The recent announcement of Shrek 5 makes one key franchise return a must in the future sequel. With the release date for Shrek 5 revealed to be July 5, 2026, fans of the celebrated series can finally have a concrete idea of when to expect the long-awaited sequel. The first Shrek film was released on May 15, 2001 and received overwhelming praise from critics and audiences alike, earning an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The original Shrek was also a box office smash, earning $487 million worldwide against a production budget of $60 million. Shrek 2 was even more successful, earning a whopping $935 million against a budget of $70 million in 2004. In fact, all four Shrek movies, as well as its two Puss in Boots spinoffs, have turned a profit, so Shrek 5 comes as no surprise. Original cast members Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy are all slated to return.

Shrek 5 Needs Smash Mouth To Return For Another Song

Smash Mouth was an integral part of the original movie

It’s tough not to think about the original Shrek movie without thinking about Smash Mouth, which was one of the biggest pop rock bands in the world at the time that the film was released. The opening scene of the film that introduced Shrek to the world was accompanied by “All Star” by Smash Mouth, which was used in the Shrek 5 announcement video. Smash Mouth’s cover of The Monkees’ classic song “I’m A Believer” was also featured at the end of the original movie.

Now that the franchise is making a big comeback, releasing its first official Shrek movie since 2010’s Shrek Forever After, Smash Mouth should also make a comeback along with it. The band is still making music, having just recently released a new disco-inspired track titled “Ride On” in April 2024. Lead singer Steve Harwell unfortunately left the band in 2021 and passed away in 2023, which could allow Shrek 5 to pay tribute to his and the band’s legacy.

What Smash Mouth Songs Shrek 5 Could Use

“Walkin’ On the Sun” was another popular track

While it’s hard to imagine Smash Mouth without Harwell’s iconic voice, the fact that the band is continuing to make music is promising for a potential Shrek 5 collab. What might be an even better choice is using another one of Smash Mouth’s classic early 2000s anthems that haven’t been featured yet in the Shrek franchise. “All Star” and “I’m A Believer” are their most popular tracks, but other songs such as “Walkin’ On the Sun” and “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby” could be viable nostalgic options. Since Shrek 5 already featured “All Star” in its announcement video, it may as well use it again in the film.