Disney and Pixar remain the leading forces in animated family entertainment, but DreamWorks Animation has given them a run for their money. The studio has continued to release extremely lucrative animated films that have introduced audiences to some of the most beloved animated characters on the screen. Movies like Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon 2, The Croods, and Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted have proven to be among DreamWorks Animation’s most successful movies, but one animated hit released in 2004 remains the studio’s biggest movie yet, and it just found a new streaming home on Netflix.
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Shrek 2, DreamWorks Animation’s 2004 follow-up to its breakout animated film Shrek, started streaming on Netflix on September 1st. The movie finds Shrek and Fiona traveling to the Kingdom of Far Far Away to meet Fiona’s parents; all the while, their happily ever after is threatened by the Fairy Godmother, who wants Fiona to marry her son Prince Charming. With a $929 million worldwide box office haul, the movie is the highest-grossing DreamWorks Animation film ever released, surpassing the studio’s second-highest-grossing movie, Shrek the Third, by over $100 million. It is now streaming on Netflix alongside all of the Shrek movies other than Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
Why You Should Watch Shrek 2
Shrek was a standout movie, but Shrek 2 managed to surpass the original – not only in terms of box office haul but also in scope. The movie builds upon the original by expanding both the story and the world of Shrek, introducing the immersive Kingdom of Far Far Away, delving into Fiona’s backstory, and further exploring Shrek and Fiona’s relationship. The move also introduced numerous memorable characters, including Puss in Boots, a beloved feline that would go on to spawn a new spin-off film series within the larger Shrek franchise that began with Puss in Boots and brought the franchise its highest-rated movie to date, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
A great standalone movie in its own right, Shrek 2 manages to maintain the charm of the original. Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz return as the fan-favorite and loveable characters of Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey, and the movie’s soundtrack is just as stellar as Shrek’s. The movie is also saturated with the pop culture and anti-Disney humor that made Shrek a massive cultural phenomenon that appealed to all ages and remains a total blast. With an 89% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, Shrek 2 is the second-highest-rated movie in the franchise, coming in at one point higher than the flagship movie.
Other Family-Friendly Movies Now on Netflix
September is a great month for family movie night thanks to Netflix. The streamer’s September 2025 content lineup features plenty of beloved movies that the entire family can enjoy. In addition to the near-complete Shrek franchise (fans will have to hop over to Peacock to view Puss in Boots: The Last Wish), September 1st brought Chicken Run, The Land Before Time, Paddington, and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial to the streaming platform. Both Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory are also now streaming on the platform.
Do you think Shrek 2 is better than Shrek? Will you be streaming it on Tubi? Let us know in the comments!
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Image courtesy of Focus Features.
