A still from "Shrek" (2001) showcasing the characters of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy.
THE FILES

[THE FILES]: Shrek (2001)

Shrek (2001) Movie Profile: History, Box Office, Oscars, Legacy
Film Archive

Shrek (2001)

Released: May 18, 2001 • Runtime: 90 Mins • DreamWorks Animation • Directed by Andrew Adamson & Vicky Jenson

Box Office & Historical Milestones

Global Blockbuster $487.9 Million Worldwide Converted a $60 million production budget into DreamWorks Animation’s breakout commercial juggernaut.
Academy Award First Inaugural Best Animated Feature Winner Made history at the 74th Academy Awards in 2002 by winning the first-ever Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
Studio DreamWorks Animation
Lead Voice Cast Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow
Based On Shrek! (1990 picture book by William Steig)
Genre Computer Animated Satire / Fairy Tale Comedy

History & Synopsis

Loosely based on William Steig’s 1990 picture book, Shrek arrived in theaters in May 2001, permanently disrupting the traditional animated filmmaking landscape. Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, the satirical fairy tale follows Shrek (Mike Myers), a solitary ogre whose swamp is invaded by exiled fairy-tale creatures under the decree of Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow). To reclaim his home, Shrek strikes a deal to rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz) from a dragon-guarded tower, accompanied by a talkative Donkey (Eddie Murphy).

Production & Cultural Highlights

  • Iconic Scottish Accent Reword: Mike Myers famously re-recorded all of his dialogue with a Scottish accent after early animation testing, adding roughly $4 million to the production budget but creating Shrek’s definitive voice.
  • Fairy Tale Satire: Parodied classic Disney tropes with sharp adult humor, subverting traditional princess narratives and establishing a irreverent tone that reshaped 2000s studio animation.
  • Pop Soundtrack Integration: Blended traditional orchestral score elements with contemporary pop-rock hits like Smash Mouth’s “All Star” and “I’m a Believer,” as well as John Cale / Rufus Wainwright’s cover of “Hallelujah.”

Cultural Legacy & Franchise Expansion

  • Multi-Billion Dollar Franchise: Spawned three theatrical sequels, spin-offs like Puss in Boots, theme park attractions, a Broadway musical, and billions in consumer merchandise.
  • National Film Registry: Selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2020 for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

The Decked Out Review

“A monumental turning point in animation history, Shrek combined sharp satire, unforgettable characters, and genuine heart to redefine feature animation for a new century.”
Directors Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson
Studio DreamWorks Animation
Release Date May 18, 2001
Budget / Worldwide Gross $60M / $487.9M

RELATED: [THE FILES] : Toy Story (1995)

The Trailer

A Still from the Movie

A still from "Shrek" (2001) showcasing the characters of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy.

RELATED: [THE FILES] : Smash Mouth – ‘I’m a Believer’ (2001)

Featured Photo: DreamWorks

Author Bio

Jael Rucker is the founder of Decked Out Magazine. She has previously worked as the Associate Commerce Editor at PureWow, focusing on analytics and trends to pitch stories and optimize articles that build and engage their audience. Her work has also been seen in Footwear News and WWD. Prior to 2024, she was the style and pop culture editor at ONE37pm for over three years, contributing numerous product reviews, brand profiles and fashion trend reports, which included interviewing Steph Curry, Snoop Dogg and more.

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