Imagine a place where a flurry of emotions and action combines with hearty chuckles, poignant life lessons, and kung fu prowess. If you enjoy the popular Kung Fu Panda films, you are already familiar with the potent enchantment they create on screen. These movies have carved a particular place in our hearts from the time Po, the endearingly clumsy panda, sets out on his adventure to become the Dragon Warrior, to the wonderful tales of friendship, courage, and self-discovery that follow. But the question remains, given that the franchise has three films: How to watch Kung Fu Panda movies in order in 2024? This article will help you to know so.
How to watch Kung Fu Panda Movies in Order [Quick Guide]
Let me simplify things for you if all you need to know is the titles of the movies in chronological sequence. The films in the Kung Fu Panda series are listed below:
- Kung Fu Panda (2008) – streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime, iTunes
- Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) – streaming on Vudu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max, iTunes
- Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) – streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Vudu, iTunes, HBO Max
Kung Fu Panda (2008)
The 2008 film “Kung Fu Panda” has a special place in my heart. Anyone who has ever pursued a dream over overwhelming odds may relate to Po, the adorable and bumbling panda. I supported him through his humorous errors and believed he would become a kung-fu legend.
I was moved by the urgency of Po’s journey when the evil Tai Lung put the Valley of Peace in danger. He received expert resolve and resiliency training from Master Shifu. The animation in the movie, produced by DreamWorks, vividly coloured the world and featured magnificent martial arts sequences.
- IMDb rating: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 87%
- Movie rating: PG
- Runtime: 1h 32m
- Release Year: 2008
- Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
- Director: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson
- Writer: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Ethan Reiff
- Starring cast: Jack Black (Po’s voice), Jackie Chan (Monkey’s voice), Angelina Jolie (Tigress’s voice)
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
I experienced a thrilling trip with Po, the Dragon Warrior, in “Kung Fu Panda 2” (2011). Po develops into a guardian of the Valley of Peace and finds confidence to the test this time as he deals with an even more dangerous adversary. Po’s fantastic new life is jeopardized by a frightening villain, who wants to use a weapon of great power to wipe off martial arts and rule China. Po now needs to remember his past and reveal the truth about his enigmatic origins; only then will he have the strength to defeat his adversary.
- IMDb rating: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 81%
- Movie rating: PG
- Runtime: 1h 30m
- Release Year: 2011
- Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
- Director: Jennifer Yuh Nelson
- Writer: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Ethan Reiff
- Starring cast: Jack Black (Po’s Voice), Angelina Jolie (Tigress’s voice), Jackie Chan (Monkey’s voice)
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Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)
Po returned to my life in “Kung Fu Panda 3” (2016) with a heartfelt and energizing jolt. Po continues to develop as a person as he accepts his long-lost family and learns about his position as a teacher, which makes for a heartwarming plot. The inclusion of the adorable and humorous panda family brought warmth and fun to the story.
It’s amazing to see Po’s quest to unify his fellow pandas into a martial arts fighting force as he faces the powerful Kai, who keeps getting stronger with each battle. The animation in the movie is as colorful as ever, and the action scenes are gorgeous to look at.
- IMDb rating: 7.1/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 86%
- Movie rating: PG
- Runtime: 1h 35m
- Release Year: 2018
- Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
- Director: Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Alessandro Carloni
- Writer: Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, Ethan Reiff
- Starring cast: Jack Black (Po’s Voice), Bryan Cranston (Li’s voice), Dustin Hoffman (Shifu’s voice)
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Main characters of Kung Fu Panda franchise?
- Po
- Grand Master Oogway
- Tai Lung
- Master Shifu
- Tigress
- Monkey
- Temutai
- Junjie
- Fenghuang
Fun facts about Kung Fu Panda Movies Franchise
- To verify that the martial techniques depicted in Kung Fu Panda were accurate, the series’ creators worked with kung fu masters.
- Chinese martial arts professionals choreographed the battle scenes in Kung Fu Panda.
- Kung Fu Panda’s animators studied kung fu themselves to better comprehend the moves they were animating.
- The authors originally intended for Po to be a goose, but changed their minds when they realized that a panda would make for a more visually appealing character.
- Riley, the six-year-old son of Kung Fu Panda director Mark Osborne, performs the voice of Baby Tai Lung in the film.
- Unintentionally, Tai Lung’s hallmark move—which he performs three times in the movie—became the double fist punch.
- In all three Kung Fu Panda movies, the Carl Douglas song “Kung Fu Fighting” is played.
- Po, the name of the character, is derived from the Chinese word for “precious.”
- The five Chinese philosophical elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water are the inspiration for the names of The Furious Five.
- The fighting styles of the Furious Five vary and are based on various animals.
- The Forbidden City in Beijing, China, served as the model for the Jade Palace in Kung Fu Panda.
- The Guilin Mountains in China served as the inspiration for Kung Fu Panda’s Valley of Peace.
- Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher, served as the inspiration for Master Shifu’s persona.
- The underlying message of Kung Fu Panda is that anyone can be a hero, no matter what
Are all Kung Fu Panda movies connected?
The entire Kung Fu Panda movie series follows a connected storyline. The initial film, released in 2008, recounts the tale of Po’s journey to becoming the Dragon Warrior.
In the 2011 sequel, Kung Fu Panda 2, Po confronts the formidable Lord Shen and his army in intense combat. Then, in the third installment, Kung Fu Panda 3, which premiered in 2016, Po reunites with his father after a prolonged separation and imparts his kung fu knowledge to him. Each movie builds upon the previous one, forming a cohesive narrative that continues Po’s adventures and personal growth.
Kung Fu Panda Spin-offs and Series
Kung Fu Panda Short films
- Secrets of the Furious Five (2008)
- Secrets of the Masters (2011)
- Secrets of the Scroll (2016)
- Panda Paws (2016)
Kung Fu Panda Series
- Legends of Awesomeness (2011–2016)
- The Paws of Destiny (2018–2019)
- The Dragon Knight (2022–2023)
Kung Fu Panda TV Sepcials
Kung Fu Panda Holiday (2010)
FAQs
How many Kung Fu Panda movies are there?
There are a total of 3 Kung Fu Panda Movies currently.
What is the release date for Kung Fu Panda 4?
Kung Fu Panda 4 will be released in March 2024 as announced by the official franchise.
Where to watch Kung Fu Panda 1?
You can now watch Kung Fu Panda 1 on Netflix.
Conclusion
The “Kung Fu Panda Movies in Order” adventure has, in the end, been nothing short of spectacular. These movies gave me a rich tapestry of action, humor, and heartfelt life lessons from the beginning till the end.