After years of fans waiting, and followingEddie Murphy letting it slipthat the movie was in development,Shrek 5has officially been given the greenlight.Shrekis one of the biggest animated film franchises in history, running from 2001 to 2010. It has been living on through spin-off films like the twoPuss in Bootsmovies and various holiday specials, but the lovable ogre himself has not been seen on the big screen in 14 years, and fans have been clamoring for anew film for some time.
DreamWorks Animation has now officially confirmedShrek 5is happening. They announced onX(formerly Twitter) with an official video that featured a “5” with the classic Shrek ears and playing Smash Mouth’s hit songAll-Star, which is commonly associated with the film.Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz are confirmed to be reprising their roles, and the movie is officially set to open in theaters on June 07, 2025, just in time for the 4th of July weekend.
You can check out the first official poster forShrek 5below:
Shrek Returns to Reclaim Box Office Glory
From 2001 to 2010,Shrekwas one of the biggest moviefranchises in the world. The first two films are regarded as modern animated classics, known for their clever screenplay, satirization of fairy tales, and iconic characters.Shrek 2was the biggest movie of 2004, beating out heavy hitters likeSpider-Man 2,The Incredibles, andHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. BothShrekandShrek 2competed at the Cannes Film Festival, withShrekwinning the very first Academy Award for Best Animated Film. WhileShrek the ThirdandShrek Forever Aftermight have been seen as a step-down in quality, both were major box office hits. The four films, not counting thePuss in Bootsmovies, have grossed nearly $2.9 billion at the worldwide box office.
Yet much has changed since the lastShrekfilm hit theaters. Two monthsafterShrek Forever Afterwas released,Despicable Mecame out and seemed to eclipseShrekas the new overly merchandised animated film franchise with several sequels despite each new entry getting weaker reviews from critics.Shrek’s studio, DreamWorks Animation, was also acquired by Universal Pictures in 2016, meaningShrekandDespicable Meare owned by the same parent company. Universalbegan to prioritize Illumination filmsover DreamWorks movies, with Illumination becoming the new rival to Disney and Pixar.
Shrek 2 Actually Holds Up Much Better Than the Original and Here’s Why
At two decades old, Shrek 2 continues to hold up today as an excellent sequel film.
AsInside Out 2has been climbingthe box office charts, not only dominating the summer cinematic season but also on track to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time,Shrek 5’s release feels like an attempt to reclaim that box office glory. TheShrekmovies were cultural phenomenons during the 2000s, and an audience who grew up with them is no doubt nostalgic for them and excited to see their favorite characters return.
With how much theShrekmovies have become part of 21st-century online media culture from memes and gifs, and the kids who grew up with them now old enough to have disposable money and kids of their own,Shrek 5has the potential to be one of thebiggest legacy sequels of all time. It could even be up there withStar Wars: The Force AwakensandSpider-Man: No Way Home,primingShrek 5to become the highest-grossing animated movie of all time. It certainly will have its sights set on that 4th of July weekend…
