As a Moments subpage, all spoilers are unmarked as per policy. You Have Been Warned.
- This scene at the beginning of the film has Harold and Lillian hesitant of signing their kingdom away to Rumpelstiltskin just so they can lift Fiona's curse.Rumpelstiltskin: Well, if your kingdom is worth more to you than your daughter...
Harold: Nothing is worth more to us than our daughter.- Even when Rumpel succeeded in getting them to sign their kingdom to him, Shrek doesn't believe that Harold and Lillian would do something so reckless. He had become so close to them that he was confident in saying that.
- After Fiona makes a wish on a shooting star, she and Shrek kiss and hold each other as Puss sings "One Love".
- Seeing the triplets and the Dronkeys' playdates is very adorable. True, it gets on Shrek's nerves, but it's so sweet seeing them playing together and having fun day after day. It's more than likely that they end up becoming really good friends like their parents.
- Despite becoming repetitive and tedious, the beginning montage of Shrek and the others' life as a found family is awfully sweet. If anything, there's something to be said for how their lives are so idyllic that of course Fiona would wish every day would be like the one they just had.
- Even though Shrek become annoyed at the, admittedly, daily intrusion by tourists, it's rather heartwarming that Shrek has gone from being demonized and ostracized to being seeing a beloved and respected hero by humans.
- How much the triplets love Shrek. Considering how afraid he was of being a bad father when Fiona first announced her pregnancy, it's very sweet how close Shrek became with their children.
- What sets Shrek off is when Rumpel taunts him about the fact that Shrek's children do not exist.
- While Rumpelstiltskin was duping Shrek into signing away his existence, he claims that when his time is up, he'll be a changed ogre. At the end, he is.
- During Shrek's montage of him acting like an ogre, there's a brief moment when he says "Roar" into an old lady's ear horn, only extremely quietly and gentle, clearly because he doesn't want to give the old woman too much of a fright.
- Shrek, even though had been treating Donkey as an annoyance since the first movie, when he sees him again in the alternate universe he desperately tries to get Donkey to remember him. He even sings their song, for God's sake!
- Blink and you'll miss it, but when Shrek grabs Donkey and escapes through the window, he takes care to protect Donkey's eyes before the impact. Really, even the fact that Shrek bothers to grab Donkey on the way out at all is pretty heartwarming. Considering that Donkey is not generally considered an asset and Shrek doesn't even try to get any help out of him until he finds Fiona missing from the tower, this decision is more likely based on a) not wanting to leave Donkey in the hands of the abusive witches and b) wanting a familiar face around.
- Small one, but the alternate world's Puss and Donkey becoming friends so quickly is cute considering the animosity that preceded the real Puss and Donkey's friendship.
- Fridge-Heartwarming: The reason Puss and Donkey weren't immediate friends in the real timeline is because they each became Shrek's friend first. In their own ways, they each liked Shrek from the get-go.
- How excited Donkey became when Shrek told him he was married and had kids in the timeline where Shrek was born. He wasn't even weirded out by the idea of marrying a dragon and having mutant babies.
- In the climax, Donkey falls in love with Dragon almost immediately (set to Lionel Richie's Hello, no less), despite initially being scared, and almost eaten by, her, as opposed to how it took him some time to warm up to her in the first movie.
- During the end credits after the timeline is restored, Donkey jumps into Dragon's mouth and comes out with a smile, as he doesn't mind doing so; even Dragon grins at him.
- Rumpelstiltskin truly loves his goose Fifi, since he doesn't abuse her like he does the witches. He reacts with horror when Fifi disappears in the alternate timeline, and again when Fiona blows her up in the present timeline.
- Unlike Shrek, the other ogres enjoy Donkey’s antics and befriend him quickly, despite trying to cook him before.
- As Shrek is disappearing into non-existence, he tells Fiona of their children, Fiona speaks of her vision of having a daughter named Felicia, which Shrek promises will still happen as he hands Fiona their daughter's doll.
- Shrek's parting words to Fiona in the altered timeline before withering away. Thankfully, it doesn't last."You know what the best part of today was? I got the chance to fall in love with you all over again."
- The ending.
- When Shrek realizes he has his life back, the first thing he does is run to hug Fiona.
- And a little before, Shrek slightly smiles at the fact that everything is back the way it was.
- Shrek returns Felicia's ogre doll, and his daughter replies, "Thank you, Daddy!" It is especially moving considering the temper tantrum Shrek would have made before he learned his lesson! Set Right What Once Went Wrong indeed.
- The original trio of heroes: Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona are who deliver the last words of the film series. Very fitting indeed. First, Donkey proudly proclaims how Shrek is his best friend, followed by this final part that puts the cherry on top.Shrek: You know, I always thought that I rescued you from the Dragon's Keep.
Fiona: You did.
Shrek: No. It was you that rescued me. - It is shown during the end credits that the other ogres have been getting well with the humans and fairy tale creatures thanks to Shrek's reputation as a beloved hero, as several humans are seen holding up firecrackers (lit by Puss) while happily watching Brogan, Gretched and Cookie perform their own band. Even Queen Lillian finds herself comfortable in dancing with another ogre without any doubts. Given to the fact that in all four movies, much of society have thought of ogres to be mindless beasts that deserve to be ostracized or put down. But now, thanks to Shrek, it is shown that much of society is willing to abandon this prejudice and give ogres, not only just a second chance, but also a special place in the world.
- The final shot before the credits roll deserves special mention. In contrast to a similar scene earlier in the film, Shrek is by himself in the swamp, making an angel in the mud, content with his peace and quiet (though we all know it doesn't last). At the very end, in true Book Ends fashion, Shrek does the same thing again, only this time, he is surrounded by everyone he cares about, from his wife and kids, extended family, and all of his friends (including other ogres), all of whom join him in the mud, as a grinning Shrek fully embraces the good life he's been blessed with, a newfound appreciation for all he has forever in his mind.
- When Shrek realizes he has his life back, the first thing he does is run to hug Fiona.
- Near the end of the credits, there is a special message that reads "Heartfelt thanks to the talented artists who worked on Shrek the past decade".
- Plus, the credits feature moments from the previous three films.
- Stevie Wonder's "For Once In My Life" plays over all of this, which is a perfect, upbeat song that illustrates Shrek's journey surprisingly poignantly.
