Summary
Dreamworks released their first movie in 1998 withAntz, founded by Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and David Geffen. Combining talent from both Disney and Steven Spielberg’s animation company Amblimation, the team strived to blend CGI with hand-drawn animation to create a whole new era of animated movies. With their initial moviesAntzandThe Prince of Egyptboth achieving critical acclaim but not striking gold at the box office, 2001sShrekfinally cemented Dreamworks as a force to be reckoned with in the world of animated movies. The success ofShrekshowed the world thatDreamworks were ready to stand tall against Disney when it came to both animationand storytelling.
Over the past two decades,the team at Dreamworks has worked to create some of the biggest animationjuggernauts the world has ever seen, firmly taking their place among the pre-standing titans Disney and Pixar. With the success came multiple different franchises, but when it comes to Dreamworks, which franchise reigns supreme as the best the studio has to offer? For clarification for the franchise to count on this list, there has to be a minimum of two theatrical entries into the series.
TheBoss Babyfranchise began in 2017 with Alec Baldwin playing thetitular baby who works as a spy on behalf of BabyCorpin their secret war against puppies competing for adults' love. EachBoss Babymovie has its merits with a few gags that will make the adults chuckle, but are very surface level and truly aimed at the kids.
The franchise, for many, suffers from poor pacing, cheap humor, and dull storytelling but can provide an enjoyable watch for some who are looking to switch their brains off for the evening. For these reasons, theBoss Babyfranchise is comfortably Dreamworks worst entry.
The first movie in theTrollsfranchise was released in 2016, to a positive critical reception, scoring 76% on Rotten Tomatoes. The franchise blends together great visuals with a jukebox musical framework as Poppy and Branch, played by Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake, set off on ajourney to save Poppy’s friends from the villainous Bergens.
With great soundtracks filled with addictive toe-tapping songs, including the chart-topping smash-hit “Can’t Stop The Feeling”, all threeTrollsmovies are an entertaining watch. Placing the franchise comfortably in sixth place when ranking every Dreamworks franchise.
The Croodsfranchise consists of two movies with the first releasing in 2013, focusing on a prehistoric family as they head on an adventure to find a new home following the destruction of their cave in an earthquake. The movie features many funny moments with an all-star cast, including both Nicolas Cage and Emma Stone.
Both films inThe Croodsfranchise bring plenty of laughsand pack a ton of heart and familial drama, making it a solid franchise that Dreamworks could continue in the future. But the series never truly hits the upper echelon of other franchises that Dreamworks has put out.
With three mainline movie entries and a spin-off, theMadagascarfranchise combines the voice-acting talents of Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, David Schwimmer, and Jada Pinkett Smith to voice its four lead characters, as animals are transported from Central Park Zoo to the wild.
TheMadagascarseries continued to evolve, sending the animals from New York to Madagascar, Africa and beyond,combining laughs with genuinely heartfelt tales of friendship. The penguins never fail to bring a laugh with their military precision, whilst the core cast are always on top form, makingMadagascarthe fourth-best franchise Dreamworks has to offer.
Dreamworks struck gold with theKung Fu Pandafranchise,the tale of Po becoming the Dragon Warriorwhilst guided by the enigmatic Master Shifu. The franchise sees some of the most imposing villains Dreamworks has put onto the screen, with Tai Lung and Lord Shen being particular standouts.
With another cast filled with Hollywood A-Listers such asAngelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, and Dustin Hoffman in supporting roles, the series is packed with great humor and lots of heart, with Po learning to master Kung Fu and believe in himself. There’s plenty to love about the Kung Fu Panda series, remaining both critically and commercially successful for Dreamworks and taking third spot when ranking Dreamworks franchises.
How to Train Your Dragonis an epic trilogy set in the Viking era, in which Vikings hunt dragons, but when our protagonist, Hiccup, befriends a dragon, it leads to a change in the Viking-dragon war. The series delves into themes of exploration, family, and friendship, including some heart-wrenching moments.
The animation in the franchise is incredible,providing breathtaking visuals at every turn, paired with excellent scores and writing. TheHow to Train Your Dragonfranchise provides three massively entertaining movies packed with heart, but unfortunately can’t quite take the top spot.
The best Dreamworks franchise is undoubtedlyShrek, withfour mainline movies and two excellent spin-offs starring Puss in Boots. The series set the benchmark for Dreamworks with its first release in 2001, before doubling down with one of the best animated sequels of all-time.
What putsShrekat the top of this list is the pure entertainment offered and how iconic the characters have become. The movies are hilarious and endlessly quotable, whilst the addition ofPuss in Boots: The Last Wishis the best Dreamworks movie everfor some fans. With a bumper cast of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz as the core trio and a superb turn from Antonio Banderes that proved him capable of leading his own solo animated projects, theShrekfranchise comfortably holds the crown as the best Dreamworks franchise.
