The 7 Best DreamWorks Movies, Ranked

In an industry that’s become synonymous with Disney and Pixar, DreamWorks has more than managed to forge their own place in the field of animation, churning out a variety of films as good – if not, in some cases, even better – than their creative rivals at Disney.

Offering a viable alternative to Disney’s light-hearted musicals and fantasy films, DreamWorks specializes in more comedy-laden adventure films capable of entertaining the whole family. 

From parodic fairy tale films to martial arts extravaganzas, here are some of the absolute greatest DreamWorks films we’ve seen to date, ranked in order from worst to best.

7. Kung Fu Panda 2

We don’t know how or why, but DreamWorks also managed to supersede expectations when it comes to crafting sequels. Just as they’d later accomplish Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and How to Train Your Dragon 2, the studio adequately rises to the occasion with their 2011 action comedy, Kung Fu Panda 2. Featuring a deeper focus on Po’s mysterious past as well as his continued role as the Dragon Warrior, Kung Fu Panda 2 brilliantly builds off the groundwork of the original, ensuring a movie as fun, funny, and thoroughly action-packed as the initial Kung Fu Panda before it.

6. Orion and the Dark

A relatively newer arrival to DreamWorks’ library, Orion and the Dark nevertheless soars to the same Herculean heights as How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, or Shrek. As with all the best DreamWorks films, this 2024 fantasy comedy touches upon children’s fundamental fears of the unknown, as seen with Paul Walter Hauser’s childlike personification of The Dark. Taking ample advantage of Charlie Kaufman’s fragmented screenplay, Orion and the Dark delivers a powerful exploration of fear, identity, and the joys that come with self-acceptance, making it one of the best, most wholly underrated films we’ve seen from DreamWorks yet.

5. How to Train Your Dragon 2

Part of what makes the How to Train Your Dragon series so riveting in the first place has to do with the organic growth each character experiences throughout the franchise. Gaining the self-confidence to stand up for both himself and his dragon companion Toothless, Hiccup continues his narrative arc throughout How to Train Your Dragon’s second chapter, leaning further into his role as the unlikely leader of Berk’s human-dragon community. Facing the uncertainties of his past and a dangerous threat to his future, How to Train Your Dragon 2 forms a wondrous continuation to the series’ initial entry, living up to the same high standards as the original How to Train Your Dragon and then some.

4. Shrek 2

Shrek may have catapulted DreamWorks to new heights in the entertainment industry, but true fans know that Shrek 2 was the film that solidified the franchise as one of the studio’s most successful series to date. Expanding the Shrek universe in bold and imaginative new ways, Shrek 2 also pushed the boundaries for the series forward, incorporating hilarious, tongue-in-cheek homages to fairy tale staples like Prince Charming, Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, and Puss in Boots, among many others. Outfitted with a grander store and wider scope than the original, Shrek 2 is a fan-favorite fantasy film as widely loved today as it was in 2004, aging like a treasured wine with each passing year.

3. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

It’s amazing to think that one of DreamWorks’ most successful movies just happens to be a spin-off. Following in the wake of the well-loved Shrek series, Puss in Boots has since made a name for itself as a viable continuation of the Shrek universe, providing its lead character an ample supply of magical misadventures. Taking inspiration from action-packed Spaghetti Westerns like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, The Last Wish finds Puss embarking on his most ambitious quest yet. Encountering familiar faces from his past and an assortment of new characters like Goldilocks, the Three Bears, and the enigmatic personification of Death looming over him, The Last Wish is a breathtaking fantasy film capable of delighting the whole family from its explosive start to its cathartic conclusion.

2. The Wild Robot

One of the latest releases from DreamWorks, The Wild Robot also ranks as one of the finest animated films of the 2020s yet. Characterized by vivid animation, stunning vocal performances, and a heartfelt and attention-grabbing main story, it’s a film that — like all the best animated movies — remains capable of delighting every potential viewer, appealing just as much to older audience members as it does younger ones. A strong contender at various 2024 awards ceremonies, it also continues DreamWorks’ recent output of memorably strong films, including Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, The Bad Guys, and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.

1. How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon may not have been the first DreamWorks series to capture viewers’ attention, but it’s without a doubt among the most popular franchises in contemporary animation. Spawning an expansive universe that’s spanned sequels, TV series, short films, live-action adaptations, and immersive theme park attractions, How to Train Your Dragon’s immediate impact on pop culture speaks for itself. Yet even with all its continued success, it’s important to note just how remarkable the initial 2010 film is in and of itself. Constructing an intricate children’s story featuring Vikings, dragons, and quarrelsome pre-teens, How to Train Your Dragon also doubles down on an age-old lesson we can all take to heart: I.E., the importance of accepting others without relying on fear, prejudice, or preconceived expectations, evaluating them based on who they are rather than what others say about them.