Every ‘Shrek’ Movie Ranked from Worst to Best

The ‘Shrek’ series reshaped early-2000s animation with fairy-tale parodies, star-studded voice casts, and box-office muscle that helped cement DreamWorks Animation as a Pixar rival. Below is a countdown through the four mainline films—each entry highlights concrete details like directors, cast, plots, budgets, and receipts to give quick, useful context on where each installment sits in the franchise’s timeline and legacy.

4. ‘Shrek the Third’ (2007)

Directed by Chris Miller (with Raman Hui as co-director), this sequel follows Shrek’s search for a suitable heir, introducing Justin Timberlake as Arthur “Artie” Pendragon alongside returning leads Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and Antonio Banderas. The film opened on May 18, 2007, and set then-records for an animated film’s opening day and weekend in North America before finishing with a worldwide gross of about $808 million on a reported $160 million budget. Its story expands Far Far Away’s roster with fairy-tale teens and a villain turn from Prince Charming, situating much of the action around a medieval high-school riff. Paramount distributed theatrically, with later home-media and catalog rights ultimately reverting to Universal following corporate changes.

3. ‘Shrek Forever After’ (2010)

The fourth film, directed by Mike Mitchell, centers on an alternate-timeline plot triggered by Shrek’s deal with Rumpelstiltskin, bringing back Myers, Murphy, Diaz, and Banderas and adding Walt Dohrn as the antagonist. Released in 2010 and sometimes marketed as ‘The Final Chapter,’ it was produced for an estimated $135–165 million and earned roughly $756 million worldwide. The movie premiered in 3D formats and IMAX, continuing the series’ emphasis on technical upgrades in animation and stereoscopy. Distribution ran through Paramount in theaters, with subsequent catalog rights changes leading to Universal control years later.

2. ‘Shrek 2’ (2004)

Co-directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, and Conrad Vernon, the second installment sends Shrek and Fiona to Far Far Away to meet Fiona’s parents, adding standout characters like the Fairy Godmother and Puss in Boots. It premiered in May 2004, screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, and became one of the year’s biggest hits after a record-setting rollout across more than 4,000 U.S. theaters. The film dominated Memorial Day weekend and sustained a lengthy Top-10 box-office run before closing after 149 days in theaters. A one-week theatrical re-release in April 2024 marked its twentieth anniversary.

1. ‘Shrek’ (2001)

The original film, directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, adapts William Steig’s 1990 picture book and features Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. Released on May 18, 2001, it grossed about $492 million worldwide on a $60 million budget, helped usher mainstream digital projection at select venues, and won the inaugural Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Its success established DreamWorks Animation as a major competitor and launched a multimedia franchise spanning sequels, spin-offs, and theme-park attractions. The production blended pop-culture pastiche with a fairy-tale road-movie structure that broadened its audience reach.

What’s your own order—drop your picks in the comments and tell us why!