How to watch the Shrek movies in order — including the Puss in Boots spinoffs

If you want to watch the Shrek movies in order but don’t fancy a trip to the swamp, we can help you out. Here’s the optimal way to watch the ogre and his pals, and where you can catch all the movies.

Since the series first began back in 2001, we’ve been treated to four Shrek movies (and a couple of Puss in Boots spinoffs, too).

The Shrek franchise has produced some of the best animated movies since the turn of the millennium. And, in Shrek and Fiona, we’ve got one of the cutest couples to ever grace the big screen.

Still, with six movies to sink your teeth into, where do you begin? Well, we can help you work out the best way to watch the Shrek movies in order.

Shrek movies in release order

The original quartet of Shrek movies arrived every three years between 2001 and 2010. They have been followed by two Puss in Boots spinoffs.

DreamWorks

The latest, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, arrived in 2022. It’s also one of the best movies in the whole franchise, and is the perfect way to round out your marathon.

Here’s the Shrek movies in release order:

• Shrek (2001)
• Shrek 2 (2004)
• Shrek the Third (2007)
• Shrek Forever After (2010)
• Puss in Boots (2011)
• Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

We are still waiting for news on Shrek 5, which could continue the series if it ends up being released as planned.

Shrek movies in chronological order

Watching the Shrek movies in chronological order does change things slightly, as it places the first Puss in Boots movie before all the rest.

The chronology of the stories is actually far more complex than you might have first thought. That’s because the original Shrek movies were set in the 1400s, but then Puss in Boots: The Last Wish came along and retconned this so the series was actually set in the 1600s.

Here’s the chronological order of the Shrek movies:

• Puss in Boots
• Shrek
• Shrek 2
• Shrek the Third
• Shrek Forever After
• Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

The exact dates of the films are hard to pin down, especially in light of that tweak to the timeline. One clue we do have is that, in Shrek the Third, Shrek was at high school in 1409. We also know the first Puss in Boots movie was initially set in 1418.

But, The Last Wish then moved everything to the 1600s, which takes the whole timeline roughly 200 years into the future. The directors of the movie have said The Last Wish is set ten years after Shrek Forever After, which to be honest, just complicates matters further.

It’s also worth noting that, while this is the chronological order, we’d advise you watch the first Puss in Boots movie sometime after Shrek 2. The character first appeared in the franchise in Shrek 2, and the joke may be ruined should you watch his origin movie first.

Puss in Boots (2011)

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Puss in Boots sees the outlaw cat, his egg-shaped friend, and a femme fatale feline set out on an egg hunt. Looking to clear the name of the Golden Goose, the trio come up against Jack and Jill, who are a murderous couple of bandits in this fairytale twist.

The film is a prequel to the franchise, hence why we don’t then see him until Shrek 2, where he is an antagonist for a brief moment before joining Shrek on his adventures. This story shows how Puss became the cat we know and love.

Shrek (2001)

DreamWorks Pictures

We all know the plot to Shrek now, but it basically sees the titular ogre paired up (reluctantly) with a talking donkey as they look to free Princess Fiona from a dangerous castle.

Shrek was a phenomenon when it first came out, and arguably changed the landscape of family movies. We now have Shrek to thank for kids films that subvert expectations, make pop culture references, and always have dance parties at the end. Okay, those may be overplayed tropes by now but they were still fresh and great when Shrek did them.

Shrek 2 (2004)

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Now happily married, Shrek and Fiona travel to the Kingdom of Far Far Away to meet Fiona’s parents. However, they don’t quite get the welcome they hoped.

Now, when people point to a sequel that’s better than the original, this is a top contender. Not only is this a fantastic continuation of the series, it’s an iconic comedy movie in general. Has any other film reached the heights of that “I Need a Hero” scene? Didn’t think so. This is also the movie that introduced Puss in Boots to the franchise, hence why we advise you watch this one before the character’s prequel film.

Shrek the Third (2007)

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Fiona’s father is now dead, and Shrek realizes he will have to rule the kingdom of Far, Far Away unless he can find a suitable replacement. So, Shrek, Donkey, and Puss head to high school to recruit Artie, Fiona’s teenage cousin.

Shrek 3 is arguably the biggest fumble of the series, as many found it underwhelming after the first two iconic films. Some of its jokes land flat, and recycling villains is never a good idea. However, there are still some fun moments, such as the Princess breakout scene set to Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song.

Shrek Forever After (2010)

Dreamworks

Shrek 4 sees Rumpelstiltskin taking advantage of a down-in-the-dumps Shrek, erasing the ogre from existence so that he can rule the kingdom instead.

While this movie doesn’t quite reach the heights of Shrek 1 and 2, it is far better than Shrek the Third, and helps wrap up the series in a satisfying way. It takes Shrek back to his roots of being a feared ogre, for a start. Plus, there are some fun dance scenes and action set-pieces littered throughout, and this movie’s offers an interesting take on Fiona.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

Dreamworks

Puss in Boots has reached the end of his nine lives, and must now battle fantastical villains to secure a special wish to restore his mortality. However, he learns some valuable lessons about selflessness and friendship along the way.

After an 11-year wait, nobody thought this film was going to make such a splash. However, The Last Wish has delighted audiences, with a heartfelt story, intimidating villains, and great animation. We waited a long time, but boy, was it worth it, as this movie is now considered one of the best in the franchise.

Where can I watch the Shrek movies?

The Shrek movies are actually spread across different streaming platforms, but most are on either Peacock or Netflix.

Below, we’ve listed each streaming service that you’re able to view each of the six Shrek movies:

• Shrek: Hulu and Peacock
• Shrek 2: Hulu and Peacock
• Shrek the Third: Prime Video and other VOD platforms
• Shrek Forever After: Netflix
• Puss in Boots: Netflix
• Puss in Boots: The Last Wish: Peacock

That’s all the Shrek movies in order, then. If you want more animated fun, check out what we know about Frozen 3 and Toy Story 5. Or, for more from DreamWorks, here’s the rundown on the How to Train Your Dragon remake.

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