Shrek (2001)
Kernel Score: 87% · 18,466 ratings · Rated PG
Genres: Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure, Family
Released: 2001-05-18
Runtime: 90 minutes
Is Shrek worth watching?
Must-watch. Shrek tweaks fairy tales with jokes aimed at parents and a surprisingly warm story about an ogre who finds friends. Some of the pop-culture gags show their age, but the characters and heart still work.
Watch it if you
- like animated comedies with a sly edge
- enjoy fairy-tale spoofs
- want a funny family film
Skip it if you
- dislike crude humour and innuendo
- want a straight fairy tale
Best for: Family movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Shrek
- Stream: Peacock
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
It ain't easy bein' green -- especially if you're a likable (albeit smelly) ogre named Shrek. On a mission to retrieve a gorgeous princess from the clutches of a fire-breathing dragon, Shrek teams up with an unlikely compatriot -- a wisecracking donkey.
Shrek parents' guide: ages 6+
Parents need to know that this animated fairy-tale comedy mixes wholesome heart with some crude humor and innuendo aimed at adults.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Cartoon action including a fire-breathing dragon and a villain, but comedic rather than graphic.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Some — Contains some adult-oriented innuendo and suggestive humor woven into the fairy-tale parody.
- Language: Some — Includes mild crude humor and comic insults.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Shrek
If you liked Shrek, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Shrek 2 (2004) — 82%: The sequel, with more jokes and a bigger cast
- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) — 89%: Fairy-tale adventure with a charming outlaw
- The Emperor's New Groove (2000) — 87%: Sharp, silly animated comedy with a selfish hero
- Beauty and the Beast (1991) — 90%: The classic fairy tale that Shrek loves to tease
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010) — 87%: Funny, heartfelt dragon adventure
- The Lego Movie (2014) — 85%: Fast, jokey animation with clever self-awareness
Director
Cast
- Mike Myers as Shrek / Blind Mouse (voice)
- Eddie Murphy as Donkey (voice)
- Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona (voice)
- John Lithgow as Lord Farquaad (voice)
- Vincent Cassel as Monsieur Hood (voice)
- Peter Dennis as Ogre Hunter (voice)
- Clive Pearse as Ogre Hunter (voice)
- Jim Cummings as Captain of the Guards (voice)
- Bobby Block as Baby Bear (voice)
- Chris Miller as Geppetto / Magic Mirror (voice)
Shrek FAQ
Is Shrek worth watching?
Must-watch. Shrek tweaks fairy tales with jokes aimed at parents and a surprisingly warm story about an ogre who finds friends. Some of the pop-culture gags show their age, but the characters and heart still work.
Where can I watch Shrek?
In the US you can stream Shrek on Peacock and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Shrek OK for kids?
Shrek is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 6+. Parents need to know that this animated fairy-tale comedy mixes wholesome heart with some crude humor and innuendo aimed at adults.
What movies are like Shrek?
If you liked Shrek, try Shrek 2, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, The Emperor's New Groove and Beauty and the Beast.