Once upon a time, in the world of movies, something magical happened. A green ogre named Shrek stomped onto our screens and changed the way we think about fairy tales.
This wasn’t your typical “once upon a time” story. Instead, it was funny, different, and full of surprises. Let’s take a journey into the swamp and discover why “Shrek” became such a big deal.
The Story of Shrek
What’s It All About?
Shrek is an ogre who likes to be alone. He lives in a swamp and doesn’t want to be bothered by anyone. But one day, his quiet life is turned upside down when a bunch of fairy tale creatures show up. They’ve been kicked out of their homes by the mean Lord Farquaad.
To get his swamp back, Shrek makes a deal with Lord Farquaad. He has to rescue Princess Fiona from a tower guarded by a fire-breathing dragon. Shrek isn’t happy about it, but he sets off on this quest. He’s joined by a talking Donkey who won’t stop chattering.
As Shrek and Donkey travel to save the princess, they have lots of funny adventures. When they finally meet Princess Fiona, things get even more interesting. She’s not what they expected at all!
The Main Characters
Shrek is our hero. He’s big, green, and grumpy. At first, he just wants to be left alone. But as the story goes on, we see that there’s more to Shrek than meets the eye.
Donkey becomes Shrek’s best friend. He talks a lot and isn’t very brave, but he’s loyal and always tries to cheer Shrek up.
Princess Fiona is trapped in a tower. She’s waiting for her true love to rescue her. But Fiona has a big secret that changes everything.
Lord Farquaad is the bad guy. He’s very short but wants to be a king. That’s why he sends Shrek to rescue Fiona.
How Shrek Was Made
The People Behind the Movie
“Shrek” was made by a company called DreamWorks Animation. The directors were Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson. They worked with a team of writers to create the story.
The movie is based on a book by William Steig. But the filmmakers added a lot of new ideas to make it funnier and more exciting for movie audiences.
The Voices of Shrek
One of the best things about “Shrek” is the actors who give voices to the characters. Mike Myers, who you might know from “Austin Powers,” is the voice of Shrek. He gives Shrek a funny Scottish accent that makes the character even more lovable.
Eddie Murphy is the voice of Donkey. His fast-talking style makes Donkey one of the funniest characters in the movie.
Cameron Diaz voices Princess Fiona. She makes Fiona sound both tough and kind.
John Lithgow is the voice of Lord Farquaad. He makes the villain sound silly and mean at the same time.
Why Shrek Looks So Good
New Ways of Making Animated Movies
When “Shrek” came out in 2001, it looked different from other animated movies. The team at DreamWorks used new computer technology to make the characters and the world they live in look real.
They paid attention to little details. Things like Shrek’s skin, Donkey’s fur, and even the mud in the swamp all looked very lifelike. This made the whole movie feel more magical.
The Humor in Shrek
Jokes for Everyone
One reason “Shrek” is so popular is that it’s really funny. There are jokes that make kids laugh, like when Shrek burps or Donkey does something silly. But there are also jokes that grown-ups find funny. These might be references to other movies or jokes about fairy tales that adults understand better.
Making Fun of Fairy Tales
“Shrek” likes to play with the ideas we have about fairy tales. Instead of a handsome prince, we have an ogre as the hero. The princess knows karate and isn’t just waiting around to be saved. Even the bad guy isn’t very scary – he’s just really short!
By changing these familiar stories, “Shrek” makes us laugh and think about fairy tales in a new way.
What People Thought About Shrek
Movie Reviewers Loved It
When “Shrek” came out, movie reviewers had a lot of good things to say. They thought it was clever, funny, and different from other animated movies. Many said it was a movie that both kids and adults could enjoy together.
What Regular Movie-Goers Thought
Regular people who went to see “Shrek” in theaters loved it too. Many said it was the funniest movie they’d seen in a long time. Kids especially liked the characters of Shrek and Donkey.
Here are some of the ratings “Shrek” got:
On a website called Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of movie critics liked it. Even more impressive, 90% of regular viewers gave it a thumbs up.
On IMDb, another movie website, people gave “Shrek” a score of 7.9 out of 10.
Metacritic, which collects reviews from many sources, gave “Shrek” a score of 84 out of 100.
These high scores show that almost everyone who watched “Shrek” thought it was great.
Shrek Made a Lot of Money
Box Office Success
“Shrek” wasn’t just popular with critics and viewers. It also made a lot of money at the movie theaters. In total, it earned over $484 million around the world. That’s a huge amount, especially when you know it only cost about $60 million to make.
On its first weekend in US theaters, “Shrek” made $42.3 million. This showed that a lot of people were excited to see it right away.
Awards and Praise for Shrek
Winning Big at the Oscars
“Shrek” did something no other animated movie had done before. It won the first-ever Academy Award (also called an Oscar) for Best Animated Feature. This was a big deal because it showed that animated movies could be just as good as live-action films.
Other Awards
“Shrek” didn’t stop at the Oscars. It won lots of other awards too. It got a BAFTA award, which is like a British Oscar, for Best Adapted Screenplay. This means people thought the story and dialogue were really good.
The movie also won six Annie Awards. These are special awards just for animated movies and TV shows. “Shrek” won for Best Animated Feature, and Mike Myers won for his voice acting as Shrek.
People really loved “Shrek” so much that it even won a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture. This award is voted on by regular movie fans, not just critics or people in Hollywood.
When and Where Shrek Was Released
Coming to Theaters
“Shrek” first appeared at a big movie event called the Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2001. This festival is in France and is very important in the movie world.
After that, “Shrek” started playing in regular movie theaters:
In the United States, it came out on May 18, 2001. People in the United Kingdom got to see it on June 29, 2001. Australia had it in theaters on June 7, 2001.
By releasing the movie at different times in different countries, more and more people got excited to see it.
Watching Shrek Today
Where to Find It
Even though “Shrek” came out over 20 years ago, it’s still easy to watch today. You can find it on streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, depending on where you live. If it’s not on a service you have, you can usually rent or buy it digitally from places like iTunes or Google Play.
Many people also have “Shrek” on DVD or Blu-ray, so you might be able to borrow it from a friend or a library.
Movies Like Shrek
If you love “Shrek” and want more movies like it, there are plenty to choose from:
More Shrek Adventures
There are three more “Shrek” movies that continue the story. “Shrek 2,” “Shrek the Third,” and “Shrek Forever After” all bring back our favorite ogre and his friends for new adventures.
There’s also a movie called “Puss in Boots” about the swashbuckling cat who first appeared in “Shrek 2.”
Other Fun Fairy Tale Movies
If you like how “Shrek” plays with fairy tales, you might enjoy “Enchanted.” This movie mixes animation and real actors to tell a story about a princess in the real world.
“The Princess Bride” is an older movie, but it has the same kind of humor and adventure as “Shrek.”
For another great DreamWorks animated movie, try “How to Train Your Dragon.” It’s not about fairy tales, but it has the same mix of humor and heart that made “Shrek” so special.
The Big Impact of Shrek
Changing Animation Forever
“Shrek” did more than just entertain people. It changed the way animated movies were made. After “Shrek,” more animated films started to include jokes for adults as well as kids. They also began to use fairy tales and familiar stories in new and surprising ways.
Shrek Everywhere
The success of “Shrek” led to much more than just movies. Soon, there were “Shrek” video games, a Broadway musical, and even theme park rides. You could find Shrek on T-shirts, lunch boxes, and all sorts of other things.
“Shrek” became a part of popular culture. People would quote lines from the movie in everyday conversation. The character of Shrek became so famous that even people who hadn’t seen the movie knew who he was.
Conclusion
“Shrek” is more than just a funny movie about an ogre. It’s a story that changed the way we think about fairy tales and animated movies. With its clever humor, lovable characters, and important messages about being yourself, “Shrek” has become a modern classic.
Whether you’re watching it for the first time or the hundredth time, “Shrek” has something for everyone. It teaches us that true beauty comes from the inside, that it’s okay to be different, and that real friends accept you just the way you are.
So the next time someone tells you “ogres are like onions,” you’ll know exactly what they mean. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll look at the world a little differently – and realize that sometimes, the most unlikely heroes can be the greatest of all.
