being, “Shrek” is not available on Disney Plus. You can watch “Shrek 1” on Hulu at no extra fee if you are subscribed to this streaming service. Hungama subscribers can enjoy “Shrek 2” and “Shrek 3”, while “Shrek Forever After” is available on Amazon Prime Video. And is Shrek on Netflix, you ask? Even when none of the first four movies are available on Netflix, the 2011 spin-off movie Puss in Boots is.

On the go to seek another animated next? Let Attack On Titan Season 4 Episode 5 add up your movie collections!

“Grab Your Torch And Pitchforks!”

That’s it, all the Shrek movies in order for you! Every time I rewatch “Shrek”, I will find a new joke or amusing moment I’ve missed all these years. And whenever I do, it takes me back to the first time I watched the movie, the initial feeling of discovering a treasure just for me. It’s not hard to think Shrek will continue to give people that same feeling for decades. 

If you are looking for a weekend getaway, grab your torch and pitchforks and get ready to discover the Far Far Away land once again! 

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Iris Vida

Well, Iris Vida is very into reading books from different eras, cultures, and anything that has been going viral lately, etc. Her passions can't be put in a few words only. Whether it's the "Jazz Age," a Neil Gaiman notable novel, the pitter-patter melodies of Taylor Swift's music, or anything else, she always sends the best materials to her top-notch writings, engaging all readers everywhere. Moreover, like Nick Carraway, who captured global attention with his rich and glamorous look, she leaves readers with a satisfying sense of wonder and an urge to learn more with her compelling writing style.