Every Movie & TV Series in the Kung Fu Panda Franchise, Ranked

Summary

• Po’s heroic journey in every Kung Fu Panda movie teaches that anyone can become a hero with determination.
• The Kung Fu Panda franchise has expanded with sequels, TV shows, and animated shorts that captivate audiences of all ages.
• Kung Fu Panda continues to dominate the box office with the latest installment, captivating both fans and critics worldwide.

Kung Fu Panda is one of the best animated franchises in recent years. Since the first movie was released in 2008, audiences of all ages and backgrounds resonated with the wholesome and heartfelt ensemble of talking animals. Po’s heroic arc throughout every Kung Fu Panda movie establishes a triumphant story of an unlikely hero and tells the lesson that anyone can be anything they want to be as long as they set their mind to it. Especially in the movie that kicked off Po’s story, it is evident that everyone’s favorite giant panda-kung fu master is here to stay.

After the first Kung Fu Panda movie was a success, follow-up sequels and TV show spinoffs were smart and easy decisions for DreamWorks. In fact, Kung Fu Panda was followed by three sequels, multiple TV shows and specials, and even shorts.

Most recently, Kung Fu Panda 4 just hit theaters and is already dominating the box office, with both fans and critics being blown away by the latest installment. So, if audiences find themselves in the mood to hang out with Po and his friends, and have no idea where to start in this franchise, we have it covered. Here is every movie, TV show, and spin-off in the Kung Fu Panda universe, ranked.

12 Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight (2022-2023)

The Kung Fu Panda franchise has been around for a while, and with everyone’s constantly growing love for the beloved characters comes the also very constant growth of the Kung Fu Panda cinematic universe. Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight is an animated series that ran for three seasons on Netflix and features Jack Black reprising his role as Po, as he once again embarks upon a life-altering mission to save the world and re-discover who he truly is.

Animated Buddy Comedy

Both Black and the creators of Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight wanted the series to be a road buddy comedy that followed Po as he teams up with English knight Luthera (Rita Ora) on an epic globe-trotting quest, while also giving the program a more mature overall tone. The latest Kung Fu Panda show won two Children’s and Family Emmy Awards and also took home Best New Series in Kids Programming at the KidScreen Awards. Stream on Netflix.

11 Panda Paws (2016)

Now, Disney and Pixar are not the only ones who know a thing or two about creating some impressive animated short films.Panda Paws came out in 2016 and is a short movie that takes place before the events of Kung Fu Panda 3. This animated short follows Mei Mei (Kate Hudson) and Bao (Steel Gagnon) as they go head-to-head and audition for the “Spring Festival”.

Easy and Feel-Good Viewing

If someone is in the mood for some quick and incredibly adorable entertainment, this is definitely the perfect option for them. The two-minute short was one of numerous Kung Fu Panda spin-offs and specials and was featured alongside the third film for its home media release. Currently unavailable for streaming.

Shorts are a staple in the animated film world. In 2015, DreamWorks released Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll, an animated short film series. This 23-minute short follows the origins of the Furious Five as well as chronicling Po’s discovery and passion for martial arts and kung fu and takes place before the events of both the first and the third films.

An Interesting Origin Story

Original franchise stars like Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, and Lucy Liu all reprise their roles from the Kung Fu Panda movies for the intriguing short, which was well-received upon its debut and went on to be nominated for Best Animated Special Production at the Annie Awards. Stream on YouTube.

9 Kung Fu Panda: Holiday (2010)

What is a successful animated franchise without a good old holiday special? When viewers think of Kung Fu Panda movies, the idea of getting into the holiday spirit is not something that really comes up. However, in 2010, Kung Fu Panda: Holiday did just that as it followed the annual Winter Feast at the Jade Palace. However, although Po is expected to fulfill his duties as the renowned Dragon Warrior, he just wants to spend the holidays with his father.

Festive Holiday Special

This great holiday special is definitely one to check out and is sure to get audiences into the Christmas spirit, and when it premiered 5.9 million viewers tuned in to watch Po spread some holiday cheer. Common Sense Media praised the heartwarming message of the festive special, writing that Po “learns that listening to your heart is the best way to make the right decision, and his choice inspires others to do the same”. Stream on Archive.

8 Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny (2018–2019)

Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny is a series that released its first episode in 2018. The show follows four young pandas as they try to navigate their newfound abilities. Fittingly, they end up under Po’s guidance as they learn about kung fu. Mick Wingert once again took over voicing Po from Jack Black, having previously done so for Legends of Awesomeness, and it is the second Kung Fu: Panda show.

A Short-Lived Spin-Off

Unfortunately, although the show was well-received overall and garnered appreciation from fans of the endearing franchise for its humor and lively premise, the web series only ran for one season and had a total of just 26 episodes. Nonetheless, it’s certainly worth checking out and was extra entertainment for audiences as they awaited the highly-anticipated fourth film.

7 Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters (2011)

The 2011 short Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters is pretty much a little history lesson on the Kung Fu Masters that the main cast including Po and The Furious Five look up to. This short is not completely centered around Po or the Furious Five, but still manages to stay relevant to the franchise as a whole. It delves into the history of the masters of Gongmen City, showcasing the backgrounds of Storming Ox, Croc, and Thundering Rhino, and was a special feature for Kung Fu Panda 2.

An Engrossing Addition

Secrets of the Masters nabbed the Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production and successfully shifted the focus from Po and his many adventures to providing viewers with an interesting look at the lore and legacy of the Kung Fu Masters. The informative short only added to the overall impact of the fan-favorite franchise and helped it continue its lucrative takeover of the animation world. Buy/Rent on Vudu.

6 Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)

The third installment of the Kung Fu Panda movies came out in 2016. It shows Po in a refreshing new light, making him both the mentor and trainer of a bunch of young and eager pandas looking forward to becoming fighters themselves. Kung Fu Panda 3 also introduces a new warrior and the powerful antagonist Kai (J.K. Simmons), a dangerous spirit warrior Po and his fellow friends square off against.

An Exciting Film for All Ages

This family-friendly movie is definitely a great entry in this franchise and proved to be a massive success at the box office, grossing over $521 million worldwide and earning rave reviews for its stunning visuals and spellbinding narrative. Audiences awarded Kung Fu Panda 3 an A CinemaScore and, due to its positive performance a fourth installment was swiftly announced, though the newest entry would take eight years to finally be released. Stream on Netflix.

5 Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

After the overwhelming success of the first Kung Fu Panda movie, it was obvious that DreamWorks knew exactly what they were doing, releasing a sequel simply titled Kung Fu Panda 2. In the dazzling sequel, Dragon Warrior Po and the rest of the Furious Five face off against a new enemy. Lord Shen (Gary Oldman), a terrifying peacock, is out to destroy Kung Fu and the courageous protagonists cannot let it happen.

Blockbuster Sensation

This charming sequel was first released in 2011 and unsurprisingly dominated movie theaters everywhere, bowing out with a stellar $665 million worldwide and setting a record at the time for being the highest-grossing film directed by a female director (Jennifer Yuh Nelson); the record was ultimately surpassed two years later by Frozen. Nelson also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature, becoming just the second woman to garner the nod. Stream on Peacock.

4 Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)

Read Our Review

The buzzed-about and highly-anticipated fourth installment in the sensational franchise, 2024’s Kung Fu Panda 4 finally gave fans what they were waiting for after eight long years of waiting. With a star-studded cast led by Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Awkwafina, and Viola Davis, the sequel centers on Po as he is tasked with finding a recruit worthy of one day taking over as the new Dragon Warrior, all the while facing off against a nefarious sorceress known as the Chameleon.

Long-Awaited Box Office Triumph

Despite only hitting theaters on March 8, 2024, the latest animated entry has already brought in over $138 and has attracted rave reviews from critics for its fantastic new characters, gorgeous visuals, and overall character growth of Po. Kung Fu Panda dethroned reigning box office champ Dune: Part II and appears to have not lost any steam, as there are already talks that two additional sequels could be in the works as fans just can’t get enough of the charismatic Black and Po. Currently in theaters.

3 Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness (2011–2014; 2016)

Kung Fu Panda and all its awesomeness are tied up in this incredibly entertaining TV series. Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness continues the story of Po, Master Shifu, Tigress, Monkey, Mantis, Crane, and Viper. Po, now a permanent resident at the Jade Palace, has fully stepped into his role as the Dragon Warrior, complete with every up and down that may come with the responsibility of owning the title.

Worthy TV Installment for the Franchise

If audiences want to check out what was going on with Po and his pals in between the first two Panda movies, then Legends of Awesomeness is a must-see show. Viewers can watch as Po masters his craft and eventually becomes the Dragon Warrior while naturally experiencing some growing pains, and the animated series ran for three seasons and 80 episodes. During its dynamic run, the popular spin-off won numerous accolades like 11 Daytime Emmys including Outstanding Children’s Animated Program. Stream on Prime Video.

2 Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five (2008)

Teacher Po is one of our favorites! In the 2008 animated short film, Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five, Master Shifu wants Po to teach kung fu to some young students. These students happen to be an adorable bunch of bunnies. Po details the history of The Furious Five to his students and is without a doubt the cutest addition to the Kung Fu Panda franchise.

Exceptional Animated Short

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five serves as a spin-off of the enduring series, and the animated short utilizes a framing story in order to tell the different tales of the Furious Five, with Po serving as the narrator as well. Secrets of the Furious Five received a whopping eight Annie Award nominations (winning four) and helped add more substance and backgrounds to the popular characters in the series. Stream on Archive.

1 Kung Fu Panda (2008)

The original Kung Fu Panda is undeniably the best Kung Fu Panda movie and is an instant classic in the animated cinema world. Could it be the absolute magic that is Jack Black? Maybe. The hilarious ensemble of characters that are both equally strong as they are heartwarming? Perhaps. Whatever it may be, the first Kung Fu Panda film is perfect for the entire family.

Undisputed Cinema Classic

The 2008 animated film follows Po, the underdog who has been chosen as the next Dragon Warrior. Po is forced to undergo an adventure of self-discovery as he tries to prove himself worthy of the title bestowed upon him. Kung Fu Panda raked in over $631 million during its theatrical run, became the highest-grossing animated film of the year, and proved to be a knockout for both critics and audiences alike. Nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, the martial arts comedy helped launch a lucrative and beloved franchise that continues to resonate with fans to this day. Stream on Peacock.