Shrek 2 narrowly takes the crown for its unusually strong ensemble, sharper comedy, and expanded fairy-tale world. The original remains the most influential and inventive entry.
Shrek 2 expands the original’s world while delivering the franchise’s strongest blend of comedy, character chemistry, satire, and emotional payoff.
Multiple supplied rankings place Shrek 2 first or emphasize its unusually effective humor, Puss in Boots, and broader ensemble.We earn commission from qualifying purchases.
The original Shrek remains the most culturally significant entry, pairing fresh fairy-tale satire with an instantly memorable central trio and a durable emotional core.
Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, Collider, and SlashFilm describe the 2001 film as influential, subversive, funny, and broadly appealing.We earn commission from qualifying purchases.
Shrek Forever After is a sincere, more reflective finale whose family themes work better than its alternate-reality premise and uneven comic energy.
Supplied rankings generally place it below the first two films but above Shrek the Third, while noting its family-focused story and mixed execution.We earn commission from qualifying purchases.
Shrek the Third has energetic comedy and a lively ensemble, but its more familiar plot and weaker character development limit its lasting impact.
Supplied coverage describes it as funny and entertaining while consistently ranking it below the first two films and criticizing its mixed results.We earn commission from qualifying purchases.
Puss in Boots is a charming, action-forward spin-off with strong animation, though its separation from Shrek’s core ensemble makes it less definitive.
Supplied coverage praises its animation and adventure while placing it below the main Shrek films in universe-wide rankings.We earn commission from qualifying purchases.
Three independent write-ins unlock an honorable mention. The 10 strongest active mentions are shown; inactive mentions archive after 12 months. At 25 recent votes, a contender is scored for possible automatic Top 5 promotion.
No honorable mentions yet. Community suggestions appear below while they gather support.
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The five criteria create the AI baseline. The community adjustment is then added or subtracted to produce the current published score.
| Criterion | #1Shrek 2 | #2Shrek | #3Shrek Forever After | #4Shrek the Third | #5Puss in Boots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | 97 | 76 | 63 | 68 | |
| 95 | 92 | 73 | 75 | 66 | |
| 94 | 92 | 79 | 68 | 70 | |
| 91 | 88 | 78 | 70 | 76 | |
| 91 | 89 | 80 | 67 | 60 | |
| AI baseline scoreWeighted criteria result | 92.6 | 92.2 | 76.8 | 68.7 | 67.9 |
| Community adjustmentVote-share influence | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Current published scoreBaseline + community | 93 | 92 | 77 | 69 | 68 |
The five criteria create the AI baseline. The community adjustment is then added or subtracted to produce the current published score.
| Criterion | #1Shrek 2 | #2Shrek | #3Shrek Forever After | #4Shrek the Third | #5Puss in Boots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 | 97 | 76 | 63 | 68 | |
| 95 | 92 | 73 | 75 | 66 | |
| 94 | 92 | 79 | 68 | 70 | |
| 91 | 88 | 78 | 70 | 76 | |
| 91 | 89 | 80 | 67 | 60 | |
| AI baseline scoreWeighted criteria result | 92.6 | 92.2 | 76.8 | 68.7 | 67.9 |
| Community adjustmentVote-share influence | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Current published scoreBaseline + community | 93 | 92 | 77 | 69 | 68 |
Choose any two contenders.
We’ll line up what matters.
2004
2001
Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon
Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson
Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas
Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow
Fantasy comedy
Fantasy comedy
Far Far Away and surrounding fairy-tale realms
A fairy-tale kingdom and Shrek’s swamp
Subjective editorial ranking synthesized from recurring themes in supplied professional rankings and reviews, then scored against five weighted criteria.