The Shrek Series Ranked

   Tying a little bow on my little Shrek themed month, I thought it would be fitting to quickly rank all the instalments in the series, based on my personal feelings for them. All the movies, spin-off movies, short films, and even the musical will be arranged from my personal least favorite, to my absolute favorite entry. 

There are some conditions that I quickly need to address … I won’t be including the Netflix series “The Adventures of Puss in Boots”, as it’s the only series with multiple episodes in the franchise, and it’s harder to judge that when compared to either self-contained movies or specials. By extent, I won’t be including the interactive special titled “Puss in Boots: Trapped in an Epic Tale”, as it just came off as more of an interactive feature then a proper short. 

I certainly won’t be including the 2010 special “Shrek's Yule Log” … as you’re basically looking at a screensaver of a log the whole time. I also won’t be including any books or video games, as I view those as different mediums. Lastly, I won’t be including the 2001 short “Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party”, as I grew-up with the first movie on VHS, in which this special was edited into the movie … thus, in my mind, I just can’t separate it as a different entity. With all that said, here’s all sixteen instalments in the "Shrek" series ranked …

 

#16 “Shrek the Third” (2007) 

While I’ve obviously seen far worse sequels, and generally worse animated films then this before, it’s still unmistakably a disappointing follow-up movie to the excellent “Shrek 2”. Things seem promising with the villains rounding-up to over throw the kingdom, but Shrek unfortunately is stuck in a less exciting story, as he sets out on a mission to find a new king, and there's not much else to it then that. The slap-stick was over-blown, the plot was predictable, and the tone was kind of a joyless mess at times. Some jokes were okay, but most of it was embracing, the characters weren't as appealing, and in the long-run, I feel you can remove this movie from canon, and loose nothing in the series. I’m sure this film has its fans … good for them … but I personally just ignore this one in favor of the other superior instalments in the series.

 

#15 “Shrek the Halls” (2007) 

A Shrek themed Christmas special honestly seems like a great idea on paper … in execution however … it is not! Following after the disappointment of “Shrek the Third” comes this little piece of holiday fluff, that tries to make Shrek learn an important lesson on Christmas. Unfortunately, the specials intentions are rather mixed, as I found myself sympathizing with Shrek too much, to the point where I couldn’t really get on board with what the special was trying to convey. It’s not even that pleasant a holiday special to look at, the jokes are tiered ... even a little too unpleasant at times ... the music is lacking, and there’s simply nothing charming or magical about this holiday stinker.

 

#14 “Shrek: The Musical” (2008) 

I initially wasn’t going to include the Broadway Musical, but sense it had its own DVD release, I feel it can count on my ranking. The synopsis is … basically the first movie all over again, just in musical format … and honestly, less good as a result. I will say that the production design is impressive, the cast gives their all, at least two of the songs are decent … but other than that … this is kind of a hard show to watch. While some animated movies can make for great Broadway shows ... "Shrek" just wasn't one of them. Without going into lengthy detail, it's kind of a cringe experience, with mostly irritating songs, and it really just makes me want to watch the superior first movie instead.   

 

#13 “Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos” (2012) 

Antonio Banderas reprises his signature Puss in Boots role in this short film, revolving around a stolen crown, a silent villain, and three troublesome little kittens that our lead has to get along with. If Salma Hayek's Kitty Soft Paws was present, this short would be stronger, but nope. Still, the best way to describe this film is cute … but completely forgettable … as it’s simply Puss in Boots becoming a father figure to three rebellious young kittens, and watching them go on a little adventure. So, you take it for what it’s worth, and mildly cute is all I can really say about it.

 

#12 “The Pig Who Cried Werewolf” (2011) 

Time for the Three Little Pigs to star in their own little short … which is an odd choice ... but I welcome another spooky themed Shrek short any day. This time revolving around the lead pig getting a busted leg, and is forced to pass his time spying on his rather suspicious neighbor, who’s none other than the big bad wolf. Now, he has to convince his brothers that this neighbor transforms into a monster whenever the moonlight is out. The set-up is a fine mix of “Rear Window”, “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” and obviously various Werewolf stories. However, in a funny twist, it’s the wolf who’s cursed to transform into a human whenever the moon is out … and a rather crazy human at that. While I miss the main Shrek characters, and the pig’s voices can get annoying, this short is okay, it has an effective build-up, and an amusing pay-off.

 

#11 “Donkey’s Christmas Shrektacular” (2010) 

In this Holiday themed short, the Shrek gang get together to once again celebrate Christmas, this time through a variety of songs, dancing … and that’s about it. The simplicity of this special puts it well above the previously mentioned “Shrek the Halls”, as it doesn’t reach for anything meaningful, and simply lets you enjoy a little slice of the holiday. I don't make a tradition to watch this around Christmas, nor are the songs among the most demanding to listen to, but it's worth a viewing. Nothing more or less then a tiny, yet delightful little Christmas offering.  

 

#10 “Puss in Boots” (2011) 

My favorite character from the “Shrek” series finally gots a theatrical, stand-alone adventure, and while it doesn't live up to its full potential, it at least has some genuine charms, most notably the fun banter between Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek in their respected lead roles. It’s all around one of those films that’s perfectly enjoyable while I’m watching it, but it’s also quick to fade from my memory afterword … which is not good for a movie starring my favorite character from the franchise. As a side note, this could have made for a great Jack-in-the-Beanstalk adaption, as it's long over-due for an animated telling. It also doesn’t pack the same laughs, or even charm of the early “Shrek” movies, but I’ll still take this for what it is … a disposable, yet perfectly enjoyable family venture.

 

#9 “Shrek Forever After” (2010) 

My favorite of the post “Shrek 2” movies, and while not quiet on par with the original two classics, I still have a good deal of fondness for this instalment. When Shrek makes the wrong deal with the wrong guy, he's trapped in an alternate reality, and needs to set things right again. It’s certainly not as funny as other “Shrek” offerings, but unlike the previously mentioned “Puss in Boots” movie, this one is at least memorable, has its energized highlights, as well as emotional character ties, and manages to be an entertaining experience. Everything that made “Shrek” great is celebrated in this exciting, alternate reality adventure, and it’s just a nice little cheery to be placed on top of the series, bringing everything to a satisfying conclusion.

 

#8 “Puss in Boots: The Trident” (2023) 

In this short continuation of the 2022 movie "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish", our hero's tell stories by the campfire, as Puss and Kitty recap when they had an adventure out at sea, battling both pirates and Goldilocks for the magical trident of Poseidon. While a very straight-forward short, with nothing remarkable, it never the less gets extra points for tying-in so close with one of the best movies, as well as containing all the comedy, action and even animation of it's theatrical predecessor. It may not have been demanding, but it's still a more then welcomed add-on to "The Last Wish", which is more then I can say about some of the other shorts in this series.  

#7 “Far, Far Away Idol” (2004)

In this short continuation of “Shrek 2”, Simon Cowell approaches the Shrek gang, and proposes a musical competition. The result is loving little spoof of “American Idol”, in which all the Shrek characters perform individual songs on stage to impress the judge. While this one can almost count as an “interactive feature”, I personally have a lot of nostalgia for this little short, as it directly ties into another one of my favorite movies in the series, and I was exposed to it at the peak of my “American Idol” faze. As such, I just couldn’t keep this amusing little short off my ranked list.    

 

#6 “Thriller Night” (2011) 

Kicking off my top five favorites in the franchise, is my personal favorite of all Shrek’s musical offerings, and by extent, one of his best holiday themed shorts. 

It’s Halloween night, and Shrek finds himself at the mercy of his friends, who all want to watch a bright and fluffy musical. In an effort to compromise Shrek’s needs for thrills, Puss and Donkey put on a scary musical, which has the backward effect of raising all their previous villains from their graves. In my view, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” is the all-time greatest song to listen to at Halloween parties, and I found this to be an immensely fun spoof, as well as loving tribute to the classic music video. Some of the lyrics are appropriately changed around to fit with both the characters and setting, but it still keeps the same beat, tone, atmosphere, and bouncy fun of its source material. It even contains some additional material that worked for a modern update, including flashy colors, and a detailed selection of back-up singers. It’s all-around a great way for kids to be introduced to the classic song … for us familiar’s, it’s a fun little homage, and one that’s shore to thrill.

 

#5 “Shrek” (2001) 

It’s the animated classic that started it all … and while I honestly wasn’t in love with “Shrek” back when I was a kid, I did still enjoy watching it every now and then. Time has overall been good to this film, as I find myself enjoying it even more as an adult, and even admire it more than I initially did back when I was a kid. I still wouldn’t put it among my absolute favorite animated pictures, but there is a reason it’s been preserved as a classic. The characters are still very likable, the jokes mostly work, the music is pleasing, and beyond anything else, it’s the message that keeps it above the quality of most animated pictures to come out in recent years. If it’s been a while sense you’ve seen “Shrek”, I’d say give it another watch, and see if it either holds up, or is even better then you remember.    

 

#4 “Shrek 4-D: The Ghost of Lord Farquaad” (2003)

 

Set right after the events of the first movie, Shrek and Princess Fiona are ready to go out on their honeymoon. Unfortunately, their arch enemy Farquaad arrives on the scene as a phantom, and whisks Fiona away to be his figurative queen of the underworld. Thus, the chase is on, as Shrek and Donkey venture through a spooky forest in their effort to rescue the captive princess. This is the longest of all the shorts, all the cast is back (including John Lithgow as the signature villain), and the venture feels the most like a mini-sequel to the original classic. It was originally presented as a 4D ride at universal, but it’s been modified for the home-viewing format, with more than enough highlights to pass as one of my favorite Shrek offerings. While the 3D shots can be distracting at times, the short still moves with an exhilarating pace, the action scenes are a lot of fun, the jokes are great, and the locations are beautifully detailed. 

 

#3 “Scared Shrekless” (2010) 

This may not be the most recommended Halloween special ever made, but as far as “Shrek” spinoffs go, this is personally my favorite extension of the series, and a huge improvement over the first Christmas special. It’s an anthology set on Halloween night, with the characters telling multiple spooky stories, each one lovingly satirizing classic horror movies in the vein of "The Bride of Frankenstein", "Psycho" and "The Exorcist". The special never once aims for more than straight forward, holiday fun ... and it delivers all the way. The animation is fantastic, the jokes were fast and funny, there are plenty of references to things I liked from the "Shrek" films, and the many different stories told in this special are equally inventive, and memorable in their own distinct ways.

 

#2 “Shrek 2” (2004) 

Without question, my child-hood favorite of the long-standing “Shrek” franchise, one of my favorite animated movies ever made, and I’d even place it among my favorite comedies! The casting is perfect, the story neatly builds on the original, the jokes are hilarious, the setting of Far, Far Away is brilliant, and it’s the one film in which the characters just feel the strongest, and most appealing to me. It also has my favorite ensemble of outstanding new supporting characters to join in the fun, with great villains, and new comer Puss in Boots mainly stealing the show. The animation is top-notch, the music is great, the story is sweet, romantic, the climax gets me riveted all these years later, and best of all … this really is one of the funniest animated family films under the sun. “Shrek 2” is simply one of my favorite sequels to an animated picture, as it not only compliments the first, but can stand apart on its own, and debatably is superior … it certainly is in my view!

#1 “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (2022) 

It had been a hot-minuet sense we last had an adventure with Puss in Boots, and by extent sense we ventured into the "Shrek" franchise, and as such, the odds weren't initially in this films favor ... but low and behold, the righters, animators, imaginations, and the story-tellers really spent that decade crafting the best possible spin-off sequel they could make. 

Maybe a hot take on my part ... but this unassuming sequel has become my new favorite of the long running "Shrek" franchise. I'm not kidding when I say every detail was done perfectly ... the action was brilliantly staged, and bursting with energy. The animation is beautifully stylized, yet still fits into this universe. More then anything, the excitement of the journey is complimented with meaningful morals regarding life and how we spend our days ... and the two surprisingly work together so well. Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek have never shined brighter as their respected characters then in this outing, and it left me wanting to see more of them. The supporting characters are also equally likable ... and the villains ... wow, dose this film reach a high point for an ensemble of great animated villains. In the end, for all this franchises up's and downs, I really don't think you could ask for a stronger, sweeter, family adventure then "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" ... and my favorite of the whole "Shrek" franchise. 

Thanks for reading my countdown … and continue to enjoy both the movies and specials you Love!