Shrek movies in order
Four Shrek films, two Puss in Boots spin-offs, and a fifth arriving for the twenty-fifth anniversary.
Updated 4 August 2026 · 7 titles tracked
Mostly straightforward: Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, Shrek Forever After. One thing catches people out.
Puss in Boots (2011) is a prequel, set before he ever turns up in Shrek 2.
Every Shrek film in order
Release order. The 2011 Puss in Boots is a prequel.
- 1Shrek2001 · The Shrek Films · Essential
- 2Shrek 22004 · The Shrek Films · Essential
- 3Shrek the Third2007 · The Shrek Films
- 4Shrek Forever After2010 · The Shrek Films
- 5Shrek 52026 · The Shrek Films
- 6Puss in Boots2011 · Puss in Boots
- 7Puss in Boots: The Last Wish2022 · Puss in Boots · Essential
Where the Puss in Boots films go
The 2011 film covers how Puss became an outlaw, long before he meets Shrek. Watching it first is perfectly coherent — but his arrival in Shrek 2 is one of the best gags in the series, and it works better if you have not already spent a film with him.
The Last Wish (2022) is a straightforward sequel set after Shrek Forever After, and it is comfortably the best film in the franchise since Shrek 2. If someone will only watch one modern DreamWorks film, that is the one.
Which ones actually hold up
Shrek 2 is the peak — sharper, funnier and better structured than the original, which is not a common outcome.
Shrek the Third is the weak one. Shrek Forever After recovers enough to end the run properly.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is genuinely excellent and works without having seen any Shrek film at all.
Shrek 5
Arriving 23 December 2026, twenty-five years after the original, with Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz all returning.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Shrek movies?
Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, Shrek Forever After, then Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. The 2011 Puss in Boots is a prequel and can be watched at any point.
Is Puss in Boots a prequel?
The 2011 film is, set before he appears in Shrek 2. The Last Wish (2022) is a sequel set after Shrek Forever After.
How many Shrek movies are there?
Seven counting the spin-offs: four Shrek films, two Puss in Boots films, and Shrek 5 in December 2026.
Do I need to watch Shrek before Puss in Boots: The Last Wish?
No. It stands alone completely and is widely considered the best film in the franchise.