Beloved 2001 Animated Film Returns to Theaters 25 Years Later

Shrek is back, 25 years later.

It was announced on Thursday that the iconic children’s movie will be re-released in movie theaters across the nation to celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary. Starring Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz and John Lithgow, the film follows the titular character (Myers), who finds his home in the swamp overrun by creatures who were banned by Lord Darquaad (Lithgow). With the help of his best friend Donkey (Murphy), Shrek goes on an adventure and makes a pact with Farquaad to rescue Princess Fiona (Diaz) and his swamp.

“We’re taking it back to the swamp. Shrek returns to theaters May 15,” the official X account for the film posted on Thursday morning. “Tickets available now.”

Thanks to its major success during its release in 2001, it helped establish DreamWorks Animation as a competitor to Pixar in feature-length computer-animated films. Since then, three sequels have been released — Shrek 2, Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After, with Shrek 5 currently in development. In addition, two spin-off films for the character Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) were released in 2011 and 2022.

Shrek has become regarded as one of the most influential animated films of the 2000s and is even noted as one of the greatest animated films made. In 2020, the United States Library of Congress selected the movie to be preserved in the National Film Registry, making it the first animated film of the 21st century to be preserved.

“I’m so proud of this film, I’m so proud to be a part of it,” Diaz said on The Ellen Show when she was promoting the sequel in 2004. “You know, I watched [Shrek 2] and I saw that the message was so timely, you know, talking about loving yourself and accepting yourself, and loving and accepting others…That’s where happiness begins and you don’t need anything outside of that.”

Production for the first Shrek movie started in 1995 and was loosely based on the 1990 children’s picture book Shrek! by William Steig. A year after the book was released, Steven Spielberg purchased the rights, but producer John H. Williams convinced the filmmaker to bring it to the newly founded DreamWorks Pictures. The title character was originally supposed to be voiced by comedian and Saturday Night Livealum Chris Farley, but he passed away in 1997.

When Shrek was released in theaters on May 18, 2001, it became the fourth highest-grossing film that year, and made over $492 million worldwide. Many critics praised the film for its animation, voice performances, soundtrack, writing and humor, which catered to all ages. In addition, the movie won many awards, including the BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

All four movies and their spinoffs can be streamed on Disney+. Showings will start on May 15, and tickets to watch Shrek in movie theaters can be found on Fandango’s official website.

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