(Credit: Netflix)

Shrek needs to be considered one of the most groundbreaking films in the history of animated movies, as it is still as relevant as it was 24 years ago. Yes, people, it has been more than two decades since your favourite Ogre hit the screens. Before the year 2001, people were obsessed with fairy tales, but Shrek completely changed the narrative when it hit theatres.

It is still a widely liked franchise since, after the success of the first film, the makers made three more (and two spin-offs). But there is always a problem that comes with these franchise films, especially for those who haven’t watched any of these movies. That problem is, “Where do I start?”

In fact, every franchise fan has faced this dilemma at some time: whether to start at the very beginning, or can you just skip to the good stuff? Many times, one part of a franchise is available on a different OTT, running the whole experience.

Lucky for Shrek fans, all six films of the franchise are now streaming on Netflix. But the question remains the same. Can you dive straight into the sequels, or do you need to go back to 2001 and that swampy first step?

The thing about the Shrek series is that every film has its own personality. Some sequels are built directly on the first, while others practically stand alone. And that is why it’s worth asking: do you need the whole onion, or can you peel off a layer and still get the flavour?

Let’s go film by film and figure it out.

All the Shrek movies in the right order

Shrek (2001)

Let’s begin with the OG. It all starts with Shrek the ogre, Donkey the motor-mouth sidekick, and Fiona the princess with a twist. The plot is pretty simple. The ogre needs to rescue Fiona from a dragon while dealing with Lord Farquaad. But the twist comes in when he accidentally falls in love with Fiona along the way.

Don’t worry, we won’t spoil it for you, but you should know that this is where the franchise’s satirical edge was born. The film is a clear jab at Disney-style fairy tales, the “All Star” opening, and the karaoke ending. Everything makes it iconic. Can you skip it? Technically, yes. It’s good enough that all the sequels recap the basics. But it’s better to know that if you miss this one, you will be missing the spark that makes the series more than just another set of kids’ movies.

Shrek 2 (2004)

Three years later, after the huge success of part one, the makers brought us this. The only thing you need to know about this one is that if there’s one sequel you can watch without any homework, it’s Shrek 2. In this part, Shrek and Fiona head to Far Far Away to meet her royal parents. But this time, we have a fairy godmother swooping in with her schemes, Prince Charming tries his luck, and Puss in Boots steals every scene he’s in. This guy later became so famous that he got two of his own spinoffs.

So even without watching the first film, Shrek 2 works. All the characters are reintroduced naturally, so you don’t have to worry about knowing them. The jokes, as usual, are hilarious and land perfectly, and the story feels complete on its own. All in all, no backstory required.

Shrek the Third (2007)

This film starts on a good note, and Shrek and Fiona are now together. But the twist is that they have to face parenthood while they also try to secure an heir to the throne. What follows is a high-seas mission, some very cringey bonding time with Arthur (Justin Timberlake), and the running gag of Donkey and Puss in each other’s bodies.

But here’s the thing: this one doesn’t hit as hard without the first two films. You need the emotional setup to care about Shrek’s panic at being a dad or his strained sense of duty. On its own, it is both messy and fun, but if you skip the previous parts, you will also be skipping the character buildup of Shrek over the years, so it is not the best entry point.

Shrek Forever After (2010)

This one has Shrek in full midlife crisis mode, and he is making a deal with Rumpelstiltskin. Poor Ogre gets dropped into an alternate timeline. What comes as a shock is that all of a sudden, Fiona is a warrior princess, and the Donkey barely knows him. The saddest part is that Far Far Away has become a dictatorship. It’s darker than the others but also surprisingly heartfelt.

You can watch this on its own and don’t need the alternate reality structure, which makes it easy to follow. But if you watch the other three parts, we promise the payoff is sweeter, as you’ve grown with Shrek since the first film. Seeing him wish away his past hits differently when you have actually watched it unfold.

Puss in Boots (2011)

Puss in Boots is a character so goated that the makers decided to give him his own spin-off. This film rewinds the clock and shows Puss’s adventures before he met Shrek. It is comparatively lighter and more playful than the Shrek series.

It has a fairy-tale twist and enough charm to prove that he could carry a film on his own. The good part is you don’t need to watch the main Shrek films to follow it, but fans of Shrek 2 will get extra joy seeing how Puss became the legend he is.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

Since it returned more than a decade later, this time, Puss came with a surprisingly mature edge. Here, he has burnt through eight of his nine lives, and the film explores what it means to live without taking time for granted.

This film is quite stylish and funny, and unexpectedly emotional. Moreover, it was widely enjoyed by the viewers of Netflix. This can also be classified as a spin-off that stands shoulder to shoulder with the best of Shrek. So even if you skip parts of the main saga, this one is worth watching on its own.