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{{Short description|2001 DreamWorks Animation film}}
{{About|the 2001 film|the franchise|Shrek (franchise){{!}}''Shrek'' (franchise)|the title character|Shrek (character)|the book that the film is based on|Shrek!{{!}}''Shrek!''|other uses}}
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{{Infobox film
| image          = Shrek (2001 animated feature film).jpg
| alt            = Princess Fiona and Shrek sit, while Donkey, and Lord Farquaad stand in front of a giant green "S" stylized with Shrek's ears on a grassy landscape.
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = {{plainlist|
* [[Andrew Adamson]]
* [[Vicky Jenson]]
}}
| writer         = {{plainlist|
* [[Ted Elliott (screenwriter)|Ted Elliott]]
* [[Terry Rossio]]
* [[Joe Stillman]]
* [[Roger S. H. Schulman]]
}}
| based_on       = {{Based on|''[[Shrek!]]''|[[William Steig]]}}
| producer       = {{plainlist|
* [[Aron Warner]]
* [[John H. Williams (film producer)|John H. Williams]]
* [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]]
}}
| starring       = <!-- STOP. THESE ARE THE STARRING ROLES LISTED ON THE POSTER, IN THIS ORDER -->{{plainlist|
* [[Mike Myers]]
* [[Eddie Murphy]]
* [[Cameron Diaz]]
* [[John Lithgow]]
}}<!-- STOP. THESE ARE THE STARRING ROLES LISTED ON THE POSTER, IN THIS ORDER -->
| editing        = Sim Evan-Jones
| music          = {{plainlist|
* [[Harry Gregson-Williams]]
* [[John Powell (film composer)|John Powell]]
}}
| production_companies = {{Plainlist|
* [[DreamWorks Animation]]<ref name="ShrekNumbers">{{cite the numbers |title=Shrek |id=Shrek |access-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref>
* [[PDI/DreamWorks]]<ref name="ShrekAFI">{{cite web |title=Shrek |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/53918 |website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]] |access-date=November 7, 2018 |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330134519/https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/53918 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="VarietyReview" />
}}
| distributor    = [[DreamWorks Pictures]] (through DreamWorks Distribution){{efn|name=Distributor|In July 2014, the film's distribution rights were purchased by [[DreamWorks Animation]] from [[Paramount Pictures]] (owners of the pre-2005 DreamWorks Pictures catalog)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cheney |first1=Alexandra |title=DreamWorks Animation Q2 Earnings Fall Short of Estimates, SEC Investigation Revealed |url=https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/dreamworks-animation-q2-earnings-fall-short-of-estimates-1201271262/ |access-date=July 30, 2014 |work=Variety |date=July 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623141606/https://variety.com/2014/biz/news/dreamworks-animation-q2-earnings-fall-short-of-estimates-1201271262/|archive-date=June 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> and transferred to [[20th Century Fox]] before reverting to [[Universal Pictures]] in 2018.}}<ref name="VarietyReview" /><ref name = "Box Office Mojo" />
| released       = {{Film date|2001|4|22|[[Mann Village Theatre, Westwood|Mann Village Theatre]]|2001|5|18|United States|ref1=<ref name="'Shrek' shleps in">{{cite news |title='Shrek' shleps in |url=https://variety.com/2001/scene/vpage/shrek-shleps-in-1117797904/ |access-date=July 27, 2015 |work=Variety |date=April 25, 2001 |quote=She was speaking at DreamWorks' special screening Sunday at Mann's Village Theater in Westwood. |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305062406/http://variety.com/2001/scene/vpage/shrek-shleps-in-1117797904/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| runtime        = 90 minutes<ref name = "Box Office Mojo"/>
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $60&nbsp;million<ref name = "Box Office Mojo">{{cite Box Office Mojo |id=0126029 |title=Shrek (2001)|access-date=May 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228135615/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0126029/ |archive-date=February 28, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| gross          = $492.5 million<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shrek (2001) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Shrek |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=The Numbers}}</ref>
}}

'''''Shrek''''' is a 2001 American animated [[fantasy comedy film]] loosely based on the 1990 children's picture book ''[[Shrek!]]'' by [[William Steig]]. Directed by [[Andrew Adamson]] and [[Vicky Jenson]], and written by [[Ted Elliott (screenwriter)|Ted Elliott]], [[Terry Rossio]], [[Joe Stillman]], and [[Roger S. H. Schulman]], it is the first installment in the [[Shrek (franchise)|''Shrek'' film series]]. The film stars [[Mike Myers]], [[Eddie Murphy]], [[Cameron Diaz]], and [[John Lithgow]]. In the film, an embittered [[ogre]] named [[Shrek (character)|Shrek]] (Myers) finds his home in the swamp overrun by fairy tale creatures banished by the obsessive ruler [[Lord Farquaad]] (Lithgow). With the help of [[Donkey (Shrek)|Donkey]] (Murphy), Shrek makes a pact with Farquaad to rescue [[Princess Fiona]] (Diaz) in exchange for regaining control of his swamp.

After purchasing the rights to Steig's book in 1991, [[Steven Spielberg]] sought to produce a [[traditionally-animated]] film adaptation, but [[John H. Williams (film producer)|John H. Williams]] convinced him to bring the project to the newly founded [[DreamWorks Pictures]] in 1994. [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]], along with Williams and [[Aron Warner]], began development on ''Shrek'' in 1995, immediately following the studio's purchase of the rights from Spielberg. [[Chris Farley]] was cast as the voice for the title character, recording most of the required dialogue, but died in 1997 before his work on the film was finished; Myers was hired to replace him, and gave Shrek his characteristic [[Scottish accent]]. The film was initially intended to be created using [[motion capture]], but after poor test results, the studio hired [[Pacific Data Images]] to complete the final computer animation. ''Shrek'' [[parody film|parodies]] other [[fairy tale]] adaptations, primarily animated Disney films.<ref name="ew.com">{{cite magazine |author=Lori Reese |url=https://ew.com/article/2001/05/29/shrek-anti-disney-fairy-tale/ |title=Is ''Shrek'' the anti- Disney fairy tale? |date=May 29, 2001 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-date=September 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914232433/https://ew.com/article/2001/05/29/shrek-anti-disney-fairy-tale/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Shrek'' premiered at the [[Fox Theater, Westwood Village|Mann Village Theatre]] In [[Westwood, Los Angeles|Westwood]], and was later shown at the [[2001 Cannes Film Festival]], where it competed for the [[Palme d'Or]],<ref name="'Shrek' shleps in">{{cite news |title='Shrek' shleps in |url=https://variety.com/2001/scene/vpage/shrek-shleps-in-1117797904/ |access-date=July 27, 2015 |work=Variety |date=April 25, 2001 |quote=She was speaking at DreamWorks' special screening Sunday at Mann's Village Theater in Westwood. |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305062406/http://variety.com/2001/scene/vpage/shrek-shleps-in-1117797904/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="festival-cannes.com2">{{cite web |url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/1100045/year/2001.html |title=Shrek |publisher=Festival de Cannes |access-date=October 18, 2009 |archive-date=October 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030110024/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/1100045/year/2001.html |url-status=live }}</ref> making it the first animated film since Disney's ''[[Peter Pan (1953 film)|Peter Pan]]'' (1953) to be chosen to do so.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/may/21/cannes2001.cannesfilmfestival1 |title=Shrek scores at the US box office |date=May 21, 2011 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=February 7, 2012 |location=London |archive-date=May 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509221127/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/may/21/cannes2001.cannesfilmfestival1 |url-status=live }}</ref> The film was theatrically released by [[DreamWorks Pictures]] in the United States on May 18, 2001, and grossed over $492 million worldwide, becoming the [[2001 in film#Highest-grossing films|fourth highest-grossing film of 2001]]. It was widely praised by critics for its animation, voice performances, soundtrack, writing and humor, which they noted catered to both adults and children. ''Shrek'' was named one of the [[American Film Institute Awards#2001|top 10 films of 2001]] by the [[American Film Institute]], the first animated film to be listed, and won numerous accolades including the [[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]] and the inaugural [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature]].

The film's major success helped establish [[DreamWorks Animation]] as a competitor to [[Pixar]] in feature film computer animation. Three sequels have been released—''[[Shrek 2]]'' (2004), ''[[Shrek the Third]]'' (2007), and ''[[Shrek Forever After]]'' (2010)—along with two spin-off films—[[Puss in Boots (2011 film)|''Puss in Boots'']] (2011) and ''[[Puss in Boots: The Last Wish]]'' (2022)—with other productions, notably ''[[Shrek 5]]'', in development. It is also regarded as one of the most influential animated films of the 2000s and one of the greatest animated films ever made.<ref name="AFIAni10" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The 50 Best Animated Movies |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-animated-movies/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Empire|date=September 14, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=51 Best Animated Movies |url=https://parade.com/554753/samuelmurrian/the-20-greatest-animated-films-of-all-time/ |access-date=2024-03-22 |website=Parade}}</ref> The United States [[Library of Congress]] selected ''Shrek'' for preservation in the [[National Film Registry]] in 2020, becoming the first animated film of the 21st century to be preserved.

==Plot==
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[[Shrek (character)|Shrek]] is an anti-social [[ogre]] who loves the solitude of his swamp and enjoys fending off mobs and intruders. One day, his life is interrupted after he inadvertently saves a talkative [[Donkey (Shrek)|Donkey]] from some soldiers, prompting Donkey to forcibly stay with him. Donkey is one of many fairytale creatures that are being exiled or sold by the dwarfish [[Lord Farquaad]] of Duloc to beautify his land. However, the creatures inadvertently end up in the swamp. Angered by the intrusion, Shrek resolves to visit Farquaad and demand that he moves the creatures elsewhere, reluctantly allowing Donkey to accompany him as he is the only one who knows where Duloc is.

Meanwhile, Farquaad is presented with the [[Magic Mirror (Snow White)|Magic Mirror]], who tells him that he must marry a princess in order to become king. Farquaad randomly chooses [[Princess Fiona]], who is imprisoned in a castle guarded by a [[Dragon (Shrek)|Dragon]]. Unwilling to rescue Fiona himself, he organizes a tournament in which the winner will receive the "privilege" of performing the task on his behalf. When Shrek and Donkey arrive at Duloc, Farquaad announces that whoever kills Shrek will win the tournament; however, Shrek and Donkey defeat Farquaad's knights with relative ease. Amused, Farquaad proclaims them champions, and agrees to relocate the fairytale creatures if Shrek rescues Fiona.

Shrek and Donkey travel to the castle and the Dragon attacks them. Shrek locates Fiona, who is appalled by his lack of [[romanticism]]; they flee the castle after rescuing Donkey from the Dragon, who is revealed to be female and has fallen in love with him. When Shrek removes his helmet and reveals he is an ogre, Fiona stubbornly refuses to go to Duloc, demanding Farquaad arrive in person to save her. Shrek carries Fiona against her will. That night, after setting up camp, and with Fiona alone in a cave, Shrek admits to Donkey that he is anti-social because he grew frustrated after being constantly judged for his appearance. Fiona overhears this and becomes kinder to Shrek. The next day, [[Robin Hood]] and his band of Merry Men harass the three, but Fiona easily defeats them in physical combat. Shrek becomes impressed with Fiona, and they begin to fall in love.

When the trio nears Duloc, Fiona takes shelter in a windmill for the evening. Donkey enters alone and discovers that Fiona has transformed into an ogre. She explains that during her childhood, she was cursed to transform into an ogre at night but retain her human form during the day. She tells Donkey that only "true love's kiss" will break the spell and change her to "love's true form". Meanwhile, Shrek is about to confess his feelings to Fiona, when he overhears Fiona referring to herself as an "ugly beast". Believing that she is talking about him, Shrek angrily leaves and returns the next morning with Farquaad. Confused and hurt by Shrek's abrupt hostility, Fiona reluctantly accepts Farquaad's marriage proposal and requests that they be married that day before sunset. Shrek angrily dismisses Donkey and returns to his now vacated swamp but quickly realizes that he feels miserable without Fiona. Donkey lectures Shrek for jumping to conclusions and reveals that Fiona was not referring to him as an "ugly beast", although Donkey does not reveal Fiona's secret to Shrek. The two reconcile, and Donkey summons the Dragon, whom he had reunited with earlier in the day. Shrek and Donkey ride Dragon to Duloc so they can stop the wedding.

Shrek interrupts the ceremony just before it ends. Before they can kiss, the sun sets, and Fiona transforms into an ogre in front of everyone. Disgusted and enraged, Farquaad orders Shrek to be executed and Fiona re-imprisoned, so that he will still be king by technicality. The two are saved when the Dragon, ridden by Donkey, breaks in and devours Farquaad. Shrek and Fiona kiss, and Fiona's curse is broken; though she remains an ogre, Shrek reassures her that he still finds her beautiful. They marry in the swamp with the fairy tale creatures in attendance, then leave for their honeymoon.

==Voice cast==
{{Main|List of Shrek (franchise) characters{{!}}List of ''Shrek'' (franchise) characters}}
<!-- Please do not link to characters. They are already linked above and a separate link to the character page is at the top of this section. -->
* [[Mike Myers]] as:
**Shrek<ref>{{cite news |author=Stars and Stories |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/3665827/Mike-Myers-how-I-nailed-Shreks-accent.html |title=Mike Myers: how I nailed Shrek's accent |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=June 15, 2007 |access-date=January 21, 2014 |location=London |archive-date=March 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312131414/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/3665827/Mike-Myers-how-I-nailed-Shreks-accent.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
**One of the [[Three Blind Mice (Shrek)|Three Blind Mice]]<ref name="autogenerated1" />
* [[Eddie Murphy]] as [[Donkey (Shrek)|Donkey]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/tellmemore/2010/05/21/127034341/hollywood-s-million-dollar-donkey |title=Eddie Murphy: Hollywood's Million-Dollar Donkey : Tell Me More |newspaper=NPR |date=May 21, 2010 |access-date=January 21, 2014 |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201211029/http://www.npr.org/blogs/tellmemore/2010/05/21/127034341/hollywood-s-million-dollar-donkey |url-status=live |last1=Izrael |first1=Jimi }}</ref>
* [[Cameron Diaz]] as Princess Fiona<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/movies/16shrek.html |title=Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz on 'Shrek' |work=The New York Times |date=May 10, 2010 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |first=Dave |last=Itzkoff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518103812/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/movies/16shrek.html |archive-date=May 18, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[John Lithgow]] as Lord Farquaad<ref>{{cite web |author=Peter Bradshaw |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/jun/29/1 |title=Shrek &#124; Film |website=The Guardian |date=June 29, 2001 |access-date=January 21, 2014 |archive-date=February 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203154741/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/jun/29/1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Vincent Cassel]] as "Monsieur" Robin Hood<ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Willis |url=https://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/08/12/cassel.profile/index.html?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ |title=Vincent Cassel: Playing France's tough guys |work=CNN|date=August 24, 2009 |access-date=January 21, 2014 |archive-date=February 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203081440/http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/08/12/cassel.profile/index.html?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Conrad Vernon]] as [[Gingerbread Man (Shrek)|Gingerbread Man]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Brian |first=Greg |url=https://news.yahoo.com/conrad-vernon-today-funniest-unknown-voice-actor-shrek-203200437.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219003147/https://news.yahoo.com/conrad-vernon-today-funniest-unknown-voice-actor-shrek-203200437.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 19, 2014 |title=Conrad Vernon: Today's funniest unknown voice actor, from 'Shrek' to 'Madagascar 3' – Yahoo News |publisher=Yahoo! News |date=June 5, 2012 |access-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Chris Miller (animator)|Chris Miller]] as:
**Magic Mirror<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=https://www.afi.com/10top10/moreDetail.aspx?id=53918&thumb=1 |title=10 Top 10 |publisher=AFI |date=May 18, 2001 |access-date=January 21, 2014 |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221044111/http://www.afi.com/10top10/moreDetail.aspx?id=53918&thumb=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
**Geppetto
* [[Cody Cameron]] as:
**[[Pinocchio (Shrek)|Pinocchio]]
**[[The Three Little Pigs (Shrek)|The Three Little Pigs]]<ref name="autogenerated1" />
* [[Simon J. Smith]] as Blind Mouse<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
* [[Christopher Knights]] as:
**Thelonius
**One of the Three Blind Mice
* [[Aron Warner]] as Big Bad Wolf<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
* [[Jim Cummings]] as Captain of the Guards<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
* [[Kathleen Freeman]] as Old Woman<ref name="autogenerated1"/>{{efn|Donkey's ex-owner.}}{{efn|This was Freeman's last film role before her death.}}
* [[Andrew Adamson]] as Duloc Mascot<ref name="autogenerated1"/>{{efn|A man dressed in a suit that looks like Lord Farquaad.}}
* Bobby Block as Baby Bear from the Three Bears<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
* Michael Galasso as Peter Pan<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

==Production==

===Development===
{{See also|Shrek – I Feel Good Animation Test}}
At the time [[DreamWorks Pictures]] was founded, producer [[John H. Williams (film producer)|John H. Williams]] got hold of the book from his children and when he brought it to DreamWorks, it caught CEO [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]]'s attention and the studio decided to make it into a film.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://culture.com/articles/487/shrek-interview-with-mike-myers.phtml |title=Shrek: Interview With Mike Myers |publisher=Culture.com |access-date=January 4, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029000305/http://culture.com/articles/487/shrek-interview-with-mike-myers.phtml | archive-date=October 29, 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref> Recounting the inspiration of making the film, Williams said: {{blockquote|Every development deal starts with a pitch and my pitch came from my then kindergartner, in collaboration with his pre-school brother. Upon our second reading of ''Shrek'', the kindergartner started quoting large segments of the book pretending he could read them. Even as an adult, I thought ''Shrek'' was outrageous, irreverent, iconoclastic, gross, and just a lot of fun. He was a great movie character in search of a movie.<ref name = "Production notes on Culture.com">{{cite web |url=https://cinema.com/articles/462/shrek-production-notes.phtml |title=Shrek: Production Notes |publisher=cinema.com. |access-date=March 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905073131/http://cinema.com/articles/462/shrek-production-notes.phtml|archive-date=September 5, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
After buying the rights to the film, Katzenberg quickly put it in active development in November 1995.<ref>{{cite book |last=Beck |first=Jerry |title=The Animated Movie Guide |url=https://archive.org/details/animatedmoviegui0000beck|url-access=registration |year=2010 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |isbn=978-1-55652-591-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/animatedmoviegui0000beck/page/248 248]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2004/05/20/35.aspx |title="From the Swamp to the Screen" is a really entertaining look at the creation of the first two "Shrek" films |publisher=Jim Hill Media |date=May 19, 2004 |access-date=February 10, 2012 |author=Hill, Jim |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016150101/http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2004/05/20/35.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Steven Spielberg]] had thought about making a traditionally animated film adaptation of the book before, when he bought the rights to the book in 1991 before the founding of DreamWorks, where [[Bill Murray]] would play Shrek and [[Steve Martin]] would play Donkey.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/features/50-greatest-animated-characters/default.asp?film=21 |title=The 50 Best Animated Movie Characters |website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |access-date=February 5, 2012 |page=30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105161724/http://www.empireonline.com/features/50-greatest-animated-characters/default.asp?film=21 | archive-date=November 5, 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref> In the beginning of production, co-director [[Andrew Adamson]] refused to be intimidated by Katzenberg and had an argument with him about how much the film should appeal to adults. Katzenberg wanted both audiences, but he deemed some of Adamson's ideas, such as adding sexual jokes and [[Guns N' Roses]] music to the soundtrack, to be too outrageous.<ref>{{cite book |last=Laporte |first=Nicole |title=The Men Who Would Be King: An Almost Epic Tale of Moguls, Movies, and a Company Called DreamWorks |year=2010 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |isbn=978-0-547-48716-8 |page=277}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Anne |author-link=Anne Thompson (film journalist) |date=April 30, 2010 |title=DreamWorks Tell-All Exposes Katzenberg ''Shrek'' Bail-Out |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2010/04/dreamworks-tell-all-exposes-katzenberg-shrek-bail-out-238761/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329074815/https://www.indiewire.com/2010/04/dreamworks-tell-all-exposes-katzenberg-shrek-bail-out-238761/ |archive-date=March 29, 2022 |access-date=March 29, 2022 |website=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref> Adamson and [[Kelly Asbury]] joined in 1997 to co-direct the film. However, Asbury left a year later for work on the 2002 film ''[[Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron]]'', and was replaced with story artist [[Vicky Jenson]], although Asbury would later co-direct [[Shrek 2|the sequel]]. Both Adamson and Jenson decided to work on the film in half, so the crew could at least know whom to go to with specific detail questions about the film's sequences; "We both ended up doing a lot of everything," Adamson said. "We're both kinda control freaks, and we both wanted to do everything."{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|p=30}}

[[File:Perry-miniature-donkey-in-Palo-Alto-CA-2016.jpg|thumb|upright|''Perry'' in [[Palo Alto, California | Palo Alto]] (2016)]]
Some early sketches of Shrek's house were done between 1996 and 1997 using [[Adobe Photoshop|Photoshop]], with the sketches showing Shrek first living in a garbage dump near a human village called Wart Creek. It was also thought at one time that he would live with his parents and keep rotting fish in his bedroom.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://shardlowart.blogspot.com/2010/05/shreks-house-early-concepts.html |title=Shrek's house, early concept |publisher=Paul Shardlow. Sketchbook. |date=May 27, 2010|access-date=October 29, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708062747/http://shardlowart.blogspot.com/2010/05/shreks-house-early-concepts.html|archive-date=July 8, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Donkey was modeled after Pericles (born 1994; died 2025; also known as Perry), a real miniature donkey from Barron Park in Palo Alto, California.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rosettastoneinc.com/california/donkeys/index.html |title=Barron Park Donkeys |publisher=RosettaStoneInc.com |access-date=December 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011130142939/http://www.rosettastoneinc.com/california/donkeys/index.html |archive-date=November 30, 2001 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Cross | first=Greta | title=Perry the donkey, known as model for Donkey character in 'Shrek,' dies at 30 in California | date=January 6, 2025 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2025/01/06/shrek-donkey-perry-palo-alto-death/77484039007/ | work=usatoday.com }}</ref> [[Raman Hui]], supervising animator of ''Shrek'', stated that Fiona "wasn't based on any real person" and he did many different sketches for her. He had done over 100 sculptures of Fiona before the directors chose the final design.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Interviews/ramanhui.html |title=dFX Interview: Raman Hui |publisher=digitalmediafx.com |year=2001 |access-date=January 4, 2012 |author=Tracy, Joe |archive-date=October 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011183518/http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Interviews/ramanhui.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In early development, the art directors visited [[Hearst Castle]], [[Stratford upon Avon]], and [[Dordogne]] for inspiration. Art Director Douglas Rogers visited a magnolia plantation in [[Charleston, South Carolina]], as inspiration for Shrek's swamp.<ref name = "Production Information on Culture.com">{{cite web |url=http://culture.com/articles/463/shrek-production-information.phtml |title=Shrek : Production Information |publisher=Culture.com |access-date=February 4, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130417063828/http://culture.com/articles/463/shrek-production-information.phtml | archive-date=April 17, 2013 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name = "dmfanimatingshrek">{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/shrekfeature04.html |title=Animating Shrek – Behind the scenes |publisher=digitalmediafx.com |year=2001 |access-date=February 5, 2012 |author=Tracy, Joe |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324195543/http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/shrekfeature04.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Planned characters not used in the film include [[Goldilocks]] and [[Sleeping Beauty]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Wloszczyna |first=Susan |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/2001-05-18-shrek-more-characters.htm |title=Pigs, dwarfs and Pinocchio, but no Goldilocks |work=[[USA Today]] |date=May 18, 2001 |access-date=May 9, 2012 |archive-date=November 13, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021113110703/http://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/2001-05-18-shrek-more-characters.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Writing===
The screenplay was written by Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman, and Roger S. H. Schulman, loosely based on the picture book by William Steig. The way Steig upended fairy tale conventions in the original book by making an ogre the protagonist formed the basis for the movie being a parody of fairy tales. Elliott and Rossio began writing for the film in 1997 and worked on the project for two years. Elliott and Rossio were also credited as co-producers for the film. They centered the four main characters' personalities on maladaptive responses to self-esteem issues; as the DreamWorks story crew developed the plot, their personalities remained the same, ensuring the "thematic unity" of the story was preserved. When the studio leaned towards Shrek being a kind person shunned for being an ogre, they pushed for Shrek to remain a "misanthropic anti-hero."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Elliott |first1=Ted |last2=Rossio |first2=Terry |title=Shrek: The Following Article Has Been Approved For All Audiences |url=http://www.wordplayer.com/archives/rossio03.txt |website=Wordplay |access-date=20 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ryfle |first1=Steve |last2=Shewman |first2=Den |title=Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio on Shrek |url=https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/shrek-5/ |website=Creative Screenwriting |access-date=20 June 2024}}</ref>

===Casting===
[[Nicolas Cage]] was initially offered the role of Shrek but he turned it down because he did not want to look like an ogre. In 2013, Cage explained: "When you're drawn, in a way it says more about how children are going to see you than anything else, and I so care about that."<ref name=TodayCageRegrets>{{cite web |last1=Dawn |first1=Randee |title=Nicolas Cage: No regrets on turning down 'Shrek' |url=https://www.today.com/news/nicolas-cage-no-regrets-turning-down-shrek-1C8924229 |website=Today |access-date=August 10, 2015 |date=March 18, 2013 |archive-date=August 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810173452/http://www.today.com/news/nicolas-cage-no-regrets-turning-down-shrek-1C8924229 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Mike Myers David Shankbone 2010 NYC.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Mike Myers]] was re-cast as Shrek after [[Chris Farley]]'s death.]]
[[Chris Farley]] was initially hired to voice Shrek, and he had recorded nearly all of the dialogue for the character, but died before completing the project.<ref name="JimHill1">{{cite web |last=Hill |first=Jim |url=https://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2004/05/17/how-quot-shrek-quot-went-from-being-a-train-wreck-to-one-for-the-record-books.aspx |title=How "Shrek" went from being a train wreck to one for the record books |publisher=JimHillMedia.com |date=May 16, 2004 |access-date=August 3, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016150108/http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2004/05/17/how-quot-shrek-quot-went-from-being-a-train-wreck-to-one-for-the-record-books.aspx | archive-date=October 16, 2012 | url-status=live}}</ref> According to [[David Spade]], Farley only had 5 days of voice work left to perform; Farley's brother [[John Farley (actor)|John]] was asked if he would come in and finish the remaining lines, but he refused.<ref>{{Citation |title=SNL v MadTV ft. David Spade {{!}} Ep 201 {{!}} Bad Friends | date=January 15, 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ51TZ2mQc0 |access-date=2024-01-16 |language=en}}</ref> A story reel featuring a sample of Farley's recorded dialogue was leaked to the public in August 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Griggs |first1=Brandon |title=Hear Chris Farley's Shrek in newly unearthed clip |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/08/06/entertainment/chris-farley-shrek-voice-feat/ |work=CNN|access-date=August 10, 2015 |archive-date=August 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809061322/http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/06/entertainment/chris-farley-shrek-voice-feat |url-status=live }}</ref> DreamWorks then re-cast the voice role to [[Mike Myers]], who insisted on a complete script rewrite, to leave no traces of Farley's version of Shrek.<ref name="JimHill1"/> According to Myers, he wanted to voice the character "for two reasons: I wanted the opportunity to work with Jeffrey Katzenberg; and [the book is] a great story about accepting yourself for who you are."<ref name = "Production notes on Culture.com"/>

After Myers had completed providing the voice for the character over the course of 1999 and the film was well into production, a rough cut of the movie was shown to him in February 2000.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cronin |first1=Brian |title=Movie Legends Revealed: Mike Myers' Minor Shrek Change Cost Dreamworks $4M |url=https://www.cbr.com/movie-legends-revealed-myers-minor-change-cost-shrek-4m/ |website=cbr.com |access-date=5 December 2021 |language=en-US |date=24 April 2013}}</ref> Myers asked to re-record all of his lines with a [[Scottish English phonology|Scottish accent]], similar to that his mother used when she told him bedtime stories and also used for his roles in other films, such as ''[[So I Married an Axe Murderer]]'' and ''[[Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me]]''.<ref name="JimHill1" /> According to the DVD commentary, he had also tried using a [[Recurring Saturday Night Live characters and sketches introduced 1988–89#Lothar of the Hill People|Lothar of the Hill People]] accent and a Canadian accent.<ref name = "commentary">Shrek. DVD Commentary, 2001.</ref> After hearing the alternative, Katzenberg agreed to redo scenes in the film, saying, "It was so good we took $4M worth of animation out and did it again."<ref>{{cite news |title=Mike Myers forces £4m rejig of Shrek |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/may/02/news1 |access-date=January 28, 2012 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=May 2, 2001 |location=London |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224223846/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/may/02/news1 |url-status=live }}</ref> Myers disputed the cost, saying "it didn't cost the studio 'millions of dollars'," as rumored. "What it meant is instead of me going in for ten sessions, I went in for twenty sessions. I got paid the same."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/movies/the-best-revelations-from-mike-myers-wtf-podcast-93234975202.html |title=The Best Revelations from Mike Myers' WTF Podcast: 'Wayne's World,' 'Shrek,' and More |date=July 29, 2014 |publisher=Yahoo! |access-date=March 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004214209/https://www.yahoo.com/movies/the-best-revelations-from-mike-myers-wtf-podcast-93234975202.html|archive-date=October 4, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Because of Myers voicing the character, more ideas began to come. There were clearer story points, fresher gags and comedy bits.{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|p=31}} "I got a letter from Spielberg thanking me so much for caring about the character," Myers said. "And he said the Scottish accent had improved the movie."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Shrek's+appeal%3B+WHY+MYERS'+OGRE+JUST+HAD+TO+HAVE+SCOTS+ACCENT.-a0117830257 |title=Shrek's appeal; WHY MYERS' OGRE JUST HAD TO HAVE SCOTS ACCENT |publisher=thefreelibrary.com |access-date=March 29, 2015 |archive-date=August 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810220456/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Shrek%27s+appeal%3B+WHY+MYERS%27+OGRE+JUST+HAD+TO+HAVE+SCOTS+ACCENT.-a0117830257 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Another person planned to voice a character in the film was [[Janeane Garofalo]], who was set to star alongside Farley as Princess Fiona. However, she was fired from the project for unexplained reasons. Years later, Garofalo stated "I was never told why [I was fired]. I assume because I sound like a man sometimes? I don't know why. Nobody told me&nbsp;... But, you know, the movie didn't do anything, so who cares?"<ref>{{cite news |last=Villalobos |first=Brian |title=Janeane Garofalo Talks Ratatouille |url=https://www.film.com/movies/janeane-garofalo-talks-ratatouille#fbid=XY8O2chJ8lO |access-date=January 28, 2012 |publisher=Film.com |date=June 29, 2007|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829013803/http://www.film.com/movies/janeane-garofalo-talks-ratatouille#fbid=XY8O2chJ8lO |archive-date=August 29, 2012}}</ref>

===Animation===
''Shrek'' was originally set up to be a [[live-action animation]] hybrid with background plate miniature sets and the main characters composited into the scene as motion-captured computer graphics, using an ExpertVision Hires Falcon 10 camera system to capture and apply realistic human movement to the characters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/DreamWorks+SKG+chooses+MotionAnalysis+Corp.+ExpertVision+HiRES+motion...-a019239631 |title=DreamWorks SKG chooses MotionAnalysis Corp. ExpertVision HiRES motion capture system for "Shrek" |publisher=thefreelibrary.com |access-date=March 29, 2015 |archive-date=November 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102213744/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DreamWorks+SKG+chooses+MotionAnalysis+Corp.+ExpertVision+HiRES+motion...-a019239631 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Autodesk Softimage|Softimage]] was used, as well as [[Mental Ray]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1997-02-24 |title=DreamWorks SKG Chooses Softimage Exclusively For New Film Project "Shrek" |url=https://news.microsoft.com/1997/02/24/dreamworks-skg-chooses-softimage-exclusively-for-new-film-project-shrek/#:~:text=MONTREAL,%20Feb.%2024,%201997%20%E2%80%94%20Softimage%20Inc.,%20the,Ray%20to%20create%20its%20new%20film%20project%20%E2%80%9CShrek.%E2%80%9D?msockid=24936c0061f26a2506027e8560396b39 |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=Stories |language=en-US}}</ref> A sizable crew was hired to run a test, and after a year and a half of R & D, the test was finally screened in May 1997.{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|p=28}} The results were not satisfactory, with Katzenberg stating "It looked terrible, it didn't work, it wasn't funny, and we didn't like it."<ref name="JimHill1" /> The animation, known as ''[[Shrek – I Feel Good Animation Test]]'', was not released publicly until 2023 when it was posted by production designer [[Barry E. Jackson]] on his [[YouTube]] channel.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carter |first1=Justin |title=Shrek's Test Footage Is a Slightly Horrifying Blast from the Past |url=https://gizmodo.com/shrek-dreamworks-1995-test-animation-1851047669 |access-date=December 2, 2023 |work=Gizmodo |date=November 26, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The studio then turned to its production partners at [[Pacific Data Images]] (PDI), who began production with the studio in 1998<ref name = "The Tech of the Shrek the Third">{{cite video |people=[[Raman Hui]] |year=2007 |title=The Tech of Shrek The Third |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFgCmrmS9p8 |time=0:41 |quote=In the first Shrek, we started the animation in 1998. | access-date = November 28, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151116163157/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFgCmrmS9p8 | archive-date = November 16, 2015 | url-status = live}}</ref> and helped ''Shrek'' get to its final, computer-animated look.<ref name="JimHill1" /> At this time, ''[[Antz]]'' was still in production at the studio<ref name="JimHill1" /> and effects supervisor Ken Bielenberg was asked by [[Aron Warner]] "to start development for ''Shrek''".{{sfn|Blair|2001|p=1}} Similar to previous PDI films, PDI used its own proprietary software (like the Fluid Animation System) for its animated movies. For some elements, however, it also took advantage of some of the powerhouse animation software on the market. This is particularly true with [[Autodesk Maya|Maya]], which PDI used for most of its dynamic cloth animation and for the hair of Fiona and Farquaad.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/shrekfaq.html |title=Shrek FAQ |publisher=Digital Media FX |year=2001 |access-date=May 22, 2012 |archive-date=January 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106104222/http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/shrekfaq.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

"We did a lot of work on character and set-up, and then kept changing the set up while we were doing the animation," Hui noted. "In ''Antz'', we had a facial system that gave us all the facial muscles under the skin. In ''Shrek'', we applied that to whole body. So, if you pay attention to Shrek when he talks, you see that when he opens his jaw, he forms a double chin, because we have the fat and the muscles underneath. That kind of detail took us a long time to get right."{{sfn|Blair|2001|p=2}} One of the most difficult parts of creating the film was making Donkey's fur flow smoothly so that it did not look like that of a [[Chia Pet]]. This fell into the hands of the surfacing animators, who used flow controls within a complex shader to provide the fur with many attributes (ability to change directions, lie flat, swirl, etc.).<ref name = "dmfanimatingshrek"/> It was then the job of the visual effects group, led by Ken Bielenberg, to make the fur react to environment conditions. Once the technology was mastered, it could be applied to many aspects of the movie, including grass, moss, beards, eyebrows, and even threads on Shrek's tunic. Making human hair realistic was different from Donkey's fur, requiring a separate rendering system and much attention from the [[lighting]] and [[visual effects]] teams.<ref name = "dmfanimatingshrek"/>

''Shrek'' has 31 sequences, with 1,288 total shots.<ref name = "Production Information on Culture.com"/> Aron Warner said that the creators "envisioned a magical environment that you could immerse yourself into". Shrek includes 36 separate in-film locations to make the world of the film, which DreamWorks claimed was more than any previous computer-animated feature. In-film locations were finalized and, as demonstrated by past DreamWorks animated movies, color and mood was of the utmost importance.<ref name = "dmfanimatingshrek"/> The animation was completed in 2000.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Steward |first1=Mark |title=Movie Characters (The Ultimate 10 Entertainment) |date=2009 |publisher=Gareth Stevens Publisher |page=35 |isbn=9781433944031 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HKPYCZDptq0C&dq=shrek+started+2000&pg=PA35}}</ref>

===Music===
{{Main|Shrek: Music from the Original Motion Picture}}
''Shrek'' is the third DreamWorks animated film (and the only film in the [[Shrek (franchise)|''Shrek'' series]]) to have [[Harry Gregson-Williams]] team up with [[John Powell (composer)|John Powell]] to compose the score following ''[[Antz]]'' (1998) and ''[[Chicken Run]]'' (2000).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burlingame |first1=Jon |title=Gregson-Williams scores many toons |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/news/gregson-williams-scores-many-toons-1118002752/ |access-date=March 8, 2015 |work=Variety |date=April 22, 2009 |quote=The first three – "Antz," "Chicken Run" and "Shrek" – were jointly done by Gregson-Williams and Powell,... |archive-date=March 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308184933/http://variety.com/2009/film/news/gregson-williams-scores-many-toons-1118002752/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Powell was left out to compose scores for later Shrek films with Gregson-Williams due to a conflict.<ref name = "George Lucas's Blockbusting">{{cite book |author=Alex Ben Block, Lucy Autrey Wilson |page=[https://archive.org/details/georgelucassbloc00alex/page/885 885] |title=George Lucas's Blockbusting: A Decade-by-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Success |year=2010 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0061778896| url-access = registration |url=https://archive.org/details/georgelucassbloc00alex/page/885}}</ref> The score was recorded at [[Abbey Road Studios]] by Nick Wollage and Slamm Andrews, with the latter mixing it at Media Ventures and Patricia Sullivan-Fourstar handling mastering.<ref>{{cite book |title=Shrek (Original Motion Picture Score) |id=302 066 308 2 |year=2001}}</ref>

''Shrek'' introduced a new element to give the film a unique feel. The film used [[pop music]] and other [[oldies]] to make the story more forward. Covers of songs like "[[On the Road Again (Willie Nelson song)|On the Road Again]]" and "[[Try a Little Tenderness]]" were integrated in the film's score.{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|p=32}} The band [[Smash Mouth]]'s song "[[All Star (song)|All Star]]" gained massive popularity after its original release two years earlier,  due to its usage in the film's opening credits.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Never-ending Life of Smash Mouth's "All Star" |year=2019 |url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2019/5/3/18525721/smash-mouth-all-star-20th-anniversary-memes |access-date=July 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914095722/https://www.theringer.com/music/2019/5/3/18525721/smash-mouth-all-star-20th-anniversary-memes |archive-date=September 14, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The filmmakers for ''Shrek'' had originally used the song as a placeholder for the opening credits and intended to replace it with an original composition by [[Matt Mahaffey]]’s band [[Self (band)|Self]] that would mimic the feel of "All Star", named [[Stay Home]]. However, DreamWorks executive [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]] suggested for them to use "All Star" over the sequence instead. As the film was about to be completed, Katzenberg suggested to the filmmakers to redo the film's ending to "go out with a big laugh"; instead of ending the film with just a storybook closing over Shrek and Fiona as they ride off into the sunset, they decided to add a song "[[I'm a Believer]]" covered by Smash Mouth and show all the fairytale creatures in the film.{{sfn|Neuwirth|2003|p=33}}

Although [[Rufus Wainwright]]'s version of the song [[Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen song)|"Hallelujah"]] appeared in the soundtrack album, it was [[John Cale]]'s version that appeared in the film; in a radio interview, Rufus Wainwright suggested that his version of "Hallelujah" did not appear in the film due to the "glass ceiling" he was hitting because of his sexuality. An alternative explanation is that, although the filmmakers wanted Cale's version for the film, licensing issues prevented its use in the soundtrack album, because Wainwright was an artist for [[DreamWorks Records|DreamWorks]] but Cale was not.<ref>{{cite book |title=There Will Be Rainbows: A Biography of Rufus Wainwright |last=Lake |first=Kirk |year=2010 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc. |isbn=978-0-06-198846-2 |pages=141–142 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9_t9aUJBqT0C&pg=PA141 |access-date=May 14, 2012 |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330135730/https://books.google.com/books?id=9_t9aUJBqT0C&pg=PA141 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The film's [[Shrek – I Feel Good Animation Test|1996 animation test]], made public in 2023, used the song "[[I Got You (I Feel Good)]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bythrow |first=Nick |date=2023-11-24 |title=Shrek's Early Test Animation, Thought Lost For 20+ Years, Has Been Found: Watch Cinema History Here |url=https://screenrant.com/shrek-animation-test-footage-lost-media/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref>

==Cultural references==
In many places, the film references classic movies, predominantly those by [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney]]. When [[Tinker Bell]] falls on Donkey and he says "I can fly" and people around including the [[Three Little Pigs]] say "He can fly, he can fly"; this is a reference to Disney's ''[[Peter Pan (1953 film)|Peter Pan]]''. Donkey then says, while still flying, "You might have seen a [[Housefly|house fly]], maybe even a super fly, but I bet you ain't never seen a Donkey fly!". This scene is a reference to the Disney film ''[[Dumbo]]''.<ref name = "A List of Spoofs and References in PDI/DreamWorks Animated Shrek">{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/shrekfeature07.html |title=A List of Spoofs and References in PDI/DreamWorks Animated Shrek |publisher=digitalmediafx.com |year=2001 |access-date=February 10, 2012 |archive-date=December 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229194104/http://digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/shrekfeature07.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The scene where Fiona is singing to the blue bird is a reference to ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]''.<ref name = "A List of Spoofs and References in PDI/DreamWorks Animated Shrek"/> The transformation scene at the end of the film references Disney's ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]''.<ref name = "A List of Spoofs and References in PDI/DreamWorks Animated Shrek"/>

When Shrek crosses the bridge to the Castle and says, "That'll do, Donkey, that'll do", this is a reference to the movie ''[[Babe (film)|Babe]]''.<ref name = "A List of Spoofs and References in PDI/DreamWorks Animated Shrek"/> The scene where Princess Fiona is fighting the [[Merry Men]] is a lengthy reference to the film ''[[The Matrix]]''.<ref name = "A List of Spoofs and References in PDI/DreamWorks Animated Shrek"/> At the end of the film, the Gingerbread Man, with a crutch and one leg, says "God bless us, everyone", which is a reference to Tiny Tim in ''[[A Christmas Carol]]''.<ref name = "A List of Spoofs and References in PDI/DreamWorks Animated Shrek"/>

In the scene where the Magic Mirror gives [[Lord Farquaad]] the option to marry three princesses, it parodies popular American television show ''[[The Dating Game]]'' featuring: [[Cinderella]] and [[Snow White]].<ref name="Zipes 2011">{{cite book |last=Zipes |first=Jack |year=2011 |title=The Enchanted Screen Unknown History of Fairy-Tale Films |location=UK |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-99061-5}}</ref> In addition, Lord Farquaad's theme park style kingdom Duloc heavily mimics [[Disneyland]], even in so far as parodying the famous "[[It's a Small World]]" musical ride in the scene with the singing puppets.<ref name="Zipes 2011"/> It has been suggested that Lord Farquaad himself is an unflattering parody of then-Disney CEO [[Michael Eisner]], whom producer Katzenberg, a former Disney employee, reportedly dislikes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2001-04-06-0104060008-story.html |title=KATZENBERG'S REVENGE? - Chicago Tribune |website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=April 6, 2001 |access-date=November 23, 2020 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112005107/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2001-04-06-0104060008-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Release==

===Marketing===
In 2000, [[IMAX]] released ''[[CyberWorld]]'' onto its branded large-screen theaters. It was a compilation film that featured stereoscopic conversions of various animated shorts and sequences, including the bar sequence in ''[[Antz]]''. DreamWorks was so impressed by the technology used for the sequence's "stereoscopic translation", that the studio and IMAX decided to plan a big-screen 3D version of ''Shrek''. The film would have been re-released during the Christmas season of 2001, or the following summer, after its conventional 2D release. The re-release would have also included new sequences and an alternate ending. Plans for this was dropped due to "creative changes" instituted by DreamWorks and resulted in a loss of $1.18&nbsp;million, down from IMAX's profit of $3.24&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://culture.com/news/item/1423/as-expected-imax-reports-a-loss.phtml |title=As Expected, Imax Reports A Loss |work=[[Studio Briefing]] |publisher=Culture.com |date=November 9, 2000|access-date=January 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024235831/http://culture.com/news/item/1423/as-expected-imax-reports-a-loss.phtml|archive-date=October 24, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/oct/13/features.megcarter?INTCMP=SRCH |title=Imax cinemas |work=The Guardian |date=October 13, 2000 |access-date=February 10, 2012 |author=Carter, Meg |location=London |archive-date=January 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112003711/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2000/oct/13/features.megcarter?INTCMP=SRCH |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/08/shrek-like-imax| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219175448/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/08/shrek-like-imax| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 19, 2014 |title=Shrek Like Imax |publisher=IGN |date=June 8, 2000 |access-date=February 10, 2012 |author=Linder, Brian}}</ref>

[[Radio Disney]] was told not to allow any ads for the film to air on the station, stating, "Due to recent initiatives with [[The Walt Disney Company]], we are being asked not to align ourselves promotionally with this new release ''Shrek''. Stations may accept spot dollars only in individual markets."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/shreknews.html |title=Radio Disney – "No Shrek Ads!" |publisher=digitalmediafx.com |date=May 1, 2001 |access-date=December 21, 2014 |author=Tracy, Joe |archive-date=December 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221160105/http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/shreknews.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The restriction was later relaxed to allow ads for the film's soundtrack album onto the network.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/News/Shreksoundtrack3.html |title=Radio Disney Allows Shrek Soundtrack Ads |publisher=digitalmediafx.com |date=June 11, 2001 |access-date=December 21, 2014 |author=Tracy, Joe |archive-date=December 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221155724/http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/News/Shreksoundtrack3.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On May 7, 2001, [[Burger King]] began promotions for the film, giving out a selection of nine exclusive Candy Caddies based on the ''Shrek'' characters, in Big Kids Meal and Kids Meal orders.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/shreknews.html |title=Burger King Shrek Promotion Begins Today |publisher=digitalmediafx.com |date=May 7, 2001 |access-date=February 8, 2012 |archive-date=January 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106110754/http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/shreknews.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Ice cream]] chain [[Baskin-Robbins]] also ran an 8-week promotion of the film, selling products such as Shrek's Hot Sludge Sundae, a combination of [[Oreo]] Cookies 'n Cream ice cream, [[hot fudge]], crushed chocolate cookies, [[whipped cream]] and squiggly [[gummy worms]], and Shrek Freeze Frame Cake, featuring an image of Shrek and Donkey framed by [[sunflowers]]. This was to support the film's DVD/VHS release.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Baskin-Robbins+in+big+Shrek%27s+promotion.-a080598528 |title=Baskin-Robbins in big Shrek's promotion at thefreelibrary.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209124119/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Baskin-Robbins+in+big+Shrek%27s+promotion.-a080598528 |archive-date=December 9, 2018 }}.</ref>

===Home media===
''Shrek'' was released by DreamWorks Home Entertainment on [[VHS]] and [[DVD]] on November 2, 2001.<ref name="Revenue"/><ref>{{cite web |first=Judith |last=Mccourt |url=http://www.hive4media.com/news/html/industry_article.cfm?article_id=2893 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020407023928/http://www.hive4media.com/news/html/industry_article.cfm?article_id=2893 |title=Research:Buena Vista Snags Top Sellthrough in February |website=[[hive4media.com]] |archive-date=April 7, 2002 |date=April 4, 2002 |access-date=September 22, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> It surpassed ''[[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace]]''{{'}}s short-lived record for being the fastest-selling DVD title of all time, selling 2.5 million copies within the first three days of release.<ref name="DVD Sales" /> Another 4.5 million copies were sold on VHS in the same timespan, making it the biggest opening weekend in retail video since ''[[The Lion King]]'' in 1995.<ref name="DVD Sales">{{Cite news |last=Hettrick |first=Scott |date=November 5, 2001 |title='Shrek' shreds vid bow record |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2001/digital/features/shrek-shreds-vid-bow-record-1117855359/ |access-date=February 19, 2022 |archive-date=March 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306235809/https://variety.com/2001/digital/features/shrek-shreds-vid-bow-record-1117855359/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Both releases included ''[[Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party]]'', a 3-minute musical short film, that takes up right after ''Shrek''{{'}}s ending, with film's characters performing a medley of modern pop songs.<ref>{{cite web |last=Jacobson |first=Colin |title=Shrek: Special Edition (2001) |url=http://www.dvdmg.com/shrek.shtml |publisher=DVD Movie Guide |access-date=August 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009093852/http://dvdmg.com/shrek.shtml|archive-date=October 9, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> As for the DVD release, this two-disc set features a fullscreen format on the first disc and a widescreen format on the second disc, with the latter featuring a [[DTS, Inc.|DTS]] audio track.<ref name="2001DVD">{{cite web|last=Conrad|first=Jeremy|title=Shrek|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/11/06/shrek-3|publisher=IGN|access-date=October 28, 2024|date=November 6, 2001}}</ref>

Coincidentally, the film was released on video the same day that Pixar's ''[[Monsters, Inc.]]'' hit theaters. Since videos were traditionally released on Tuesdays, Disney's executives did not receive this well, saying that the move "seemed like an underhanded attempt to siphon off some of their film's steam". DreamWorks responded that it "simply shifted the release to a Friday to make it more of an event and predicted that it and other studios would do so more frequently with important films." ''Monsters, Inc.'' earned that weekend more than $62&nbsp;million, breaking the record for an animated film, while ''Shrek''{{'}}s video release made more than $100&nbsp;million,<ref>{{cite news |last=Lyman |first=Rick |title=Fuzzy Creatures vs. Green Ogre; 'Monsters, Inc.' and 'Shrek' Are Likely Foes for New Oscar |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/21/movies/fuzzy-creatures-vs-green-ogre-monsters-shrek-are-likely-foes-for-new-oscar.html?pagewanted=all |access-date=March 13, 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 21, 2001 |archive-date=August 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140807203830/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/21/movies/fuzzy-creatures-vs-green-ogre-monsters-shrek-are-likely-foes-for-new-oscar.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live }}</ref> and eventually became the biggest selling DVD at the time with over 5.5&nbsp;million sales.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/dec/13/news?INTCMP=SRCH |title=Pearl Harbor cleans up on DVD |work=The Guardian |date=December 13, 2001 |access-date=February 10, 2012 |location=London |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105122548/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/dec/13/news?INTCMP=SRCH |url-status=live }}</ref> This broke the record previously held by ''[[Gladiator (2000 film)|Gladiator]]'', another DreamWorks film.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106804620/more-than-55-million-shrek-dvds-have/ |title=More than 5.5 million 'Shrek' DVDs have been sold |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802161111/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106804620/more-than-55-million-shrek-dvds-have/ |date=December 6, 2001 |access-date=August 2, 2022 |archive-date=August 2, 2022 |page=86 |publisher=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref> ''Shrek'' generated more than $420 million in revenue for DreamWorks on DVD and VHS, and has sold more than 21 million copies of the 23 million shipped by January 2002.<ref name="Revenue">{{cite web |url=http://www.hive4media.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=2360 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020122013921/http://www.hive4media.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=2360 |title=Shrek Video Generates $420 Million In Green |website=[[hive4media.com]] |archive-date=January 22, 2002 |date=January 8, 2002 |access-date=September 22, 2019}}</ref> Worldwide, more than 10 million ''Shrek'' DVDs have been sold by that point.<ref name="Revenue"/>

A 3D version of the film was released on [[Blu-ray 3D]] by [[Paramount Home Entertainment]] on December 1, 2010, along with its sequels,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://hollywoodinhidef.com/2010/03/samsung-brings-shrek-to-3d-blu-ray/ |title=Samsung brings "Shrek" to 3D Blu-ray |publisher=Hollywood in Hi Def |date=March 26, 2010|access-date=March 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313141435/http://hollywoodinhidef.com/2010/03/samsung-brings-shrek-to-3d-blu-ray/|archive-date=March 13, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> and a regular 2D [[Blu-ray]] boxset of the series was released six days later.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Calonge |first1=Juan |title=Shrek Forever After and Collection Blu-ray in December |url=https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5273 |access-date=February 18, 2019 |work=Blu-ray.com |date=October 8, 2010 |archive-date=February 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219020040/https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=5273 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In commemoration of the film's 20th anniversary, an [[Ultra HD Blu-ray]] edition was released on May 11, 2021, by [[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shrek Celebrates 20 Years With New 4K Release On May 11th|url=https://bleedingcool.com/movies/shrek-20th-anniversary-4k-blu-ray-may/|access-date=2021-03-13|website=bleedingcool.com|date=March 12, 2021|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316211144/https://bleedingcool.com/movies/shrek-20th-anniversary-4k-blu-ray-may/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Box office===
''Shrek'' opened on around 6,000 screens<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeguru.com/052101.htm |title=Weekend Box Office (May 18 – 20, 2001) |first=Gitesh |last=Pandya |access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215130249/http://www.boxofficeguru.com/052101.htm|archive-date=February 15, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> across 3,587 theaters, at that point the second highest number of locations in history behind only ''[[Mission: Impossible 2]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=DiOrio |first1=Carl |last2=Hayes |first2=Dade |date=May 17, 2001 |title='Shrek' on deck for B.O. bonanza |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/2001/digital/features/hannibal-vid-plans-cooking-1117798451/ |access-date=May 15, 2025 |archive-date=15 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515145607/https://variety.com/2001/film/news/shrek-on-deck-for-b-o-bonanza-1117799631/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/News/Shrekopens.html |title=Shrek Opens on 3,587 Screens! |publisher=digitalmediafx.com |date=May 18, 2001 |access-date=February 12, 2012 |archive-date=December 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229200649/http://digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/News/Shrekopens.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Eleven locations screened the film digitally,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/News/Shrekdigital2.html |title=Taking Shrek Digital |publisher=digitalmediafx.com |date=May 22, 2001 |access-date=February 12, 2012 |archive-date=December 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229195819/http://digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/News/Shrekdigital2.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the first time that DreamWorks had shown one of its films in this format.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/News/Shrekdigital.html |title=Shrek to Air Digitally on 11 Screens |publisher=digitalmediafx.com |date=May 17, 2001 |access-date=February 12, 2012 |archive-date=December 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229194824/http://digitalmediafx.com/Shrek/News/Shrekdigital.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The film earned $11.6&nbsp;million on its first day and $42.3&nbsp;million on its opening weekend, topping the box office for the weekend and averaging $11,805 from 3,587 theaters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2001&wknd=20&p=.htm |title=Weekend Box Office Results for May 18–20, 2001 |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111213527/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2001&wknd=20&p=.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In its [[Second weekend in box office performance#Second weekend increase|second weekend]], due to the Memorial Day Weekend holiday, the film gained 0.3&nbsp;percent to $42.5&nbsp;million and $55.2&nbsp;million over the four-day weekend, resulting in an overall 30&nbsp;percent gain.<ref name="boxofficemojo2001">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2001&wknd=21&p=.htm |title=Weekend Box Office Results for May 25–27, 2001 |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111213414/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2001&wknd=21&p=.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite this, the film finished in second place behind ''[[Pearl Harbor (film)|Pearl Harbor]]'' and had an average of $15,240 from expanding to 3,623 sites.<ref name="boxofficemojo2001"/> In its third weekend, the film retreated 34&nbsp;percent to $28.2&nbsp;million for a $7,695 average from expanding to 3,661 theaters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2001&wknd=21a&p=.htm |title=Weekend Box Office Results for May 25–28, 2001 |publisher=Box Office Mojo |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111213816/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2001&wknd=21a&p=.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> By mid-June 2001, ''Shrek'' became the top-grossing movie of the year domestically, defeating ''[[The Mummy Returns]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-tomb-raider-ba/109934297/ |title='Tomb Raider' bags the lead at box office |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513112016/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-tomb-raider-ba/109934297/ |date=June 19, 2001 |access-date=May 13, 2023 |archive-date=May 13, 2023 |page=27 |publisher=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref> This achievement would last until that December when it was beaten by ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108646159/lord-of-the-rings-rules-holiday/ |title='Lord of the Rings' rules holiday weekend |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220918211821/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108646159/lord-of-the-rings-rules-holiday/ |newspaper=[[News-Journal]] |page=2 |date=December 27, 2001 |access-date=September 18, 2022 |archive-date=September 18, 2022 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref> The film closed on December 6, 2001, after grossing $267.7&nbsp;million domestically, along with $216.7&nbsp;million overseas, for a worldwide total of $484.4&nbsp;million.<ref name = "Box Office Mojo"/> Produced on a $60&nbsp;million budget, the film was a huge box office smash<ref name = "Box Office Mojo"/> and is the [[2001 in film#Highest-grossing films|fourth highest-grossing film of 2001]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top 2001 Movies at the Worldwide Box Office |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/cumulative/released-in-2001 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210827225522/https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-records/worldwide/all-movies/cumulative/released-in-2001 |archive-date=August 27, 2021 |access-date=August 26, 2021 |website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] }}</ref>

''Shrek'' became the highest-grossing animated film ever to be released in [[Australia]], passing the mark set by ''[[The Lion King]]'' in 1994.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shrek Sets All-Time Record in Australia |work=[[Studio Briefing]] |date=July 26, 2001}}</ref> In the [[United Kingdom]], ''Shrek'' regained the top spot at the British box office after being beaten out the previous week by ''[[Lara Croft: Tomb Raider]]'', earning a $20.3&nbsp;million since its opening in the UK.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shrek Returns To Top of U.K. Box Office |work=[[Studio Briefing]] |date=July 18, 2001}}</ref>

===Critical response===
In addition to being an instant box office success, ''Shrek'' received wide critical acclaim.<ref name="NYT20">{{Cite news |last=Cherelus |first=Gina |date=2021-05-18 |title='Shrek' at 20: How a Chaotic Project Became a Beloved Hit |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/movies/shrek-20th-anniversary.html |access-date=2023-07-05 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Maureen |last=Furniss |title=Shrek: Something Old, Something New |url=https://www.awn.com/animationworld/shrek-something-old-something-new |date=May 31, 2001 |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=[[Animation World Network]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Child |first=Ben |date=2009-01-30 |title=Shrek chum Puss in Boots to get spin-off feature |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jan/30/shrek-puss-in-boots-spin-off |access-date=2024-02-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> {{RT data|score}} of {{RT data|count}} professional reviews of the film on the [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] are positive, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critical consensus reads, "While simultaneously embracing and subverting fairy tales, the irreverent ''Shrek'' also manages to tweak Disney's nose, provide a moral message to children, and offer viewers a funny, fast-paced ride."<ref>{{cite Rotten Tomatoes |id={{RT data|rtid|noprefix=y}} |type=m |title=Shrek |access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}{{RT data|edit}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] assigned ''Shrek'' a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 based on 34 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite Metacritic |id=shrek |type=movie |title=Shrek |access-date=February 18, 2021}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemascore.com |title=CinemaScore |website=[[CinemaScore]] |access-date=June 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119025202/http://www.cinemascore.com/|archive-date=January 19, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Eddie Murphy by David Shankbone.jpg|thumb|Murphy was particularly praised by reviewers for his performance as Donkey.]]
[[Roger Ebert]] praised the film, giving it four stars out of a possible four and describing it as "jolly and wicked, filled with sly in-jokes and yet somehow possessing a heart".<ref>{{cite news |title=Shrek |first=Roger |last=Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/shrek-2001 |newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |date=May 18, 2001 |access-date=July 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716150531/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20010518/REVIEWS/105180305/1023 |archive-date=July 16, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[USA Today]]''{{'}}s Susan Wloszczyna praised [[Eddie Murphy]]'s performance, stating it "gives the comic performance of his career, aided by sensational digital artistry, as he brays for the slightly neurotic motormouth".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/2001-05-16-shrek-review.htm |title='Shrek' spins jokes from fairy tales |work=[[USA Today]] |access-date=January 27, 2012 |author=Wloszczyna, Susan |date=May 18, 2001 |archive-date=February 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205095107/http://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/2001-05-16-shrek-review.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Richard Schickel]] of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' also enjoyed Murphy's role, stating "No one has ever made a funnier jackass of himself than Murphy."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,999937,00.html |title=Cinema: Monstrously Good |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=May 21, 2001 |access-date=January 27, 2012 |author=Schickel, Richard | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,999937,00.html | archive-date=September 12, 2012 | url-status=dead}}</ref> Peter Rainer of ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine liked the script, also stating "The animation, directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, is often on the same wriggly, giggly level as the script, although the more "human" characters, such as Princess Fiona and Lord Farquaad, are less interesting than the animals and creatures—a common pitfall in animated films of all types."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/movies/reviews/4698/ |title=Troll on a Roll |website=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |date=May 21, 2001 |access-date=March 11, 2012 |author=Rainer, Peter |archive-date=June 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624141016/http://nymag.com/nymetro/movies/reviews/4698/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Peter Travers]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' wrote "''Shrek'' is a world-class charmer that could even seduce the academy when it hands out the first official animation Oscar next year."<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Peter Travers |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/shrek-20010509 |title=Shrek &#124; Movie Reviews |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=May 18, 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=March 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301053004/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/shrek-20010509 |url-status=live }}</ref> James Berardinelli of ''[[ReelViews]]'' gave the film three and a half stars out of four, saying "''Shrek'' is not a guilty pleasure for sophisticated movie-goers; it is, purely and simply, a pleasure."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://preview.reelviews.net/movies/s/shrek.html |title=Review: Shrek|last1=Berardinelli|first1=James |website=ReelViews |date=May 18, 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=April 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423190133/http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/s/shrek.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Kenneth Turan of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' wrote "The witty, fractured fairy tale ''Shrek'' has a solid base of clever writing."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Turan|first1=Kenneth |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-may-16-ca-63922-story.html |title=A Sophisticated&nbsp;... Ogre? |work=Los Angeles Times |date=May 16, 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112051351/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/may/16/entertainment/ca-63922 |archive-date=January 12, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Lisa Schwarzbaum of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' gave the film an A−, saying "A kind of palace coup, a shout of defiance, and a coming of age for DreamWorks."<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Lisa Schwarzbaum |url=https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,256407,00.html |title=Shrek Review |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=June 1, 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111223241/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,256407,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Jay Boyar of the ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]'' wrote "It's a pleasure to be able to report that the movie both captures and expands upon the book's playful spirit of deconstruction."<ref>{{cite web |author=Jay Boyar |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2001/05/18/contrary-fairy-tale/ |title=Contrary Fairy Tale |website=Orlando Sentinel |date=May 18, 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112005753/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2001-05-18/entertainment/0105170457_1_shrek-charles-addams-fairy-tales |archive-date=January 12, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Steven Rosen of ''[[The Denver Post]]'' wrote "DreamWorks Pictures again proves a name to trust for imaginative, funny animated movies that delight kids and adults equally."<ref>{{cite news |last=Lawson |first=Terry |url=https://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_5894149 |title="Shrek" sustains creative dynasty |work=The Denver Post |date=May 15, 2007 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111224752/http://www.denverpost.com/movies/ci_5894149 |url-status=live }}</ref> Susan Stark of ''[[The Detroit News]]'' gave the film four out of four stars, saying "Swift, sweet, irreverent, rangy and as spirited in the writing and voice work as it is splendid in design."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://data.detnews.com/movies/details.hbs?myrec=1258 |title=Shrek|website=Detroit News|last1=Stark|first1=Susan|year=2001 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20040314025620/http://data.detnews.com/movies/details.hbs?myrec=1258 |archive-date=March 14, 2004}}</ref> Jami Bernard of the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' gave the film four out of four stars, saying "The brilliance of the voice work, script, direction and animation all serve to make ''Shrek'' an adorable, infectious work of true sophistication."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/archives/nydn-features/shrek-ugly-hilariously-article-1.904364 |title='Shrek' Gets Ugly, Hilariously |work=New York Daily News |location=New York |date=May 16, 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111233444/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/nydn-features/shrek-ugly-hilariously-article-1.904364 |last1=Bernard|first1=Jami|url-status=dead }}</ref> Rene Rodriguez gave the film three out of four stars, calling it "a gleefully fractured fairy tale that never becomes cynical or crass".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ae.miami.com/entertainment/ui/miami/movie.html?id=320&reviewId=2145 |title=Movie: Shrek |date=July 26, 2003 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030726095306/http://ae.miami.com/entertainment/ui/miami/movie.html?id=320&reviewId=2145 |archive-date=July 26, 2003}}</ref> Elvis Mitchell of ''[[The New York Times]]'' gave the film four out of five stars, saying "Beating up on the irritatingly dainty Disney trademarks is nothing new; it's just that it has rarely been done with the demolition-derby zest of ''Shrek''."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F00E3DD153AF935A25756C0A9679C8B63 |title=Shrek (2001) |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 27, 2012 |author=Mitchell, Elvis |date=May 16, 2001 |archive-date=January 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102073344/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F00E3DD153AF935A25756C0A9679C8B63 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[William Steig]], the author of the original book, and his wife Jeanne Steig also enjoyed the film, stating "We all went sort of expecting to hate it, thinking, 'What has Hollywood done to it?' But we loved it. We were afraid it would be too sickeningly cute and, instead, Bill just thought they did a wonderful, witty job of it."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/2001-05-30-shrek.htm |title='Shrek!' author exclaims his approval of film |work=[[USA Today]] |date=May 31, 2001 |access-date=January 27, 2012 |author=Puig, Claudia |archive-date=November 13, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021113030929/http://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/2001-05-30-shrek.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

John Anderson of ''[[Newsday]]'' wrote "The kind of movie that will entertain everyone of every age and probably for ages to come."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newsday.com/content/movies/nd4756.htm |title=Newsday.com – Wednesday – SHREK |access-date=January 11, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010526174307/http://www.newsday.com/content/movies/nd4756.htm |archive-date=May 26, 2001}}</ref> Jay Carr of ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' wrote "In an era when much on film seems old, ''Shrek'' seems new and fresh and clever."<ref name="rottentomatoes1">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek/reviews/?type=top_critics |title=Shrek – Movie Reviews |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=January 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112041436/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek/reviews/?type=top_critics |url-status=live }}</ref> Stephen Hunter of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' gave the film five out of five stars, saying "Despite all its high-tech weirdness, it is really that most perdurable of human constructions, a tale told well and true."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/entertainment/movies/reviews/shrekhunter.htm |title=Entertainment Guide |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 18, 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305025845/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/entertainment/movies/reviews/shrekhunter.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Joe Baltake of ''[[The Sacramento Bee]]'' wrote that it "isn't so much a fractured spoof of everything Disney, but actually a Monty Python flick for kids – kids of all ages".<ref name="rottentomatoes1"/> Andrew Sarris of ''[[The New York Observer]]'' wrote "What gives ''Shrek'' its special artistic distinction is its witty and knowingly sassy dialogue, delivered by vocally charismatic performers whose voices remind us of their stellar screen personae in live-action movies."<ref>{{cite web |last=Sarris |first=Andrew |url=https://www.observer.com/node/44569 |title=Shrek and Dreck? Well, Not Quite |website=The New York Observer |date=June 10, 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719210819/http://www.observer.com/node/44569 |archive-date=July 19, 2008}}</ref> Lisa Alspector of the ''[[Chicago Reader]]'' wrote "This romantic fantasy complicates the roles of beauty and beast, making it hard to guess what form a sensitive resolution will take."<ref>{{cite web |last=Alspector |first=Lisa |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/shrek/Film?oid=2620416 |title=Shrek |publisher=Chicago Reader |access-date=January 11, 2014 |year=2001|archive-date=January 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112041509/http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/shrek/Film?oid=2620416 |url-status=live }}</ref> Joe Morgenstern of ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' wrote "The charms of ''Shrek'', which is based on the children's book by William Steig, go far beyond in-jokes for adults."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB990138325716720628 |title=Ooh-La-Loud! Nicole Shines, but 'Moulin Rouge' Is Just Too Exhausting |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=May 18, 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |first=Joe |last=Morgenstern |archive-date=April 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410024911/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB990138325716720628 |url-status=live }}</ref> John Zebrowski of ''[[The Seattle Times]]'' gave the film three out of four stars, saying "The movie is helped immensely by its cast, who carry it through some of the early, sluggish scenes. But this is Murphy's movie. Donkey gets most of the good lines, and Murphy hits every one."<ref>{{cite news |last=Zebrowski |first=John |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20010518/shrek18/shrek-should-be-monstrous-fun-for-kids-and-adults |title=Entertainment & the Arts &#124; 'Shrek' should be monstrous fun for kids and adults |work=[[The Seattle Times]] Newspaper |date=May 18, 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111231651/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20010518&slug=shrek18 |archive-date=January 11, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

A mixed review came from Mark Caro of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', who gave the film two and a half stars out of four and compared it to ''[[Toy Story 2]]'', which he said "had a higher in-jokes/laughs ratio without straining to demonstrate its hipness or to evoke heartfelt emotions".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/05/18/an-ogre-in-love/ |title=An ogre in love |work=Chicago Tribune |date=May 18, 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |first=Mark |last=Caro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112003637/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2001-05-18/entertainment/0105180372_1_lord-farquaad-princess-fiona-shrek |archive-date=January 12, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> On the more negative side, Michael Atkinson of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' said he was "desperately avoiding the risk of even a half-second of boredom", and said "the movie is wall-to-window-to-door noise, babbling, and jokes (the first minute sees the first fart gag), and demographically it's a hard-sell shotgun spray."<ref>{{cite web |author=Michael Atkinson |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2001-05-15/film/manic-regression/ |title=Manic Regression – Page 1 – Movies – New York |website=The Village Voice |date=May 15, 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111234655/http://www.villagevoice.com/2001-05-15/film/manic-regression/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Christy Lemire of the ''[[Associated Press]]'' described ''Shrek'' as a "90-minute onslaught of in-jokes", and said while it "strives to have a heart" with "a message about beauty coming from within", "somehow [the message] rings hollow".<ref name="rottentomatoes1"/> Anthony Lane of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' said, despite the film "cunning the rendering of surfaces, there's still something flat and charmless in the digital look, and most of the pleasure rises not from the main romance but from the quick, incidental gags."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Lane |first=Anthony |url=https://www.newyorker.com/arts/reviews/film/shrek |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218120225/http://www.newyorker.com/arts/reviews/film/shrek |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 18, 2008 |title=Shrek |year=2001|magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=January 11, 2014}}</ref>

===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:99%;"
|-
! colspan="5" |List of awards and nominations
|- style="background:#ccc; style="text-align:center;"
! width="20%"| Ceremony
! width="35%"| Category
! width="30%"| Recipient(s)
! width="10%"| Result
! width="5%"| {{Ref.}}
|-
|[[American Film Institute Awards 2004|American Film Institute Awards]]
|AFI Movie of the Year
|
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI AWARDS 2001 |url=https://www.afi.com/award/afi-awards-2001/ |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=American Film Institute |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[74th Academy Awards]]{{efn|At the [[74th Academy Awards]], ''Shrek'' was one of the first animated films to be nominated for and won the first-ever [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature]], beating ''[[Monsters, Inc.]]'' and ''[[Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius]]''.<ref name="EnvelopePlease">{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-news-the-envelope-please-t/124522198/ |title=The envelope, please: The 2nd annual Foscars |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512221528/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-news-the-envelope-please-t/124522198/ |date=March 25, 2002 |access-date=May 12, 2023 |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |page=30 |publisher=[[The Journal News]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live }} {{Open access}}</ref> It was also the first animated film to be nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]].<ref name="EnvelopePlease" /><ref name=":3">{{cite news |title='Shrek' wins for animated feature |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/oscar2002/2002-03-24-shrek.htm#more |access-date=March 29, 2012 |newspaper=USA Today |date=March 25, 2002 |agency=Associated Press |archive-date=December 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203165611/http://www.usatoday.com/life/enter/movies/oscar2002/2002-03-24-shrek.htm#more |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2002 |title=2002{{!}}Oscars.org |access-date=December 16, 2020 |archive-date=October 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141001074138/https://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/74th-winners.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rabwbzi6rLU |title=Shrek Wins Animated Feature: 2002 Oscars |website=[[YouTube]] |date=November 27, 2012 |access-date=December 16, 2020 |archive-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218162350/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rabwbzi6rLU |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6TRPHx7_e8| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/S6TRPHx7_e8| archive-date=2021-10-28|title=A Beautiful Mind Wins Adapted Screenplay: 2002 Oscars| date=September 14, 2015|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref>}}
| [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]]
| [[Aron Warner]]
|{{won}}
| rowspan="2" |<ref name=":4" /><ref name="EnvelopePlease" />
|-
|[[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
|[[Ted Elliott (screenwriter)|Ted Elliott]], [[Roger S. H. Schulman]], [[Joe Stillman]] and [[Terry Rossio]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[American Cinema Editors|American Cinema Editors Awards]] 2001
|[[American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Feature Film – Comedy or Musical|Best Edited Feature Film – Comedy or Musical]]
|Sim Evan-Jones
|{{nom}}
|<ref name="1970to2001">{{cite book |last1=Goodman |first1=Robert M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9FW59a17sdgC |title=Editing Digital Video: The Complete Creative and Technical Guide |last2=McGrath |first2=Patrick |date=October 2002 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Education |isbn=9780071406352 |location=New York |pages=287–297 |access-date=March 28, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="12" |[[29th Annie Awards]]
|[[Annie Award for Best Animated Feature|Animated Theatrical Feature]]
| [[Jeffrey Katzenberg]], Aron Warner, [[John H. Williams (film producer)|John H. Williams]]
|{{won}}
| rowspan="12" |<ref name=":7">{{cite web |title=Legacy: 29th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (2001) |url=https://annieawards.org/29thwinners.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509071145/http://annieawards.org/29thwinners.html |archive-date=May 9, 2008 |access-date=March 29, 2012 |publisher=The Annie Awards}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Feature Production|Character Animation]]
|Paul Chung
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Raman Hui]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|Jason Reisig
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Production|Effects - Animation]]
|Arnauld Lamorlette
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Directing in a Feature Production|Directing in an Animated Feature Production]]
|[[Andrew Adamson]] and [[Vicky Jenson]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production|Music Score an Animated Feature Production]]
|[[Harry Gregson-Williams]] and [[John Powell (film composer)|John Powell]]
|{{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Production Design in an Animated Feature Production|Production Design in an Animated Feature Production]]
|Guillaume Aretos
|{{won}}
|-
|Douglas Rogers
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in a Feature Production|Storyboarding in an Animated Feature Production]]
|Robert Koo
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Writing in a Feature Production|Writing in an Animated Feature Production]]
|Ted Elliott, Roger S. H. Schulman, Joe Stillman and Terry Rossio
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in a Feature Production|Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Feature Production]]
|[[Eddie Murphy]]
|{{won}}
|-
| rowspan="6" |[[55th British Academy Film Awards|55th BAFTA Awards]]{{efn|''Shrek'' was nominated six [[BAFTA Award]]s, including the [[BAFTA Award for Best Film]]; Eddie Murphy became the first, and so far, only actor to ever receive a BAFTA nomination for a voice-over performance, receiving a [[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role|Best Actor in a Supporting Role]] nomination.<ref name="Shrek Awards NY Times">{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/242627/Shrek/awards |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130061027/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/242627/Shrek/awards |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 30, 2013 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=Shrek – Awards |access-date=February 10, 2012}}</ref>}}
|[[BAFTA Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
|Jeffrey Katzenberg, Aron Warner, John H. Williams
|{{nom}}
| rowspan="6" |<ref name="Shrek Awards NY Times" />
|-
|[[BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role|Best Actor in a Supporting Role]]
|Eddie Murphy
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]
|Ted Elliott, Roger S. H. Schulman, Joe Stillman and Terry Rossio
|{{won}}
|-
|[[BAFTA Award for Best Original Music|Best Film Music]]
|Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[BAFTA Award for Best Sound|Best Sound]]
|[[Andy Nelson (sound engineer)|Andy Nelson]], [[Anna Behlmer]], [[Wylie Stateman]] and [[Lon Bender]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]]
|Ken Bielenberg
|{{nom}}
|-
| [[2001 Cannes Film Festival]]{{efn|''Shrek'' is the first animated film to have entered in competition from the festival for five decades, since Disney's ''[[Peter Pan (1953 film)|Peter Pan]]'' (1953) to be chosen to compete for the [[Palme d'Or]].<ref name=":0b">{{cite news|date=May 21, 2011|title=Shrek scores at the US box office|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|location=London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/may/21/cannes2001.cannesfilmfestival1|url-status=live|access-date=February 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509221127/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/may/21/cannes2001.cannesfilmfestival1|archive-date=May 9, 2014}}</ref>}}
| [[Palme d'Or]]
| ''Shrek''
| {{nom}}
| <ref name="festival-cannes.com2" />
|-
| [[BET Awards 2002]]
| Best Actor
| Eddie Murphy
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Black Reel Awards of 2002]]
| [[Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| Eddie Murphy
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[7th Critics' Choice Awards]]
| [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]
| Jeffrey Katzenberg, Aron Warner, John H. Williams
|{{nom}}
| rowspan="2" |<ref>{{cite web |date=January 11, 2002 |title=The BFCA Critics' Choice Awards :: 2001 |url=https://www.bfca.org/ccawards/2001.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107093817/https://www.bfca.org/ccawards/2001.php |archive-date=January 7, 2013 |access-date=March 16, 2011 |publisher=[[Critics Choice Association|Broadcast Film Critics Association]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]]
|Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson
|{{won}}
|-
|[[59th Golden Globe Awards]]
|[[Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy|Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy]]
|Jeffrey Katzenberg, Aron Warner, John H. Williams
|{{nom}}
|<ref>{{cite news |date=20 December 2001 |title='Moulin,' 'Mind' top Globe contender list |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/moulin-mind-top-globe-contender-list-1117857601/ |access-date=10 January 2018 |work=Variety}}</ref>
|-
| [[JoBlo.com|Golden Schmoes Award]]
| Coolest Character of the Year
| Shrek
| {{nom}}
|-
|[[44th Annual Grammy Awards]]
|[[Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media|Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media]]
|''[[Shrek: Music from the Original Motion Picture]]''
|{{nom}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |author=Variety Staff |date=2002-01-04 |title=44th Annual Grammy Award Nominations |url=https://variety.com/2002/music/news/44th-annual-grammy-award-nominations-1117857951/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=44th Annual GRAMMY Awards |url=https://grammy.com/awards/44th-annual-grammy-awards |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=Grammy}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[2002 Kids' Choice Awards]]
| Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie
| Eddie Murphy
| {{won}}
|-
| Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie
| [[Cameron Diaz]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie|Favorite Movie]]
| Shrek
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[2002 MTV Movie Awards]]
| Best Movie
| Shrek
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo|Best On-Screen Team]]
| Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and [[Mike Myers]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Comedic Performance
| Eddie Murphy
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Comedic Performance
| Mike Myers
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[28th People's Choice Awards]]
| Favorite Motion Picture
| Shrek
| {{won}}
|-
| Favorite Actor In A Comedy Motion Picture
| Eddie Murphy
| {{won}}
|-
|[[13th Producers Guild of America Awards]]{{efn|''Shrek'' was the first animated film to earn a PGA nomination.<ref name=":1" />}}
| [[Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture|Best Theatrical Motion Picture]]
| ''Shrek''
|{{nom}}
|<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=McNary |first=Dave |date=2002-01-10 |title=Studio pix dominate PGA noms |url=https://variety.com/2002/film/awards/studio-pix-dominate-pga-noms-1117858293/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[28th Saturn Awards]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| Eddie Murphy
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Writing|Best Writing]]
| [[Ted Elliott (screenwriter)|Ted Elliott]], [[Terry Rossio]], [[Joe Stillman]] and [[Roger S. H. Schulman]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Music|Best Music]]
| [[Harry Gregson-Williams]] and [[John Powell (film composer)|John Powell]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film|Best Fantasy Film]]
| Shrek
| {{nom}}
|}

== Legacy ==

=== Rank ===
[[Entertainment Weekly]] put it on its end-of-the-decade, "best-of" list, saying, "Prince Charming? So last millennium. This decade, fairy-tale fans – and Princess Fiona – fell for a fat and flatulent Ogre. Now, that's progress."<ref>{{cite news |date=December 4, 2009 |title=100 Greatest Movies, TV Shows, and More |url=https://ew.com/article/2009/12/04/100-greatest-movies-tv-shows-and-more/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607002836/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20312226_20324138%2C00.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |access-date=March 29, 2012 |newspaper=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref>  In June 2008, the [[American Film Institute]] revealed its "[[AFI's 10 Top 10|Ten top Ten]]"; the best ten films in ten "classic" American film genres—after polling over 1,500 people from the creative community ''Shrek'' was acknowledged as the eighth best film in the animated genre, and the only non-Disney·[[Pixar]] film in the Top 10.<ref name="AFI">{{cite news |agency=[[American Film Institute]] |title=AFI Crowns Top 10 Films in 10 Classic Genres |publisher=ComingSoon.net |date=June 17, 2008 |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=46072 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080818100312/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=46072 |archive-date=August 18, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="AFIAni10">{{cite web |url=https://www.afi.com/10top10/animation.html |title=Top Ten Animation |access-date=June 18, 2008 |publisher=afi.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619174154/http://www.afi.com/10top10/animation.html |archive-date=June 19, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Shrek'' was also ranked second in a [[Channel 4]] poll of the "100 Greatest Family Films", losing out on the top spot to ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/film/newsfeatures/microsites/F/greatest-familymovies/results/5-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304003632/http://www.channel4.com/film/newsfeatures/microsites/F/greatest-familymovies/results/5-1.html |archive-date=March 4, 2009 |access-date=July 10, 2011 |title=100 Greatest Family Films}}</ref> In 2005, ''Shrek'' came sixth in Channel 4's 100 Greatest Cartoons poll behind ''[[The Simpsons]]'', ''[[Tom and Jerry]]'', ''[[South Park]]'', ''[[Toy Story]]'' and ''[[Family Guy]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Beck |first=Jerry |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/old-brew/100-greatest-cartoons-594.html |title=100 GREATEST CARTOONS |publisher=[[Cartoon Brew]] |date=November 3, 2004 |access-date=January 21, 2014 |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202202117/http://www.cartoonbrew.com/old-brew/100-greatest-cartoons-594.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2009, the character, Lord Farquaad, was listed No. 14 in [[IGN UK]]'s "Top 15 Fantasy Villains".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/11/12/top-15-fantasy-villains | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218234137/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/11/12/top-15-fantasy-villains | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 18, 2014 |title=Top 15 Fantasy Villains |website=[[IGN UK]] |publisher=IGN |date=November 12, 2009 |access-date=February 10, 2012 |author=Parfitt, Orlando}}</ref> In 2006, it was ranked third on [[Bravo (U.S. TV channel)|Bravo]]'s 100 funniest films list.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/ae/movies/gallery/bravos_funniest?pg=24 |title=Bravo's 100 Funniest Movies of all time |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=July 25, 2006 |access-date=January 21, 2014 |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202162754/http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/gallery/bravos_funniest?pg=24 |url-status=live }}</ref> The film's title character was awarded his own star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] in May 2010.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shrek gets a star on Walk of Fame |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8690000/newsid_8697200/8697220.stm |access-date=January 29, 2012 |newspaper=CBBC |date=May 21, 2010 |archive-date=May 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522140743/http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_8690000/newsid_8697200/8697220.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[American Film Institute]] recognition:
* [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains]]:
** Shrek – Nominated Hero<ref name = "AFI"/>
* [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs]]:
** "I'm a Believer" – Nominated<ref name = "AFI"/>
* [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition)]] – Nominated<ref name = "AFI"/>
* [[AFI's 10 Top 10]] – No. 8 Animated film<ref name = "AFI"/>

===Cultural impact===
''The New York Times'' retrospectively described the film as "a beloved, offbeat fairy tale whose characters and jokes continue to permeate [[pop culture]], reaching another generation of fans."<ref name="NYT20" /> Previous films and television shows, such as ''[[Fractured Fairy Tales]]'' and ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]'', have parodied the traditional fairy tale.<ref name="Summers 2020 161–194">{{Citation |last=Summers |first=Sam |title=The Shrekoning: DreamWorks' Influence over 2000s Animation |date=2020 |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36851-7_6 |work=DreamWorks Animation: Intertextuality and Aesthetics in Shrek and Beyond |series=Palgrave Animation |pages=161–194 |editor-last=Summers |editor-first=Sam |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-36851-7_6 |isbn=978-3-030-36851-7 |s2cid=226617933 |access-date=2022-06-27| issn=2523-8086 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref name = "Time">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1619573,00.html |title=Is Shrek Bad for Kids? |magazine=Time |date=May 10, 2007 |first=James |last=Poniewozik|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204233335/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1619573,00.html|archive-date=February 4, 2013}}</ref> ''Shrek'' had a significant impact that influenced a later generation of mainstream animated films,<ref name = "Time"/> receiving recognition for being one of the most influential from the 2000s.<ref name="Summers 2020 161–194"/><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Corliss |first=Richard |date=2010-11-24 |title=TimeFrames - Shrek: Mr. Influential |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2032304_2032746_2035980,00.html |access-date=2024-02-28 |magazine=Time |language=en-US |issn=0040-781X}}</ref> Particularly after ''Shrek 2'', animated films began to incorporate more pop culture references and end-film musical numbers.<ref name = "Time"/> Such elements can be seen in films like ''[[Robots (2005 film)|Robots]]'', ''[[Chicken Little (2005 film)|Chicken Little]]'', ''[[Doogal]]'', ''[[Ron's Gone Wrong]]'' and more recently with ''[[Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken]]'' and ''[[The Tiger's Apprentice (film)|The Tiger's Apprentice]]''.<ref name = "Time"/> It also inspired a number of computer animated films which also spoofed fairy tales, or other related story genres, often including adult-oriented humor, most of which were not nearly as successful as ''Shrek'', such as ''Chicken Little'', ''[[Happily N'Ever After]]'', ''[[Igor (film)|Igor]]'', ''[[Hoodwinked!]]'', ''[[Donkey Xote]]'', ''[[Enchanted (film)|Enchanted]]'' and its sequel ''[[Disenchanted (film)|Disenchanted]]''.<ref name = "Time"/> In 2020, the United States [[Library of Congress]] selected ''Shrek'' to be preserved in the [[National Film Registry]] for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref>{{cite web | url = https://variety.com/2020/film/news/dark-knight-shrek-grease-blues-brothers-national-film-registry-1234852610/ | title = ''Dark Knight'', ''Shrek'', ''Grease'', ''Blues Brothers'' Added To National Film Registry | first = Dave | last = McNary|author-link=Dave McNary | date = December 14, 2020 | access-date = October 22, 2022 | website= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | archive-date = December 14, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201214080223/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/dark-knight-shrek-grease-blues-brothers-national-film-registry-1234852610/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

==Other media==
{{See also|Shrek The Musical}}
Several [[video game]] adaptations of the film have been published on various [[Video game console|game console]] platforms, including ''[[Shrek (video game)|Shrek]]'' (2001), ''[[Shrek: Hassle at the Castle]]'' (2002), ''[[Shrek: Extra Large]]'' (2002), ''[[Shrek: Super Party]]'' (2002) and ''[[Shrek SuperSlam]]'' (2005).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/games/gba-video-shrek/xbox-15764 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625033109/http://www.ign.com/games/gba-video-shrek/xbox-15764 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 25, 2013 |title=Shrek – Xbox |publisher=IGN |date=October 19, 2001 |access-date=January 11, 2014}}</ref> Shrek was also included as a bonus unlockable character in the video game ''[[Tony Hawk's Underground 2]]'' (2004).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/cheats/games/tony-hawks-underground-2-xbox-683207 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621112246/http://www.ign.com/cheats/games/tony-hawks-underground-2-xbox-683207 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 21, 2013 |title=Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Cheats, Codes, Unlockables – Xbox |publisher=IGN |date=October 4, 2004 |access-date=January 11, 2014}}</ref>

In 2003, [[Dark Horse Comics]] released a three-issue mini-series [[comic book]] adaptation of ''Shrek'' which was written by Mark Evanier, and the issues were later compiled into a [[trade paperback (comics)|trade paperback]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=12-541 |title=Shrek TPB |publisher=Dark Horse Comics |access-date=May 8, 2007 |archive-date=November 23, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123231903/http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=12-541 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A [[musical theatre|musical]] version, based on the film, with music by [[Jeanine Tesori]] and a book and lyrics by [[David Lindsay-Abaire]], opened on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] on December 14, 2008, and closed January 3, 2010, running for a total of 441 performances.<ref name="broadwayworld1">{{cite web |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaker-Replaces-Gregory-and-Other-Changes-Announced-for-NY-Bound-SHREK-20080930 |title=Breaker Replaces Gregory and Other Changes Announced for NY Bound SHREK |publisher=Broadway World |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111220006/http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaker-Replaces-Gregory-and-Other-Changes-Announced-for-NY-Bound-SHREK-20080930 |url-status=live }}</ref> It starred [[Brian d'Arcy James]] in the title role, [[Sutton Foster]] as Princess Fiona, [[Christopher Sieber]] as Lord Farquaad, [[Daniel Breaker]] as Donkey, and [[John Tartaglia]] as Pinocchio.<ref name="broadwayworld1"/> The Broadway production was recorded and released on [[DVD]], [[Blu-ray]] and digital media.<ref name="BWW film">{{Cite web |last=Cerasaro |first=Pat |date=July 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212174029/http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/SHREK-THE-MUSICAL-Now-Available-For-Pre-Order-20130719 |archive-date=2013-12-12 |title=SHREK: THE MUSICAL Now Available For Pre-Order |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/SHREK-THE-MUSICAL-Now-Available-For-Pre-Order-20130719 |work=Broadway World}}</ref><ref name="Playbill film">{{Cite web |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=July 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211180202/http://playbill.com/news/article/180314-Filmed-Version-of-Broadways-Shrek-Will-Be-Available-in-October |archive-date=2013-12-11 |url=https://playbill.com/news/article/180314-Filmed-Version-of-Broadways-Shrek-Will-Be-Available-in-October |title=Filmed Version of Broadway's Shrek Will Be Available in October |work=Playbill.com}}</ref><ref name="BWW DVD">{{Cite web |last=Cerasaro |first=Pat |date=July 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212173723/http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/SHREK-THE-MUSICAL-DVDBlu-Now-Available-For-Pre-Order-20130725 |archive-date=2013-12-12 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/SHREK-THE-MUSICAL-DVDBlu-Now-Available-For-Pre-Order-20130725 |title=SHREK: THE MUSICAL DVD/Blu Now Available For Pre-Order |work=Broadway World}}</ref> A North American Tour opened July 25, 2010, in [[Chicago (band)|Chicago]].<ref name="broadwayworld1"/> A [[London]] production opened in the [[West End theatre|West End]] on June 7, 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.playbill.com/news/article/140900-Shrek-the-Musical-to-Open-at-Theatre-Royal-Drury-Lane-in-May-2011 |title=Shrek the Musical to Open at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in May 2011 |website=Playbill |date=July 2, 2010 |access-date=January 27, 2012 |author=Shenton, Mark |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115212612/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/140900-Shrek-the-Musical-to-Open-at-Theatre-Royal-Drury-Lane-in-May-2011 |archive-date=November 15, 2011}}</ref> The musical received many [[Tony Award]] nominations and won the 2009 [[Tony Award for Best Costume Design]]. It received five [[Laurence Olivier Award]] nominations including [[Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical|Best New Musical]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/london/E8831331808718/Full+List:+2012+Olivier+Awards+nominations.html |title=London Theatre News, Reviews, Interviews and more |website=whatsonstage |access-date=March 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417225434/http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/london/E8831331808718/Full+List:+2012+Olivier+Awards+nominations.html|archive-date=April 17, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A [[shot-for-shot]] fan remake titled ''[[Shrek Retold]]'' was released through 3GI Industries on November 29, 2018. The project was a collaboration of 200 filmmakers and mixes live action, hand drawn animation, Flash animation, CGI and various other art forms to recreate the film. The film is available on [[YouTube]] for free.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/shrek-retold-and-the-magic-of-positive-fandom/ |title='Shrek Retold' and the Magic of Positive Fandom |website=Film School Rejects |last=Fisher |first=Kieran |date=December 3, 2018 |access-date=December 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423190129/https://filmschoolrejects.com/shrek-retold-and-the-magic-of-positive-fandom/|archive-date=April 23, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://boingboing.net/2018/12/03/fairy-use-tale.html |title=Shrek, remade by 200 different fan-creators |website=Boing Boing |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |date=December 3, 2018 |access-date=December 5, 2018 |archive-date=December 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204122302/https://boingboing.net/2018/12/03/fairy-use-tale.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Future==
{{main|Shrek (franchise)}}
Three sequels were released over the years – the Oscar-nominated ''[[Shrek 2]]'' in 2004, ''[[Shrek the Third]]'' in 2007, and ''[[Shrek Forever After]]'' in 2010. ''Shrek 2'' was the only one to receive similar acclaim from critics,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek_2/ |title=Shrek 2 (2004) |access-date=August 14, 2009 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140423212814/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek_2/ |archive-date = April 23, 2014 |url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek_the_third/ |title=Shrek the Third – Movie Reviews, Trailers, Pictures |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=June 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231011120/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek_the_third/ |archive-date=December 31, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek_goes_fourth/ |title=Shrek Forever After Movie Reviews, Pictures |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Flixster]] |access-date=June 12, 2010 |archive-date=May 26, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526204059/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shrek_goes_fourth/ |url-status=live }}</ref> though all three sequels were commercially successful.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=shrek4.htm |title=Shrek Forever After (2010) |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |publisher=[[IMDb]] |access-date=August 22, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113060036/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=shrek4.htm|archive-date=January 13, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=shrek3.htm |title=Shrek the Third (2007) |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=February 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302174204/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=shrek3.htm |archive-date=March 2, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Shrek the Halls]]'' (2007) and ''[[Scared Shrekless]]'' (2010) were released as holiday-themed short films. A spin-off prequel film entitled ''[[Puss in Boots (2011 film)|Puss in Boots]],'' centered on the titular character's life before his debut in ''Shrek 2'', was released in 2011, while a sequel, titled ''[[Puss in Boots: The Last Wish]]'' and set after the events of ''Shrek Forever After'', was released in 2022.<ref name="usatoday1">{{cite news |last=Wloszczyna |first=Susan |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-11-24-shrek-forever-after_N.htm |title=First look: 'Shrek Forever After': Fourth, final film is first in 3-D |work=USA Today |date=November 26, 2009 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |archive-date=March 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140321032538/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2009-11-24-shrek-forever-after_N.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> A fifth feature film was originally planned during the development of ''Shrek Forever After'', but the idea was later abandoned by DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg.<ref name="Interview-StoryLink">{{cite news |last=Eckerling |first=Debra |title=We Asked ... Josh Klausner and Darren Lemke, "Shrek Forever After" |url=http://www.storylink.com/article/346 |newspaper=Storylink |access-date=March 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724231022/http://www.storylink.com/article/346 |archive-date=July 24, 2010 |date=May 15, 2010}}</ref><ref name="usatoday1"/> Leading up to NBCUniversal's planned acquisition of DreamWorks Animation in 2016, it was announced that a fifth Shrek film would be released in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/shrek-5-release-date-2019/ |title='Shrek 5' and Edgar Wright's Animated Film 'Shadows' Set for 2019 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |date=July 20, 2016 |access-date=December 30, 2016 |archive-date=December 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223000418/http://collider.com/shrek-5-release-date-2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> On November 6, 2018, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that [[Chris Meledandri]] had been tasked to reboot both Shrek and Puss in Boots, with the original cast potentially returning to reprise their roles.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/shrek-puss-in-boots-reboot-1203020785/ |title='Shrek,' 'Puss in Boots' Getting Rebooted (EXCLUSIVE) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=November 6, 2018 |work=Variety|access-date=November 6, 2018 |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106210745/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/shrek-puss-in-boots-reboot-1203020785/|archive-date=November 6, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='Shrek' & 'Puss in Boots' Rebooting at Universal with Chris Meledandri |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/features/shrek-puss-in-boots-rebooting-at-universal-with-chris-meledandri/ |website=Animation Magazine |access-date=November 6, 2018 |date=November 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107010523/http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/shrek-puss-in-boots-rebooting-at-universal-with-chris-meledandri/|archive-date=November 7, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> While cast members reported that a script was completed for a fifth Shrek film, development stalled and future plans have yet to be officially announced.<ref name="DevelopmentStall-ScreenRant">{{cite web |last1=Cotter |first1=Padraig |title=Shrek 5 Is Happening: Is It A Sequel Or Reboot & When Will It Release? |url=https://screenrant.com/shrek-5-movie-updates-story-release-date/ |website=Screen Rant |access-date=July 23, 2019 |date=June 5, 2019 |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723020200/https://screenrant.com/shrek-5-movie-updates-story-release-date/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ProductionStall-FilmNews">{{cite web |last1=O'Brien |first1=Lorna |title=Production Stalls Once Again On 'Shrek 5' |url=https://conversationsabouther.net/production-stalls-once-again-on-shrek-5-film-news/ |website=Film News |access-date=July 23, 2019 |date=July 12, 2019 |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723022727/https://conversationsabouther.net/production-stalls-once-again-on-shrek-5-film-news/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After it was reported in April 2023 that a fifth ''Shrek'' film with the original cast and a spinoff featuring Donkey was planned, Murphy said in June 2024 that he had begun voice recording sessions for ''Shrek 5'' months ago and would begin working for the Donkey spinoff once it was finished.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=2024-06-24 |title=Eddie Murphy Says He's Already Recorded Some of 'Shrek 5' and 'I Think It's Coming Out in 2025,' Plus a Donkey Spinoff Movie Is Next |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/eddie-murphy-shrek-5-recording-donkey-spinoff-movie-1236046808/ |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> A fifth ''Shrek'' film is scheduled to be released in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=January 10, 2025 |title=Universal Delays ''Shrek 5'', Moves Up ''Minions 3'' & More |url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/shrek-5-minions-3-release-dates-1236254122/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250111053845/https://deadline.com/2025/01/shrek-5-minions-3-release-dates-1236254122/ |archive-date=January 11, 2025 |access-date=January 15, 2025 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Shrek fandom|''Shrek'' fandom]]
*[[Fairy tale parody]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name="VarietyReview">{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Todd |title=Review: 'Shrek' |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/awards/shrek-3-1200468574/ |access-date=February 20, 2017 |work=Variety |date=May 4, 2001 |archive-date=February 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010839/http://variety.com/2001/film/awards/shrek-3-1200468574/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite web |title=The Making of Shrek |url=https://www.digitalanimators.com/2001/05_may/features/Shrek/TheMakingShrek.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060102002115/http://www.digitalanimators.com/2001/5_may/features/Shrek/TheMakingShrek.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 2, 2006 |publisher=digitalanimators.com |date=May 5, 2001 |access-date=February 10, 2012 |last1=Blair |first1=Iain }}
* {{cite book |title=Makin' Toons: Inside the Most Popular Animated TV Shows and Movies |last=Neuwirth |first=Allan |year=2003 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Inc }}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040330231930/http://www.shrek.com/|title=Official website|date=mdy}}
* {{official website|https://www.dreamworks.com/movies/shrek}} at DreamWorks
* {{IMDb title|0126029}}
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730033901/http://www.hesterstudios.com/|title=Tom Hester – Shrek Character Designer|date=mdy}}

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[[Category:2000s adventure comedy films]]
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[[Category:Films scored by Harry Gregson-Williams]]
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[[Category:Films set in swamps]]
[[Category:Films whose writer won the Best Adapted Screenplay BAFTA Award]]
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[[Category:Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award–winning films]]
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[[Category:Saturn Award–winning films]]
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[[Category:2001 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:United States National Film Registry films]]
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[[Category:English-language adventure comedy films]]