When Shrek was introduced as a modernpicture book characterin the 1990s, not even the author who created him could have foreseen the worldwide popularity that was coming. Shrek was DreamWorks' breakout hit film, and the character quickly endeared himself to audiences with his humble nature and hidden depths.
Over the years, the Shrek series continued to be DreamWorks' best work. Almost every film in the series represents a period of freshness, reinvention, and vitality for the company: when the studio stumbled with other films, it could always bring the fanbase back with Shrek. Here is every film in the series, ranked.
6Shrek Forever After
2010
Shrek Forever After was intended to close the door on the mainline series, with the character continuing to live on in meme fame for the next decade and a half. Though the announcement of Shrek 5 in 2025 nullified that ambition, Shrek Forever After remains a good point to stop.
It was a little heavier on the gross-out humour, but Shrek Forever After still satisfied the fanbase, because it had the one thing all good animated films do: heart. Shrek’stransition into fatherhoodjust made him even more likable.
5Puss In Boots
2011
Puss in Boots' status as a spin-off film was confirmed soon after the theatrical premiere of Shrek 2: the titular cat burglar was the clear breakout character. Many years of development limbo followed, with many assuming the film was canceled. In 2011, however, it finally came out.
This is a fun movie: it makes the wise decision to distance itself from the Shrek canon, making it enjoyable even if you’ve never seen the green ogre. It tells a standalone adventure starring Puss, his love interest Kitty, and his friend Humpty Alexander Dumpty.
4Shrek The Third
2007
Though it prompted mixed reactions and was seen as one of DreamWorks' rare mishaps when it first came out, Shrek the Third is a film worthy of re-evaluation. Sure, it may have pushed the series' reliance on pop culture references too far, but it’s a fun movie, and that’s what counts.
This film sees Shrek going on a journey to find a replacement king because he has no ambition to take the throne himself. Along the way, he has to come to terms with both married life and fatherhood, while preventing a returning villain from stealing his happy ever after.
3Shrek
2001
The jolly green ogre’s film debut, Shrek, was a blockbuster film that impacted its entire medium when it came out. The film’s quality and popularity prompted the creation of a separate Oscar for animated features, and it charted a course for DreamWorks to compete withDisney’s animated canon.
Even today, despite its primitive animation, Shrek is a great film. Its storytelling is top-notch, with characters established thoughtfully, while the minute-to-minute dialogue keeps you laughing so hard you might not even notice how much they’re growing on you.
2Puss In Boots: The Last Wish
2022
The 2010s were not kind to DreamWorks. With the Shrek series ending and a slew of middling movies tarnishing their reputation, the studio fell behind Illumination in being the prime producer of CGI shenanigans. A humbled Dreamworks took the opportunity to reinvent itself withPuss in Boots: The Last Wish.
This film made use of the same limited, stop-motion-esque animation of the incredibly successful Spider-Verse series. It told the story of an aging hero choosing to seize the day, forming uncanny parallels to the studio’s situation itself. The film was not so much a commercial hit as it was a critical one, with many declaring it among the best animated films in years.
1Shrek 2
2004
If you don’t see Shrek as a romantic figure, you haven’t seen Shrek 2. This tale of Shrek and Fiona’s early married life is one of the best animated films ever made - certainly Dreamworks' finest hour. It tempers the studio’s propensity for pop culture callbacks with heartfelt storytelling and emotional moments.
It’s also one of the funniest animated movies ever made. Whatever age you are, there’s something in Shrek 2 that you’ll find hilarious. It doesn’t rely too much on adult humour, but it incorporates just enough to keep older audiences engaged. It also debuts the incredibly cute Puss in Boots, while having characters from the previous films debut in a bigger role. This is a happy ending heartily earned.
