Looking for the correct Shrek movies in order? Good news — this is one of the rare franchises where release order and chronological order are exactly the same, so you don’t need to juggle timelines to enjoy the story the way it was meant to unfold. The only real wrinkle is where the Puss in Boots spinoff series fits in, since it runs parallel to the main saga rather than after it. Created by DreamWorks Animation and based on William Steig’s picture book, the franchise turned a wisecracking ogre into a nearly $5 billion global powerhouse, won the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and reshaped how animated comedies talk to adults and kids alike. Here’s your full breakdown, starting with the quick answer.
Also See: Ice Age Movies in Order
Quick Answer: Shrek Movies in Order
| # | Film | Year | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shrek | 2001 | Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson |
| 2 | Shrek 2 | 2004 | Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon |
| 3 | Shrek the Third | 2007 | Chris Miller, Raman Hui |
| 4 | Shrek Forever After | 2010 | Mike Mitchell |
| 5 | Puss in Boots (spinoff) | 2011 | Chris Miller |
| 6 | Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (spinoff) | 2022 | Joel Crawford |
| 7 | Shrek 5 | 2027 | Walt Dohrn, Conrad Vernon |
Release order is chronological order here — just watch top to bottom and you’re set. The two Puss in Boots films slot in as side stories, best watched after Shrek the Third once Puss has been properly introduced.
Shrek Movies in Order: The Complete Watch Guide
1. Shrek (2001)
The one that started it all: a grumpy, swamp-dwelling ogre named Shrek reluctantly sets out to rescue Princess Fiona so he can get his swamp back from the tyrannical Lord Farquaad. He’s joined by a motor-mouthed Donkey who won’t stop talking. Behind the scenes, the film was famously reworked mid-production, swapping its original score and even recasting Fiona’s voice from Janeane Garofalo to Cameron Diaz. It became a cultural phenomenon, setting up a franchise built on fairy-tale parody and genuine heart, and its ending directly launches the events of Shrek 2.
2. Shrek 2 (2004)
Shrek and Fiona return from their honeymoon to meet her royal parents, and things go sideways fast when her father, King Harold, secretly plots against Shrek. This is where Puss in Boots makes his scene-stealing debut, hired as an assassin who quickly switches sides. It remains the highest-grossing film of the four mainline sequels and one of the best-reviewed animated sequels ever made. Its cliffhanger-free but character-expanding plot sets the stage for the more ensemble-driven Shrek the Third.
3. Shrek the Third (2007)
With King Harold’s kingdom needing a new ruler, Shrek is next in line for the throne — a job he desperately doesn’t want, so he goes hunting for an alternative heir instead. The film introduces a teenage Arthur “Artie” Pendragon and leans harder into the found-family theme that defines the series. It was the first Shrek film released after DreamWorks Animation split from DreamWorks Pictures. The story’s darker undertones about responsibility and legacy carry directly into Shrek Forever After.
4. Shrek Forever After (2010)
Feeling trapped by domestic life, Shrek makes a wish with the trickster Rumpelstiltskin that unravels his entire reality, forcing him to win back everything he took for granted. Marketed as the “final chapter,” it wrapped the mainline saga on a surprisingly emotional note and was released in 3D, a first for the series. It grossed over $750 million worldwide despite mixed reviews. While it closed the core arc, it left the door open for Puss’s own solo adventures.
5. Puss in Boots (2011)
This prequel-style spinoff jumps back before Shrek to show how the swashbuckling cat became a wanted outlaw, teaming up with Kitty Softpaws and Humpty Dumpty for a heist involving magic beans. Antonio Banderas carries the film entirely on his own charisma, proving Puss could headline outside Shrek’s shadow. It earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature. The film’s lighter, adventure-movie tone would shift dramatically eleven years later in its sequel.
6. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
Widely considered one of DreamWorks’ best films period, this sequel finds Puss down to his last of nine lives and forced to confront his own mortality while chasing a wish-granting star. It’s a tonal departure — genuinely moving, visually inventive, and packed with a terrifying new villain in Death itself. The film was a critical and box-office comeback for the franchise. It also quietly re-energized interest in the wider Shrek universe, paving the way for Shrek 5.
7. Shrek 5 (2027)
The mainline saga returns after 17 years, with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz all confirmed to reprise their roles alongside newcomer Zendaya. Details are still being kept close to the vest, but it’s directed by longtime franchise veterans Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon. The film has shifted release dates twice already, landing on a summer 2027 slot instead of its original 2026 window. It’s positioned as a continuation of Shrek and Fiona’s story rather than a full reboot, closing the loop on a franchise that’s spanned over two decades.
Do You Need to Watch Puss in Boots Before Shrek 5?
No, not strictly — but it helps. Puss in Boots is a recurring character across the mainline films, and The Last Wish deepens his arc in ways that add emotional context if he appears in Shrek 5. That said, the core Shrek story doesn’t require the spinoffs to make sense.
Minimum viable watch order:
- Shrek (2001)
- Shrek 2 (2004)
- Shrek Forever After (2010)
- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) — optional but recommended
- Shrek 5 (2027)
How Many Shrek Movies Are There?
There are four mainline Shrek films plus two Puss in Boots spinoffs, bringing the total to six released movies, with Shrek 5 as the seventh on the way. Several TV specials and shorts, like Shrek the Halls and Scared Shrekless, exist outside the main numbered order.
All Shrek Movies in Order by Release Date
- Shrek — May 18, 2001
- Shrek 2 — May 19, 2004
- Shrek the Third — May 18, 2007
- Shrek Forever After — May 21, 2010
- Puss in Boots — October 28, 2011
- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish — December 21, 2022
- Shrek 5 — June 30, 2027 (upcoming)
What’s Next for the Franchise?
Shrek 5 is the big confirmed project, currently targeting a June 30, 2027 release after being bumped twice from its original summer 2026 date. Universal and DreamWorks haven’t publicly explained the delays, though scheduling around other animated tentpoles releasing the same year is the widely reported reason. Eddie Murphy has also teased a potential Donkey spinoff in past interviews, though nothing has been formally greenlit or dated. As with any project this far out, treat specifics — cast additions, plot details, exact release windows — as subject to change until the studio locks them in.
FAQ
Is Shrek 2 better than the first Shrek?
It’s widely considered on par or slightly better by critics and audiences, thanks to a sharper script and the addition of Puss in Boots, though the original remains the more culturally iconic entry.
Do the Puss in Boots movies count as Shrek movies in order?
They’re spinoffs that exist within the same universe and timeline, but they’re not part of the core numbered Shrek sequence — think of them as a parallel side series.
What order should kids watch the Shrek movies in?
Release order works fine for kids too, since nothing in the mainline films requires prior spinoff knowledge — just start with Shrek (2001) and go in sequence.
Will Shrek 5 be the last movie?
There’s no official word that Shrek 5 is intended as a series finale, and Eddie Murphy’s comments about a Donkey spinoff suggest the studio sees more life in the franchise beyond it.
That’s the full, no-confusion breakdown of the Shrek movies in order — release date and story order match, so you can just press play and go.
Related: Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Family, Adventure
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