How many Shrek movies are there?

There are 4 films in Shrek, running from Shrek (2001) to Shrek Forever After (2010). Watching all of them takes about 6 hours.

What order should I watch Shrek in?

Start with Shrek (2001) and work through in order. The story and the release dates line up for this saga, so there is only one sensible order.

Which Shrek movie should I watch first?

Shrek (2001). It is both the first release and the earliest point in the story.

How long does it take to watch all of Shrek?

About 6 hours of screen time across 4 films, or 6h 8m to be exact. At one film a night that is 4 evenings.

Where do the Puss in Boots films fit?

They are spinoffs starring a side character and are not required to follow the main Shrek story.

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Watch Order Generator

Shrek Watch Order

Watch Shrek in release order, starting with Shrek (2001) and finishing with Shrek Forever After (2010). The story runs in the same order the films were released, so there is only one order to follow. All 4 films run about 6 hours in total.

Films

6h 8m

Total runtime

2001 to 2010

Years

1.Shrek
2001 · 1h 30m
Where it all starts, introducing Shrek, Donkey and Fiona in a self-contained fairy tale.
2.Shrek 2
2004 · 1h 32m
Picks up right after the first film and brings Puss in Boots into the group.
3.Shrek the Third
2007 · 1h 33m
The third chapter, following on from Shrek 2 with the question of who rules Far Far Away.
4.Shrek Forever After
2010 · 1h 33m
The finale, an alternate-reality story that only lands if you know the earlier films.

Which order is right for you

Watching Shrek in order

The Shrek films follow one ongoing story in a single timeline, so release order and chronological order are the same. Start with the 2001 original. Watch in release order.

Release order follows the real-world dates the films came out. It is usually the safest choice for a first watch, because every reveal, cameo, and callback lands the way audiences experienced it at the time.

Shrek is one of the straightforward ones. The story moves forward with each release, so the chronological timeline and the release timeline are the same list. Start at the top and work down.

Planning a marathon? Work out the schedule with the Binge Watch Calculator, or browse every franchise watch order.