Over the years, there have been hundreds of animated films released with the intent of making something so out of the ordinary, and so strange, that it actually becomes unforgettably amazing in the best way possible. I’d say nine times out of ten, these films usually fail to meet the mark. But there is one film that went so far beyond the mark that it has continued to captivate audiences of all ages for over two decades, and it’s a fairy-tale parody about an ogre named Shrek.
Yes, as shocking as it is to realize, it’s been 25 years since the first Shrek film hit theatres in May 2001. What was it that made a film about a strange green ogre become one of the most iconic animated films of all time? Was it the epic soundtrack, the amazing cast, or the controversially hilarious twist on fairy tales? I think it was the perfect concoction of it all.
It Was Different
Disney held the crown for decades when it came to memorable animated films…but they all seemed to follow the same recipe — perfect princes cast as heroes, beautiful princesses being rescued, and ugly villains with a random hatred for them both.
But then Dreamworks decided they’d had enough with the perfection and the clichés, and what better way to try to steal the throne from Disney than by taking their game and flipping it. They turned a “frightening” ogre into a hero and the “handsome” prince into a villain, added in an energetic talking donkey — and ended up with a masterpiece.
Dreamworks changed much more than just the story, though — they altered the entire tone and dynamic of the typical animated film. Animated films were typically made with caution, carefully crafted to appeal to children, without allowing anything too taboo to seep in. Shrek decided it was time an animated film was made with the intent of being enjoyed equally by all. The sarcasm, underlying jokes, and relatable characters made it easy for adults to fall in love with, while the soundtrack and chaotic silliness made it just as easy for children to enjoy.
Shrek was basically an anti-Disney movie, and it succeeded in taking the throne from them in many ways — including winning the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, beating Disney’s contender, Monsters, Inc.
The Impact
Shrek wasn’t just a “good” film — it was a film that helped redefine what an animated film could be. Somehow it managed to be one of the most comedic and flawlessly humorous films of all time, despite the fact that the characters were animated (no shade to animated characters, though).
Personally, the soundtrack was what did it for me. Even though I was in elementary school, Smash Mouth quickly became one of my favorite bands, and I still know every word to “All Star” — me and every other millennial, I’m sure. It also did a great job at re-glorifying a few older songs, including “Hallelujah” and “Bad Reputation.”
An endless number of memes were created because of the strange ogre, and some of the lines from the film are still quoted to this day. Not to mention, it spawned into a full-blown franchise with a total of four films — the second of which some claim to be even better than the first. And all of it came from Dreamworks’ gamble on an unconventional fairy-tale film.
What Does the Future Hold for Shrek and Fiona (and Donkey)?
To celebrate 25 years of our favorite ogre, theatres are re-releasing the first film — and it’s happening this month. Yup, that’s right, popular theatre chains like AMC and Cinemark will re-release the first film on May 15th. What’s better is that it isn’t just a one-night event; it will be playing in theatres for weeks, just like any other film, and to add to it, there are rumors of special popcorn buckets and other movie merch. So if you want to experience Shrek like you did in 2001, now’s your chance.
In even better news…there has been confirmation from Dreamworks that a fifth film is currently in production, with most of the original cast returning, including Mike Myers (Shrek), Eddie Murphy (Donkey), and Cameron Diaz (Fiona). At first, it was rumored to be a remake, but nope — it is an actual fifth film that will continue the story from where we left off in the fourth film. Another confirmed rumor is that Zendaya will be joining the cast as one of Shrek and Fiona’s daughters, and I’m all for it.
As for the release date, it has been pushed back a few times — originally planned for July of this year, pushed to December, and now expected in summer 2027. I don’t blame them for wanting to perfect this film, especially since it has been fifteen years since the release of the last one and they have a lot to live up to from fans. Besides, we sort of have a stacked year when it comes to blockbusters, so I don’t blame them for not wanting to compete with “Dunesday” this December.
So it looks like we have to wait a year to see where Shrek and Fiona’s story goes, but I’m just grateful we get to find out! For now, though —
