DreamWorks quickly became a major animation studio, and some of their best films came early on. Emerging in the 1990s, they aimed to compete with Disney, but distinguished themselves with a playful, often sarcastic, sense of humor – a contrast to Disney’s more classic and traditional style.
In the early 2000s, as Disney faced challenges adapting to changing tastes, DreamWorks quickly rose to prominence, releasing a string of successful films. DreamWorks initially tried both traditional and computer-generated animation, but ultimately focused on CGI for its movies.
DreamWorks had a rocky start, but quickly became known for making ambitious films. In just seven years, they released ten movies, and most of them were very well-received. However, even among those first ten films, some were more successful and memorable than others.
10. Shark Tale (2004)
Following the success of films like Shrek, DreamWorks started taking more creative risks with its stories. Shark Tale tells the story of a nervous fish who pretends to have defeated a famous and dangerous shark, which quickly leads to trouble. Featuring stars like Robert De Niro and with a connection to director Martin Scorsese, Shark Tale was DreamWorks’ playful tribute to classic gangster movies.
The film had a promising concept, but unfortunately, it doesn’t quite come together. Shark Tale tries too hard to appeal to young children, resulting in an odd combination of DreamWorks’ signature playful humor and more typical kids’ jokes. Despite featuring a talented cast, the movie received poor reviews, and for good reason.
9. Joseph: King Of Dreams (2000)
As a big fan of DreamWorks animation, I remember being really interested in Joseph: King of Dreams when it came out. It was unique because it went straight to video – a first for them, and so far, the only time they’ve done that for a major release. It actually tells the story before The Prince of Egypt. It’s a retelling of the biblical story of Joseph, voiced by Ben Affleck, who can interpret dreams and uses that gift to help the Pharaoh save Egypt. Honestly though, while I loved The Prince of Egypt, I didn’t think Joseph’s story was as smoothly told – it just didn’t flow quite as well.
Despite being released directly to video, the movie doesn’t feel low-budget. However, it’s smaller in scale and doesn’t quite measure up to the first film. The adaptation of the story of Joseph isn’t very successful, and as a result, the movie doesn’t have the same compelling story as other early DreamWorks features.
8. Antz (1998)
As DreamWorks’ very first full-length animated movie, Antz is a landmark film for the studio. The story follows a determined worker ant who strives to rescue his colony from a villainous general, all while trying to win the heart of a princess. Antz was a big success when it was released, and it helped define the distinctive style and comedy that would become known as DreamWorks Animation.
Even if you don’t compare it to A Bug’s Life, Antz has some significant flaws. It hasn’t held up well over time, and it doesn’t quite manage to blend its jokes with what you’d expect from a family movie. It can be surprisingly crude and scary, and its gloomy atmosphere doesn’t always work. Plus, the animation hasn’t aged particularly well and isn’t very visually pleasing.
7. Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas (2003)
Despite being a major box office disappointment for DreamWorks, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas wasn’t as complete a failure as the numbers suggest. The film reimagines the classic Sinbad stories, with Sinbad (Brad Pitt) searching for the Book of Peace to avoid a deadly fate. The movie combines computer-generated imagery and traditional 2D animation, though the results are uneven.
The voice acting and character designs are good, and Sinbad is a very creative film from DreamWorks’ early period. However, it doesn’t reach the quality of their best movies, and it was the last time DreamWorks based a story on the Bible or mythology. Sinbad isn’t a bad movie, but it could have been much more impressive.
6. Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron (2002)
Many consider Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron to be one of the best horse movies ever made, and it really showcases DreamWorks’ unique animation style from that time. Set in the Old West, the film follows a wild horse as he goes on a thrilling journey and encounters people for the very first time. Spirit is a beautiful and moving experience.
Early DreamWorks films often tried to do too much, but Spirit is a focused and well-told story. As a visual art form, animation shines when it truly shows the story, and the animators of Spirit beautifully captured the vastness and beauty of the American West. However, it doesn’t quite reach the same level as some of DreamWorks’ most beloved films.
5. The Road To El Dorado (2000)
Despite a modest 49% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Road to El Dorado is a surprisingly good movie. It tells the story of two swindlers on a quest for the legendary city of gold, who unexpectedly become involved in a corrupt priest’s scheme. Released in 2000, the film, featuring music by Elton John, was clearly intended as a challenge to Disney’s dominance in animation.
The Road to El Dorado is a really fun animated comedy with charming characters and lots of laughs, making it perfect for families. It also stands out from other animated films with a clever story that avoids clichés and features many memorable moments. Though it didn’t do well when it first came out, it’s since become a beloved favorite among fans.
4. Chicken Run (2000)
Released as the first project combining Aardman and DreamWorks’ talents, Chicken Run still holds the record as the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film. The story follows a group of hens on a Yorkshire farm who team up with a resourceful American rooster to plan a daring escape from a grim fate. With a playful nod to classic films like The Great Escape, Chicken Run is simply a fun and delightful movie.
Although made in partnership with another studio, this movie still feels like a true Aardman creation. Its humor is wonderfully unique and delightfully quick, making it one of the few family films that both children and adults will genuinely enjoy. While Chicken Run touches on some thoughtful themes, it does so subtly, never losing its funny and heartwarming spirit.
3. Shrek 2 (2004)
DreamWorks Animation had a promising but uncertain start. The first Shrek film proved successful, and the Shrek series as a whole helped define the studio’s path forward. Shrek 2 continues the story, with Shrek and Fiona visiting Fiona’s royal family in Far Far Away. It’s a remarkably well-made sequel that seamlessly follows the original.
Rather than simply repeating what worked in the first film, Shrek 2 takes risks and introduces fresh ideas. Characters like Puss in Boots enrich the story, and DreamWorks’ signature playful humor makes this sequel genuinely funny. It’s almost as inventive and enjoyable as the original Shrek.
2. The Prince Of Egypt (1998)
While released alongside Antz, The Prince of Egypt is often considered the film that truly launched DreamWorks’ success. Based on the story of Moses from the Book of Exodus, it tells the tale of his leadership in freeing the Israelites from Egypt. This animated film is a grand biblical epic and remains one of the most impressive animated achievements of its kind.
With its beautiful, classic animation style, The Prince of Egypt truly highlights the strengths of the art form. It also skillfully retells the biblical story in a captivating way – no easy feat! Combined with a fantastic soundtrack, it’s easily one of the best animated movies ever made.
1. Shrek (2001)
When DreamWorks first started, the movies it released were all very different and didn’t have a common style. That changed with Shrek. This film tells the story of an ogre who has to rescue a princess and unexpectedly becomes a hero. Unlike traditional Disney films, Shrek stood out with its clever humor and references to popular culture.
By the early 2000s, computer-generated imagery (CGI) had become sophisticated enough to create truly beautiful and practical animated films, and Shrek represented the peak of that progress. The film was a huge commercial success, but more importantly, it’s considered DreamWorks’ most significant achievement. While DreamWorks had made films before, Shrek is the movie that truly cemented the studio’s reputation.
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2026-01-17 19:03