Garfield was first introduced to fans in a 1976 Jim Davis comic strip called Jon. A year later, the strip was rebranded before receiving mainstream syndication in 1978. Since then, the lazy but lovable orange feline has captured hearts everywhere with his sarcastic Monday-hating charm and mischievous lasagna-loving antics.
Although Garfield made his theatrical animated feature film debut in 2024, he took his first steps into the world of cinema in two live-action projects. So, here's a guide to watching every Garfield movie in order, their stories, and where to find them on streaming services like Max and Prime Video.
Garfield: The Movie (2004)
Garfield: The Movie begins with a detailed look at the daily life of the famous orange cat, who lives with his owner, Jon Arbuckle (Breckin Meyer). As an only pet, Garfield (voiced by Bill Murray) spends his days eating, napping, bugging Jon, and playing tricks on the Dobermann that lives next door. He also hangs out with a mouse named Louis and fellow neighborhood cats Nermal and Arlene. But his life gets turned upside down when, during a trip to veterinarian Dr. Liz Wilson (Jennifer Love Hewitt), Jon accidentally agrees to take in a dog named Odie. Although he is super friendly, Garfield instantly dislikes his new canine companion. However, when Odie goes missing, Garfield is forced to venture out of his comfort zone to bring him home.
Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties (2006)
The sequel, Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties, begins two years after the events of the first film. This time, Garfield and Odie secretly tag along with Jon on a trip to London, where he plans to ask his girlfriend Liz to marry him. Once they arrive, the duo break out of the hotel to explore the unfamiliar city. Elsewhere, a cat named Prince, who looks exactly like Garfield, inherits his deceased owner's entire fortune. In a jealous rage, Lord Manfred Dargis, who will only inherit the estate once Prince dies, throws the cat into the street. Garfield is eventually picked up by Prince's butler, Smithee, while Jon finds Prince and takes him back to the hotel. Although both cats initially enjoy living in each other's shoes, they quickly get tired of the switch.
Garfield Gets Real (2007)
There comes a time when recycled antics lose their charm, even for a cat as smugly satisfied as Garfield. Garfield Gets Real breaks the fourth wall in a literal and emotional sense, as our lasagna-loving icon leaps from the monochrome comfort of his comic strip into the full-color chaos of the real world. At first, it's everything he's dreamed of - freedom, food, and no editors. But real life hits different when the laughs aren't guaranteed. This isn't just a cartoon detour—it's a quiet, existential reckoning wrapped in CGI fur. As Garfield grapples with identity outside of his curated narrative, we're reminded of how easy it is to take our routines for granted.
Garfield's Fun Fest (2008)
Ego is a fragile thing, even when you're a self-proclaimed comedy king. In Garfield's Fun Fest, the famously snarky feline finds himself in unfamiliar territory when his longtime stage partner wants to do something besides comedy at the Annual Fun Fest talent show. When Garfield refuses and she replaces him, he sets off on a whimsical, winding quest to win back both the audience and Arlene. What starts as a mission to reclaim his "funny" leads him into a deeper journey about what truly makes someone worth cheering for. Beneath the humor and bright animation, it's a surprisingly honest look at how we cope when the spotlight shifts and how to earn it back.
Garfield's Pet Force (2009)
Garfield's Pet Force flings the iconic cat into an alternate dimension where laziness is a liability. In this comic-book-inspired universe, Garfield and his usual crew don tight costumes and discover superpowers they never asked for, battling a ruthless villainess named Vetvix with reality-bending plans. The stakes are high, the pace is relentless, and for once, naps aren't on the schedule. What makes this movie different from the others centered around the organization of cats is its unapologetic shift toward fantasy. Gone are Garfield's quiet existential musings about Mondays and snacks. Those have been replaced by action, with just enough heart to make you care.
The Garfield Movie (2024)
After producing a series of direct-to-video films aimed at younger audiences, the franchise returned to the big screen. Animated feature, The Garfield Movie, changes things a little by giving the orange cat an origin story that is very different from the one created by Jim Davis. The standalone movie begins with Garfield (voiced by Chris Pratt) explaining his dislike for Mondays while showcasing his otherwise pampered life with Odie (Harvey Guillén) and their owner, Jon (Nicholas Hoult). Everything changes when the pair is taken by a group of criminal animals named Roland, Nolan, and Barry. Fortunately, Odie and Garfield are rescued by Vic (Samuel L. Jackson), a cat who claims to be the latter's estranged father. As a result, the house pets are drawn into an unexpected adventure that takes them to a place called Lactose Farms.
Garfield Special Collections
The Garfield special collections bring together some of the most popular animated television specials featuring the iconic orange tabby cat. The list includes Garfield As Himself, Garfield Holiday Celebrations, Garfield Travel Adventures, and Garfield Fantasies.
Each collection features a few mini-movies related to the title theme. Later releases, such as Happy Holidays, Garfield!, and Garfield: Nine Lives, offer remastered or repackaged versions of earlier works for a new generation of fans. While worth noting, they aren't movies in the traditional sense.
Where To Watch 'Garfield' Movies Online
To discover more about TV shows and movies currently streaming in the US, check out the JustWatch streaming guide! You can filter your search by streaming service, genre, price, age rating, and score. Be sure to build your watchlist and receive helpful notifications on what to watch next based on your preferences!
