DreamWorks announced earlier this month that Shrek will be getting his fifth installment; currently set for a summer 2026 release with Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy all set to reprise their roles.
This is exciting news if you are a fan of the big green-eared ogre, as I am! It has been 14 years since Shrek Forever After closed the fairytale book on the beloved franchise. Certainly the success of the astonishingly good Puss in Boots: The Last Wish pushed the animation studio to set a release date for this long awaited fivequel. According to IMDB, Shrek 5 is set to hit theaters on July 1, 2026, which would coincide with the original film’s anniversary.
Plot details for the movie are currently unknown, but Puss in Boots: The Last Wish might have left us some clues as it ended with our favorite swashbuckling Spanish kitty setting sail for Far, Far Away. So I would not be surprised if Antonio Banderas’ name appears on the cast list soon. The limited information available so far is that the film will have co-directors in the form of Walt Dohrn and Brad Abelson. Dohrn served as a writer on Shrek 2 and Shrek The Third and took on Head of Story duties for Shrek Forever After. Meanwhile Abelson recently co-directed Illumination’s Minions: The Rise of Gru.
If that summer 2026 release date feels Far, Far Away right now, don’t worry, we still have a Shrek catalogue we can enjoy in the meantime. That being said, let’s explore a little bit of how we got here….
The original Shrek was released in 2001 and will be celebrating its 25th anniversary when the fifth installment hits theaters in 2026. For fans of the franchise, it’s not really surprising that the DreamWorks film with stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz, remains one of the best and most beloved franchises of the 2000s.
But with Shrek, this is especially notable, as the movie is a computer animated film. Even as these movies are becoming more and more realistic with every new release bearing striking resemblances to real world imagery, Shrek remains at the top because it is so much fun to watch. Perhaps this should be credited to all the many careful aspects that went into the creation of the film, nonetheless it is important to note.
For example, not every amazing movie is fun to watch. Movies like Schindler’s List and Joker are certainly amazing films, with emotional, heavy scripts and exceptional performances. But they are definitely not fun to watch. Likewise, you can come across a movie that is fun to watch and find zero substance. Shrek, however, manages the difficult task of being an objectively fantastic film that is also fun to watch.
Continuing the theme of pure enjoyment, Shrek also accomplishes the task of being a movie targeted to kids that is still enjoyable for adults. The sad truth for lots of ‘kids’ movies is they are targeted solely to the kids, and not acknowledging the parents who have to be in the theater as well.
Shrek, again manages to keep the attention of the younger and older audience alike. Perhaps it did even more than that. I suspect by the time the sequel was released three years later, the parents were likely the ones dragging their kids to the theater and not the other way around. And now those that were kids when the original was released will be able to continue the enjoyment with a new generation upon the release of the fifth installment.
Of course, you cannot have a conversation about Shrek without acknowledging the fact that it is a parody. Fans of parody films will always talk about their love of movies like Spaceballs, History of the World, Monty Python, and The Naked Gun, as they should as those films largely broke ground in the comedy genre by poking fun at a concept, person, or idea. In that vein, Shrek is no exception. Perhaps and hear me out here, it is their equal.
Although it is a surprisingly complex story at times, at its core, Shrek parodies the entire concept of the fairytale. In this film, the fairytale creatures (fairies, talking bears, blind mice, a big bad wolf, and three little piggies) are all hated by regular humans and are also largely helpless. Sure, part of this is a commentary on imperialism, with Lord Farquad displacing these fairytale creatures, forcing them to register with the government, and then making them all live together on one tiny piece of land. But the fact still remains that the creators of Shrek had the idea to take a beloved children’s concept and totally flip it on its head in an immensely unique way.
As we observe the unique but amazing, let’s give a nod to the stellar cast which without them, the film would not have come together. The cast of Shrek is truly legendary. The comedic genius who starred in Austin Powers, Mike Myers, should get significant credit for the success of Shrek. Can you imagine Shrek without that Scottish accent? It was Myers in a last minute, though no less dramatic shift that decided to thrust that accent upon him. Eddie Murphy brought Donkey to life, speaking at 10,000 words per minute, irritating Shrek and making us all laugh. And with the perfect mix of grace and strength, Cameron Diaz embodied the tough warrior princess that is Fiona.
All of these important aspects of the film are great, but empty, if they don’t conclude in a worthwhile message and Shrek does just that. Sure jokes permeate in just about every scene in the film, but Shrek also has its fair share of serious moments. In these moments, the truly important messages shine through. Maybe the most significant of these is that no one is ever as they seem, as that message is driven home through multiple story arcs.
The low hanging fruit here is that Shrek himself is persecuted and hated, for no other reason than he is big, scary and ugly. Meanwhile, on the inside he is kind and he is hurting from his constant loneliness. Fiona, the beautiful and graceful princess, also harbors the secret that she becomes an Ogre every night. The point is driven home that this does not make her deserving of baseless hatred or abuse. Incidentally, nearly twenty five years later this may be all the more important to hang onto. And even Dragon, who appears to be a terrifying creature, is just another person looking for companionship, which poignantly she finds with Donkey.
Again, these messages are always important, but hopefully today as you’re reading this, you’ll spread some of this compassion and love to those you come in contact with in your daily lives. And maybe just maybe, sing them a song. And speaking of song, the soundtracks to all of the Shrek films are undeniably terrific, especially the first two. Smash Mouth’s All Star and cover of I’m a Believer were instant classics and if you go into a karaoke bar even today, no doubt you will get a rendition of one of these throwbacks to ‘01.
Overall, the soundtrack is a mix of perfection including original music, original versions and regular songs all perfectly placed to keep the pace moving. Its also notable that the original songs add to the humor present throughout the entirety of the film. This is never more obvious than in Robin Hood’s little musical number, the words to which will have you in stitches.
Speaking of laughter, one of the best things about Shrek is that it will never cease to make you laugh with a humor that is smart, careful and largely innuendo. For example, Lord Farquad’s entire name, as well as his size, lays the foundation for countless witty jabs from Shrek about compensation, among other things.
It is definitely in this humor that the writing transcends good and becomes legendary screenwriting. The innuendo is constant, never blatant, and believe it or not, never forced. The way these jokes are led-in and ever so subtly uttered is both stunning and hilarious. At the end of the day, all these magnificent pieces of the puzzle come together to create the start of a wonderful franchise.
I’ll close this post with my verdicts on the first four films that will prepare you for the fifth movie coming summer 2026. Enjoy!
Shrek – Wonderfully written, gloriously animated and tastily subversive; you’ll be hard pressed to find a more fun time. A Cute Film Addictive Rating 8.6/10
Shrek 2 – A jolly rib tickle from start all the way to its big finish. A Cute Film Addictive Rating 8.0/10
Shrek the Third – The standards slip a little here, but the visuals and the gag rate will keep you involved. A Cute Film Addictive Rating 6.8/10
Shrek Forever After – In what appeared to be the finale at one time, the DreamWorks magic was back on par for the closing of the series. A Cute Film Addictive Rating 7.0/10
See you at the theaters!
