Shrek and Puss in Boots: Every Movie in Chronological and Release Order

The Shrek franchise is a classic animated movie series from the early 2000s. Its animation and story drew kids in and let them enjoy its vibrant fantasy world, and the cleverly hidden jokes left something for adults to enjoy, too. It remains a staple of pop culture even now and was recently added to the Library of Congress, further cementing how important Shrek is in animated history. Even though the first movie is now 20 years old, fans are still celebrating its witty jokes and lovable story. The franchise's popularity is so massive and looms large over pop culture that despite the hit Smash Mouth song "All-Star" originating in the 1997 film Mystery Men, its use in Shrek made it one of the most famous songs in the world and one forever associated with the loveable ogre.

Update September 6, 2023: This article has been updated following the release of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and recent rumors surrounding Shrek 5.

Though the main series may be over, the Shrek universe remains at large. The anticipated sequel Puss in Boots: The Last Wish was released to rave reviews, bringing the beloved Puss in Boots back to the big screen in what could be the most successful spin-off series in recent history. While the main character "got green for Christmas", was Scared Shrekless for Halloween, and had TV specials and video games, let's focus on every Shrek movie and its spin-off series Puss in Boots, in chronological order and in order of release.

Shrek Movies in Chronological Order

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

Puss In Boots

A prequel to the main series, Puss in Boots follows the titular character as we’ve never seen him before. Before he met Shrek, Puss in Boots (played perfectly by Antonio Banderas) was a fugitive. He was running from a past robbery gone wrong and sought to restore his lost honor. When he discovers the siblings Jack and Jill have the magic beans he had been searching for, he plans to steal them for his own use but runs into another 'cat burglar' trying to steal them, Kitty Softpaws.

After talking to Kitty, Puss in Boots finds that she works for a previous friend and colleague, Humpty Dumpty, who had convinced Puss to do the botched robbery in the first place. It takes a while for him to come around, but they convince Puss in Boots to join them in stealing the beans and recovering the golden eggs that wait atop the beanstalk. However, what lies in store for him after they find the eggs is something he definitely wasn’t expecting. Now he must make things right or watch his hometown be destroyed in this fun, adorable origin story that, like all Shrek movies, lovingly plays around with fairy tale mythologies. Puss in Boots was released on October 28, 2011.

Shrek

The movie that started it all, Shrek, also follows a titular character in the same offbeat fairy tale universe. Shrek (played by Mike Myers) is an ogre who lives alone in his swamp, and is content with his life. He doesn’t mind that there is no one else around and frequently tries to scare off those who do come close, especially the village people who think he’s bad and try to kill him. However, that all changes after Lord Farquaad orders that all the fairy tale characters be rounded up, and they all end up in Shrek’s swamp.

Upset that he is no longer alone (and he can’t get anyone to leave), Shrek makes the trip to Farquaad to request his land back. He is accompanied by Donkey (an energetic Eddie Murphy performance we can't live without), the companion he can’t quite seem to shake no matter how much he tries. The quest he ends up on in order to clear the swamp ends up being more than Shrek expected, and after meeting Princess Fiona (played by Cameron Diaz), he slowly comes to find that maybe he doesn’t want to be alone all the time anymore. Shrek was released on May 18, 2001.

Shrek 2

In Shrek 2, after Shrek helps save and marries Fiona, he’s already passed the hurdle where he no longer wants to be alone. However, he must now pass another — he, Fiona, and Donkey take the road trip so that he can meet Fiona’s parents for the first time. There is a lot they weren’t expecting from him, including the fact that he is an ogre, and because of this, Fiona is still an ogre as well. Naturally, her parents aren’t very fond of him.

Shrek tries his best to please her parents, but life in the palace is a lot different from the swamp he was used to. However, when he runs into Puss in Boots in the forest and discovers that he’s an assassin sent to kill him, Shrek realizes that there may be more than one reason why Fiona’s parents don’t like him. He must figure out the real reason and how to reveal it to the masses before it’s too late. A weirdly compelling look at the anxieties of young marriage and in-laws, Shrek 2 is a delight. It was released on May 19, 2004.

Shrek the Third

Shrek and Fiona are set to succeed the throne in Shrek the Third, as King Harold is dying. However, acting as regent while the king is incapacitated ends in disaster, showing Shrek that he doesn’t have the ability to rule over the kingdom. Before King Harold dies, Shrek is told that Harold has a nephew who could rule instead. He sets out to find Arthur with Donkey and Puss in Boots, plagued by the knowledge that Fiona is pregnant and he’s about to be a father.

Meanwhile, Prince Charming wants revenge for his mother’s death and attempts to steal the throne, attacking the castle while Shrek is away with the help of the other fairy tale villains. Fiona and her friends try and hold him off as long as they can, and don’t want to give up Shrek’s location or what he’s doing, but it slips out eventually. Now, Shrek doesn’t know the danger waiting for him as he sails back home. Shrek the Third was released on May 18, 2007.

Shrek Forever After

In the emotional last installment of the Shrek-verse, Shrek Forever After, Shrek finds himself longing for the old days when he was alone and feared. Now, with his family and the bit of fame he has gained through his adventures, he finds it impossible to ever be alone. After accidentally lashing out at Fiona, he leaves the building to cool off and finds Rumpelstiltskin in distress. In exchange for his help, Rumpelstiltskin offers an exchange — he’ll use his magic to give Shrek a day when he can be a ‘real ogre’ again, in exchange for taking a day from Shrek’s childhood. He eagerly accepts.

At first, Shrek is having the time of his life. In the alternate reality he was sent to, he was completely alone again, and all the villagers feared him just like they used to. However, he soon finds that this alternate world is going to be the new reality when the day comes to pass, as Rumpelstiltskin took the day Shrek was born, meaning he will soon cease to exist, and everything he ever did never happened. Only true love’s kiss can save him now — but how will he get Fiona to kiss him if she doesn’t know who he is? Shrek Forever After was released on May 21, 2010.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

The sequel to Puss in Boots has been in development since 2012. For many reasons, it was stuck in development hell. But following the release of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the potential for a sequel was developed that would push the design of the franchise in new directions.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is the best version of that follow-up. And even if you don't get to revisit your favorite characters, Puss in Boots makes up for that. Featuring huge names like Florence Pugh, Harvey Guillén, and Olivia Colman, the film tells the story of the titular character having to find a way to recover his nine lives after an accident has left him in the hospital. For this, he will have to find the Last Wish for the Wishing Star and ask for the first eight of his nine lives. This one takes place approximately ten years after Shrek Forever After. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish was released on December 21, 2022.

The film's success was unexpected. It was nominated for an Academy Award, and some even say it's better than the first entry in the spin-off series. This means people are still hungry for Shrek-related sequels. So, where's that Donkey spin-off and the announcement of Shrek 5?