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From the murky swamp to the kingdom of Duloc, Shrek has captured hearts with its wit, adventures and hilarious dialogue.
The franchise kicked off in 2001 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon among audiences young and old. People fell for the grumpy yet loveable ogre Shrek, voiced by Mike Myers, and his wisecracking companion Donkey, voiced by Eddie Murphy. Once the fearless Princess Fiona, voiced by Cameron Diaz, joins the duo, they set off on an adventure and discover a lot about one another along the way.
The success of the first film paved the way for three more: Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007) and Shrek Forever After (2010). But the fun didn’t stop there. The Shrek universe expanded further in 2011 with Puss in Boots, giving Antonio Banderas’ swashbuckling cat the spotlight and returning with a sequel, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, in 2022.
Fans have even more to look forward to as Shrek 5 is currently in development and set to be released in 2026 with the original voice cast plus a-lister Zendaya.
Here’s where you can watch and stream all four Shrek movies and the Puss in Boots films to relive the magic before Shrek 5 hits theaters.
Shrek (2001)
Released in 2001, Shrek is the film that started it all. Paving the way for the franchise, the first story begins with a solitary ogre living in a swamp, whose life is disrupted when a horde of misfit fairy-tale creatures are exiled to his land by the villainous Lord Farquaad (played by John Lithgow).
To reclaim his home, Shrek strikes a deal with Farquaad to rescue Princess Fiona from a tower — which is very difficult to get to, as it is guarded by a large dragon, among other obstacles.
As Shrek sets out with his talkative sidekick Donkey, the adventure quickly evolves from a simple quest to a journey of self-discovery, unexpected relationships and a lot of hilarity along the way.
The film’s humor, filled with fairy-tale parodies and pop culture references, contributed to the DreamWorks movie’s overall success. Shrek was a massive hit with audiences of all ages, grossing over $484 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo, and winning the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2002.
Watch Shrek on Peacock
Shrek 2 (2004)
Shrek 2 hit theaters in 2004 as a highly anticipated sequel and continued the adventures of Shrek, Fiona and Donkey.
This time, the couple travel to the kingdom of Far Far Away to meet Fiona’s royal parents, King Harold and Queen Lillian, voiced by John Cleese and Julie Andrews, respectively. The meeting doesn’t end up going as planned, as King Harold conspires with the Fairy Godmother (voiced by Jennifer Saunders) to break Shrek and Fiona apart and pair the princess with Prince Charming (voiced by Rupert Everett).
The second film also introduced other new characters, such as the fan-favorite Puss in Boots — whose boisterous attitude paved the way for more Shrek stories.
Shrek 2 became one of the highest-grossing animated films at the time, per DirectTV Insider, earning nearly $1 billion worldwide. While that milestone would later be surpassed by Toy Story 3, Shrek also received other accolades, including two Academy Award nominations, including Best Animated Feature.
Watch Shrek 2 on Peacock
Shrek the Third (2007)
Three years later, Shrek the Third continued the saga, with the beloved ogre facing the unexpected responsibility of becoming king when King Harold falls ill.
In an attempt to avoid the role, Shrek sets off with Donkey and Puss in Boots to find the next heir, Fiona’s cousin, Arthur “Artie” Pendragon — voiced by Justin Timberlake. Meanwhile, Prince Charming plots to take over Far Far Away with the help of some fairy-tale villains.
The third installment of the film also introduces audiences to Shrek and Fiona’s three adorable children: Fergus, Farkle and Felicia.
Although Shrek the Third didn’t receive the same critical acclaim as its predecessors, it was still a commercial success, grossing over $808 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo.
Watch Shrek the Third on Peacock
Shrek Forever After (2010)
What was once the final installment of the series, Shrek Forever After was released in 2010 and offered a new twist on the ogre’s story.
Feeling trapped by the monotony of domestic life, Shrek makes a deal with the scheming Rumpelstiltskin (voiced by Walt Dohrn) to relive a day of being a “real ogre” in exchange for one day from his childhood being taken away. However, this deal goes awry, sending Shrek into a dark alternate version of Far Far Away in which he never existed, and Rumpelstiltskin rules.
Shrek must find Fiona and reverse the spell before time runs out. The film revisits the themes of love and identity that made the series resonate with audiences from the get-go.
Watch Shrek Forever After on Max and Hulu and Prime Video with a Max add-on
Puss In Boots (2011)
In 2011, Puss in Boots shifted the spotlight from the swamp to Shrek’s furry sidekick, Puss.
The prequel follows the feline hero as he embarks on a quest to steal magical beans from the notorious criminals Jack and Jill (Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris). His adventure is fueled by a quest for redemption and a team-up with Salma Hayek’s character, the sly Kitty Softpaws, and his former friend, Humpty Dumpty, voiced by Zach Galifianakis.
The spinoff was both a critical and commercial hit, grossing nearly $555 million worldwide, per Box Office Mojo, and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.
Rent Puss in Boots on Prime Video and Apple TV
The Adventures of Puss and Boots (2015-2018)
The Adventures of Puss in Boots premiered on Netflix in 2015 and is an animated TV series that delves deeper into the world of the beloved feline hero from the Shrek universe.
Running until 2018, the show follows Puss (this time voiced by Eric Bauza) as he embarks on adventures in the town of San Lorenzo. After accidentally breaking the spell that hides the town’s treasure, Puss takes on the role of its protector.
The series also introduces a host of new characters, such as Dulcinea, a kind, brave cat who becomes Puss’ close friend, and Artephius, an eccentric alchemist.
In 2016, the show won an Emmy Award for outstanding casting for an animated series or special.
Watch The Adventures of Puss in Boots on Peacock
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, released in 2022, marked a triumphant return for the beloved feline hero after more than a decade, reigniting the Shrek universe following a long hiatus.
The sequel follows Puss as he comes to terms with the realization that he has used up eight of his nine lives. This sends him on a high-stakes journey to find the mythical Last Wish, a fabled star that can restore his lost lives.
By February 2023, The Last Wish had crossed a major milestone — grossing over $401.5 million globally. According to Deadline, this achievement made it the No. 3 biggest studio-animated film since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The movie reintroduced fan-favorite Kitty Softpaws and brought in new fairy-tale characters like the Big Bad Wolf and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
Watch Puss in Boots: The Last Wish on Prime Video
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