One of the most well-endowed of animated franchises, Shrek has been DreamWorks Animation's primary crowd-pleaser for years, as the film that established them as a worthy competitor to Pixar has a massive fanbase even today. The franchise's humor, which appeals to both kids and adults, seems to be the "key factor" that's still bringing in viewers; and thanks to the magic of the Internet, whether you want to relive the wit and charm of the 2001 original or the 2011 spin-off, there's a place you can buy and watch it online.
Here's a brief list of each Shrek film, including a list of online retailers where you can watch Shrek online, including both rental and purchase options as well as a brief summary of its premise, critical reception, and final box office gross.
Shrek (2001) – Available on Hulu
- Also available for rent on: Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
DreamWorks Animation's fifth feature film, 2001's Shrek, follows a reclusive ogre (the titular character) who finds his isolated way of living interrupted when his swamp is overrun by a swarm of fairy tale characters banished from the outside kingdom. Intending to petition for his property to be left alone, Shrek, accompanied by a mythic talking donkey, goes to meet the sinister Lord Farquaad. However, through a bizarre turn of events, Shrek is forced into going on a dangerous rescue mission to retrieve the princess Farquaad intends to wed (who's hiding an incredible secret of her own), assumedly in exchange for the aforementioned swamp being cleared of its extraneous inhabitants.
Heralded by many as one of the most groundbreaking animated films of our time, Shrek received praise from critics for its visuals, acting, and adult-oriented humor (including a multitude of pop culture references). It was also a massive box office success, making $484 million on a budget of $60 million and going on to win the first-ever Oscar for Best Animated Feature (beating Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and Monsters, Inc.)
Shrek 2 (2004) – Available on Hulu
- Also available for rent on: Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
Inspired by the plot of the 1967 Spencer Tracy comedy-drama Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, 2004's Shrek 2 follows Princess Fiona as she attempts to introduce her now-beau Shrek to her very human parents - with mixed results. Meanwhile, an evil Fairy Godmother schemes to get rid of Shrek so the door will be open for her beloved son, Prince Charming himself, to wed Fiona. This forces the dynamic duo of Shrek and Donkey (alongside a new ally - the Zorro-like fairy tale feline Puss in Boots) to put an end to her sinister scheme. Obviously, the significant budget increase on this second installment (which cost $150 million to make) led to improved visuals and that, combined with the - admittedly slightly dated - style of humor employed by the original, impressed critics a second time around.
Even with this level of critical praise, no one could predict was what a box office sensation Shrek's second outing would be. With a gross of almost $920 million, it became the highest-grossing animated film of all time (although it was later surpassed by 2010's Toy Story 3) as well as the highest-grossing film of 2004; it is, to this day, DreamWorks' most successful release ever. Like its predecessor, Shrek 2 received an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature - though it lost to Pixar's The Incredibles.
Shrek The Third (2007) – Available to rent on Prime Video
- Also available to rent on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
Shrek the Third begins with Shrek poised to inherit the kingdom of Far Far Away. However, he becomes very conflicted about this, as he complains of his own inadequacy, claiming an ogre is not fit to rule. Oddly enough, the defeated Prince Charming is thinking the same thing, as he begins to set in motion master plans to overthrow the kingdom - and, of course, the only ones who can stop the vengeance-seeking villain are Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, and Boots.
Critics and audiences weren't as enamored with Shrek the Third as they had been with the franchise's previous installments, with some saying that the franchise was beginning to lose its appeal. Still, several outlets gave the film a positive review, with the shared reason primarily being that number three, while formulaic, still captured the original's humor and charm while creating its own singular experience. Box-office-wise, DreamWorks proved whatever negative critical reception there was had very little impact on the film's performance - destined from the start to become a summer blockbuster, it managed a whopping $813 million on a budget of $160 million. This made it the fourth-biggest film to be released in 2007, behind new installments from the (much bigger) Spider-Man, Harry Potter, and Pirates of the Caribbean franchises.
Shrek Forever After (2010) – Available on Sling
- Also available for rent on: Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
2010's Shrek Forever After follows the titular character - now one half of a parental unit - as his patience begins to wear thin for both his tepid family life and his tiring celebrity status. After stumbling upon the magical Rumpelstiltskin, Shrek requests one day to live out his previous triumphs as a "true" ogre. Secretly seeking revenge for a past wrong, Rumpel creates a contract that will allow this in exchange for the erasure of a forgotten moment from Shrek's childhood - purportedly with no ill effects whatsoever. However, when the day erased turns out to be his own birthday, Shrek - now in an alternate universe where he doesn't even exist - has just 24 hours to break the contract and return home before he disappears forever. While many critics noted that much of the franchise's trademark charm was lost to number four by the film's habit of taking heavily from its predecessors, others claimed that it was still noticeably different; they argued that the tone was both more unique and more nuanced, and praised the film's humor and emotion.
Middling critical reception couldn't take down the veritable cinematic behemoth that is the Shrek franchise, and Forever After still managed to shake up the box office, delivering $752 million on a budget of around $135-165 million.
Puss in Boots (2011) – Available on Netflix
- Also available for rent on: Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, YouTube
One of the Shrek franchise's most beloved characters, Antonio Banderas' Puss in Boots, became the focus of his own film in 2011. The film takes place before his first meeting with Shrek, as the adventurous feline attempts to retrieve a set of magic beans that will allow him to reach the goose that lays the golden eggs, an adventure that will pit him against many different adversaries.
What seemed like a pointless spin-off at first glance actually turned out to be a spark of life for the Shrek franchise, as critics appreciated the film's effort despite not seeing it as being particularly revolutionary for animated cinema. Making $555 million on a budget of "just" $130 million, Puss in Boots proved that even the most tired of franchises can make surprising strides with enough talent and creativity.