In addition to confirming a Donkey spinoff, actor Eddie Murphy gave an incredibly timely update about Shrek 5. In 2022, DreamWorks’ Oscar-winning Shrek franchise has churned out another Puss and Boots spinoff film, but it’s been nearly 15 years since a mainline Shrek movie hit theaters. The 2010 film Shrek Forever After, which made a staggering $756.2 million at the global box office, closed out the titular ogre’s core story. Now, however, the kingdom of Far Far Away has more comedic fantasy stories to share with long-time fans and Shrek newcomers alike.

Released in 2001, the original movie introduced audiences to the embittered, swamp-dwelling ogre Shrek (Mike Myers), his chatty pal Donkey (Eddie Murphy), the mysterious Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz), and the ruthless Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). Aided by Donkey, Shrek agrees to rescue Fiona on the feeble Farquaad’s behalf in order to regain control of his swamp. In true fantasy rom-com fashion, Shrek falls for the princess — a human by birth, Fiona is “cursed” to transform into an ogre at night. A send-up of Disney-style fairy tales, the Shrek movies have endured for over 20 years.

Eddie Murphy’s Shrek 5 Release Update Arrived At The Same Time That Shrek Is Trending On Netflix

The Shrek Franchise’s Popularity Continues After Nearly 25 Years

Eddie Murphy’s Shrek 5 update couldn’t have come at a better time for the franchise. According to the Donkey voice actor, Shrek 5‘s cast of characters recorded their lines for the film “months ago,” which aligns well with Shrek 5‘s proposed 2025 release window. Funnily enough, the original Shrek movie has been trending on Netflix throughout June 2024, making Murphy’s filming update particularly timely. Bolstered by the news of a new franchise film, Shrek will no doubt gain even more Netflix viewers as folks watch the Shrek franchise in order ahead of Shrek 5‘s release.

Even though Shrek is based on a fairytale folks have never heard of, it managed to launch an incredibly successful series that still endures. The 2001 movie was so beloved by critics and audiences alike that it pushed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to create an entirely new Oscars category: Best Animated Feature. That’s a feat no Disney (or Pixar) movie accomplished, which says a lot about Shrek‘s groundbreaking success. In addition to its history-making accolades, the Shrek series made box office history by becoming the first animated film franchise to cross the $3 billion mark.

Why Shrek Is Still So Popular With New Generations After 23 Years

Shrek Was Both Popular In Its Time & A Kind Of Cult Classic

When the first Shrek hit theaters in 2001, it was kind of the anti-Disney animated film — a self-aware fairy-tale spoof. Shrek is also the rare franchise that was both hugely popular when it debuted and something that’s shrouded in a cult-classic-like mystique as new generations discover it. It’s both inventive and a sell out. Through that dichotomy, Shrek became one of the internet’s biggest obsessions. The Atlantic puts it well, noting, “As with all good internet memes, it feels like one giant agreed-upon joke.” An encapsulation of 2000s pop culture, Shrek persists.

Shrek 5 is slated for a 2025 release window.

Source: The Atlantic