---
title: "Shrek 2"
year: 2004
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/shrek-2"
fi1m_id: "shrek-2"
imdb_id: "tt0298148"
tmdb_id: 809
wikidata_id: "Q485983"
fi1m_score: 80
critics_score: 66
critics_reviews: 11
published: "2026-10-05T03:23:19.474116+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-05T03:23:19.947628+00:00"
region: "IL"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Shrek 2 (2004)

Directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon · 1h 32m · Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Romance

## Identity

Shrek 2

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/shrek-2
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** shrek-2
- **IMDb ID:** tt0298148
- **TMDB ID:** 809
- **Wikidata ID:** Q485983
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298148/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/809, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q485983

**Fi1m score: 80** · Critics 66 from 11 reviews

*In a sentence:* A royal family argument improved considerably by a cat who believes he is the leading man

> *Shrek 2* is a warm, funny sequel whose new voices earn their place. Antonio Banderas and Jennifer Saunders sharpen the comedy, though a slow opening and some laboured film references keep it from being quite as nimble as its cat.

## Synopsis

Shrek (Mike Myers) and Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) are beyond the honeymoon and into the difficulties of married life. Meeting the in-laws brings King Harold (John Cleese) and Queen Lillian (Julie Andrews) into the picture, with Donkey (Eddie Murphy) adding his voice to the family conversation. Shrek wants to settle into life with Fiona, but the expectations attached to royalty make that difficult. The couple have reached the point where a fairy tale usually stops, and must deal with the people who still have opinions about their marriage.

## Review

*Shrek 2* is a funny, warm sequel with a better reason to exist than another round of familiar voices. Directors Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury and Conrad Vernon let the trouble between Shrek and Fiona matter, even while everyone else is competing to be ridiculous. There is a slow stretch before the new company settles in, and some of the film references are pleased with themselves. Once the cast starts competing for attention, though, the film becomes an easy recommendation.

Mike Myers gives Shrek a defensiveness that makes the domestic friction convincing, while Cameron Diaz keeps Princess Fiona from becoming merely the sensible person waiting for him to catch up. Neither performance needs to strain for our affection. Eddie Murphy supplies Donkey’s relentless commentary with such precision that even his interruptions seem correctly timed. John Cleese and Julie Andrews, as King Harold and Queen Lillian, make royal formality sound like an extra difficulty in a family conversation.

Antonio Banderas earns his place in the expanded cast. His Puss in Boots has the gravity of a swordsman who expects a respectful silence, and the fact that he is a cat has apparently not occurred to him. We laughed at that grave voice coming out of a cat; he lets the absurdity register without nudging us. Jennifer Saunders is just as assured as Fairy Godmother, giving wickedness a confident, almost practical voice. Their performances are distinct enough that the comedy need not keep getting louder.

Guillaume Aretos’s production design supports the Hollywood satire by making fairy-tale grandeur look slightly overmanaged. The visual pleasure comes from the sense that royal life is putting on a show, which gives the entertainment-industry jokes somewhere to belong. The character animation is more rewarding still, particularly the attention paid to Puss in Boots, whose comedy does not depend solely on the voice. This is family animation that trusts a small physical joke to compete with a busy picture.

Editors Michael Andrews and Sim Evan-Jones are less sure-footed during the opening, when the film takes too long to establish its family difficulties. Once it does, the exchanges become brisk without flattening the differences between the performers. Harry Gregson-Williams gives the romantic passages a welcome sincerity, although the soundtrack as a whole can be too insistent. The musical choices and the references occasionally announce the intended reaction before the joke has earned one.

The screenplay, by Andrew Adamson, J. David Stem, David N. Weiss and Joe Stillman, is strongest when it lets personality cause the trouble. A joke about a vain or overbearing character does not require any homework. Its weaker jokes simply ask us to recognise another film, then offer little more. There are enough of these to make parts of the comedy feel mechanically assembled. It could also be tougher on the fairy-tale rules it mocks, but it prefers to keep its characters likeable.

For a shared family evening, we would choose it without much hesitation. The slower opening is worth allowing for, and younger viewers need not recognise every borrowed joke to enjoy the cast. There is no need to explain the Hollywood references from the sofa.

*Fi1m score 80, published 5 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find Shrek 2 an entertaining, likeable sequel, with praise clustering around its comic voice performances and new characters. Antonio Banderas’s Puss in Boots is the clearest favourite, while Eddie Murphy’s Donkey and Jennifer Saunders’s Fairy Godmother also earn particular approval. The reviews welcome the cleverness and warmth, with several enjoying the Hollywood satire and pop-culture jokes, even when they find the sequel less fresh than the original.

The disagreement centres on how much those jokes deliver: some find the references lively, others overdone, and reservations include a slow start, an uneven script and softer satire. Total Film considers it a slight improvement on its predecessor, though several reviews prefer the original. The spread is broad despite the positive majority: Slant Magazine offers the sharpest dissent, arguing that the film wastes its vocal cast and relies on stereotypes rather than challenging the ideas it claims to overturn.

## Straight answers

**Is Shrek 2 worth watching?**

*Shrek 2* is worth watching for a shared family evening: we score it 80 for its warm comedy and sharply judged voice performances. Antonio Banderas’s Puss in Boots and Jennifer Saunders’s Fairy Godmother make the expanded cast worthwhile, though the opening is slow and some film references do little beyond asking to be recognised.

**How long is Shrek 2, and what is it rated?**

*Shrek 2* runs 1h 32m. It is an animation and comedy film.

**Where can I watch Shrek 2 in Israel?**

*Shrek 2* is streaming on Netflix in Israel, and it is also available to rent from Apple TV from ₪16.90. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How does Shrek 2 compare to Shrek?**

*Shrek 2* keeps the warmth and character-led comedy of [*Shrek*](https://film.one/film/shrek), but shifts the trouble towards marriage, in-laws and royal expectations. We would favour the sequel for its supporting performances, particularly Antonio Banderas and Jennifer Saunders, rather than for tighter storytelling. Both films are funnier when their characters cause trouble than when they lean on pop-culture references.

**Do you need to have seen the other Shrek films before Shrek 2?**

*Shrek 2* is an approachable sequel even without seeing [*Shrek*](https://film.one/film/shrek): its central difficulty is a married couple meeting the in-laws, which needs little explanation. The earlier film is the more natural starting point for getting to know Shrek, Fiona and Donkey, but we would not make it compulsory homework for a family evening.

**What should I watch after Shrek 2?**

After *Shrek 2*, try [*The Princess Bride*](https://film.one/film/the-princess-bride) (1987, Fi1m 86): Fairy-tale romance with dry comic timing and room for sincere affection. Then [*Chicken Run*](https://film.one/film/chicken-run) (2000, Fi1m 84): A determined ensemble makes broad family comedy feel carefully observed and earned; and [*Enchanted*](https://film.one/film/enchanted) (2007, Fi1m 76): Royal expectations meet ordinary life, with affection beneath the fairy-tale jokes.

**What order should I watch the Shrek films in?**

Release order is the safe choice for Shrek, and it is the order [our collection page](https://film.one/collections/shrek) lists them in. *Shrek 2* is number 2 of the 3 Shrek titles on Fi1m; before it comes [*Shrek*](https://film.one/film/shrek) and after it [*Shrek the Third*](https://film.one/film/shrek-the-third). [The full order.](https://film.one/collections/shrek.md)

### Reviews we read (11)

- **Radio Times**, Alan Jones (4/5): The critic calls the sequel cute, clever and funny, and a welcome follow-up to the original. They single out Antonio Banderas’s voice performance as Puss-in-Boots for praise. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ahlebb/shrek-2/)
- **Total Film**, Total Film (4/5): The review calls Shrek 2 a major triumph and a minor improvement on its predecessor. It praises Eddie Murphy’s comic performance as Donkey, while noting that the soundtrack and some movie references are weaker points. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/shrek-2-review/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kenneth Turan (78/100, inferred): Turan finds the sequel successful and ultimately charming, despite a slow start. He especially praises its cleverness, including its pop-culture references and lively new characters. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-may-18-et-turan18-story.html)
- **Time Out**, GA (72/100, inferred): The review is framed as offering more of the same, suggesting a qualified rather than enthusiastic verdict. Its available description singles out marital tensions after the honeymoon, but the article text is unavailable. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/shrek-2)
- **Empire**, Angie Errigo (70/100, inferred): Errigo finds the sequel consistently funny and highly likeable, though less daring and less sharply satirical than the original. She especially praises Puss-In-Boots, whose animation, running gag, and Antonio Banderas’s voice performance make him a standout. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/shrek-2-review/)
- **The Guardian**, Rob Mackie (70/100, inferred): Mackie finds the film entertaining and nearly as warm and charming as Pixar’s best, despite a slight shortfall. He praises its surprises, especially the Zorro-style cat and the wicked fairy godmother. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/nov/05/dvdreviews1)
- **The New York Times**, A.O. Scott (70/100, inferred): Scott gives the film a positive verdict, finding its Hollywood satire amusing. He singles out its jokes aimed at the entertainment industry. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/18/movies/film-review-the-new-son-in-law-s-an-ogre-and-hollywood-is-the-target.html)
- **Variety**, Todd McCarthy (70/100, inferred): McCarthy finds the sequel enjoyable but less fresh and less consistently funny than the original. He especially praises the vibrant visuals and Jennifer Saunders’s lively Fairy Godmother performance. [Read](https://variety.com/2004/film/awards/shrek-2-2-1200533426/)
- **Screen Daily**, Jean Oppenheimer (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a review of the 2004 film, but the review text is inaccessible. Its verdict and any particular praise or complaint cannot be determined from the available text. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/shrek-2/4018693.article)
- **Slant Magazine**, Keith Uhlich (1/4): The critic condemns the sequel as shallow and offensive, saying it fails to challenge the ideas it claims to reverse. He particularly faults its waste of the cast’s vocal talents and the stereotyped treatment of several characters. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/shrek-2/)
- **Eye for Film**, Jennie Kermode (45/100, inferred): Kermode finds the sequel entertaining but less satisfying than its predecessor, with an uneven script and overdone references. She especially praises Antonio Banderas’s perfectly cast, consistently watchable Puss in Boots. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/shrek-2-film-review-by-jennie-kermode)

## Details

- **Director:** Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon
- **Director:** Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon
- **Screenplay:** Andrew Adamson, Joe Stillman, J. David Stem, David N. Weiss
- **Story:** Andrew Adamson
- **Editor:** Sim Evan-Jones, Michael Andrews
- **Music:** Harry Gregson-Williams
- **Production design:** Guillaume Aretos
- **Costume design:** Isis Mussenden
- **Producer:** David Lipman, Aron Warner, John H. Williams
- **Cast:** Mike Myers as Shrek (voice); Eddie Murphy as Donkey (voice); Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona (voice); Julie Andrews as Queen Lillian (voice); Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots (voice); John Cleese as King Harold (voice); Rupert Everett as Prince Charming (voice); Jennifer Saunders as Fairy Godmother (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 32m
- **Release (Israel):** 1 July 2004
- **Genres:** Animation, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Romance
- **Part of:** [Shrek](https://film.one/collections/shrek.md) · 2 of 3
- **Budget:** $150 million
- **Box office:** $933 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuNghO1XsHI

## Where to watch in Israel

- Netflix: streaming
- Apple TV: rent ₪16.90, hd
- Apple TV: buy ₪29.90, sd

*Checked 2026-10-05.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, AZ, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Academy Awards 2005: Best Animated Feature (nominated)
- Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie 2005: Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie (nominated)
- Annie Award for Best Animated Feature 2004: Annie Award for Best Animated Feature (nominated)
- BAFTA Film Awards 2004: BAFTA's Children & Young People Award - Feature Film (nominated)
- Critics' Choice Awards 2004: Best Animated Feature (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *The Princess Bride* (1987), Fi1m 86: Fairy-tale romance with dry comic timing and room for sincere affection. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-princess-bride.md)
- *Chicken Run* (2000), Fi1m 84: A determined ensemble makes broad family comedy feel carefully observed and earned. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/chicken-run.md)
- *The Cat Returns* (2002): Another self-possessed cat leads a fairy tale with its own peculiar manners.
- *Enchanted* (2007), Fi1m 76: Royal expectations meet ordinary life, with affection beneath the fairy-tale jokes. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/enchanted.md)
- *A Town Called Panic* (2009): For the pleasure of ridiculous characters treating every small problem with solemn urgency.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/shrek-2