It’s been close to a decade since the last chapter, but Shrek 5 will reacquaint audiences with the land far, far away. It’s certainly exciting, but I’m still struggling to know what to expect from the upcoming blockbuster after how good Puss in Boots: The Last Wish was. Needless to say, Shrek changed animated movies forever and has since seen a collection of sequels in its wake. Admittedly, Shrek 2 is my favorite film in the franchise, so I would argue this is where the main story peaks — with Puss in Boots 2 being the first installment to meet the quality of Shrek 2.

In the greater scheme of things, the quality of the Shrek franchise is inconsistent across its various installments. The second film may be universally adored, but the same can’t be said for its succeeding movies, Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After. Both chapters fail to deliver the satirical adult humor and whimsy that helped the first two become so successful, and the introduction of Antonio Banderas’ Puss in Boots in Shrek 2 has become one of the franchise’s most significant decisions. With the lack of confirmation that Puss will return to the Shrek 5 cast, I’m worried about the future of the franchise.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Sets The Bar Too High For Shrek 5

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Perfectly Captures The Essence Of A Shrek Movie

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish has the highest rating of any Shrek movie, in terms of critical and audience scoring, on the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes. Not only is this a tough act to follow, but I personally found it remarkably difficult to find much criticism online about Puss in Boots 2 after its premiere in December 2022. Considering Shrek 5 will be the newest entry to the franchise after The Last Wish, it is possible that many viewers, like myself, will find it increasingly tempting to measure the differences between the two projects.

I’d reason that Puss in Boots 2 saw such a good performance because the movie has a nostalgic charm that does not overshadow its simple yet compelling story and exceptionally likable characters. This movie charts a new course by deliberately avoiding the familiar territory of fairy tale tropes and offers each character the depth needed to explore their desires for the Wishing Star. Not to mention, Puss in Boots 2 has a major advantage in terms of animation, where its more modern style garnered huge levels of acclaim, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature.

Why Puss in Boots: The Last Wish Was So Different From Previous Shrek Movies

The Wolf, AKA Death, Is Genuinely Chilling To Watch

A compelling villain has always been the core of the Shrek movies, and while the previous installments do have entertaining antagonists, they have no lasting impact once the credits begin to roll. The Wolf in Puss in Boots 2 is tremendously different from previous antagonists in Shrek, though, as the villain in The Last Wish embodies far greater darkness and menace than seen in other movies. The Wolf (Wagner Moura) is the physical manifestation of death, and he is used sparingly throughout the film. However, his constant lurking and subtle presence effectively builds a very real sense of dread.

Director Joel Crawford has openly discussed the different path for Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Speaking with Total Film, Crawford spoke about the significance of the Wolf and his intention to “introduce a new tone to the story […] [that audiences] haven’t experienced […] in the Shrek or Puss in Boots world up to this point.” Death’s presence certainly subverted any expectations we might have had for a Shrek movie, and its themes of mortality ultimately resonated with its audience, who have grown up with the franchise over the past two decades.

Shrek 5 Doesn’t Need To Be Like Puss in Boots 2 To Be Great

Shrek 5 Will Still Be One Of The Most Anticipated Movies Of 2026

For all the skepticism around the upcoming movie, I admit that Shrek 5 is still an incredibly exciting venture. The newest project will benefit from arriving 25 years after the original film, and a remarkable 16 years after the latest movie, Shrek Forever After, meaning audiences will be eager to see what is in store for these beloved characters. There are plenty of routes that Shrek 5 can take without making reference to Puss in Boots 2, and the success of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish simply serves as a reminder that the franchise still has more to offer.

Although the movie’s greatest challenge will be finding a villain as compelling as the Wolf, Shrek 5 has plenty of other elements that it can rely on for success. If the movie provides a fresh story, a new visual style, and the same high-quality music it always has, Shrek 5 could truly reinvent the whole franchise. We can remain hopeful that the studio will learn from the success of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and integrate a number of features of this sequel’s animation style while maintaining the essence of what truly makes a Shrek film.

Source: Total Film