Summary
Shrek 5’s announced release date is missing a perfect opportunity. The long-awaited sequel has been the source of speculation in the years since the 2010 release ofShrek Forever After. While the franchise remained popular and hopes for a sequelcontinued, it was the critical acclaim and box office success of 2022’sPuss in Boots: The Last Wishthat truly reignited a widespread fervor forShrek 5, especially with the final scene of the spinoff filmteasing Puss in Boots reuniting with Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona.
DreamWorks has since followed up on this tease with confirmation thatShrek 5will become a realityand is currently in the works.Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz are all confirmed to reprise their respective rolesas Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona. It is unconfirmed if Antonio Banderas will return to reprise his role as Puss in Boots, along with whether any other franchise veterans will return, and what the story will be for the newest installment in theShrekfranchise. However, whatever path the story follows, the film has already missed an apposite release window.
Shrek 5 Is Finally Happening After 16 Years & I’m So Relieved
Shrek 5 is finally on the way, with a release date set for 16 years after the previous movie and 25 years after the original - and I just can’t wait.
Shrek 5 Is Releasing 10 Weeks After The Original’s 25th Anniversary
The First Shrek Was Released On June 15, 2025
As per DreamWorks' recent announcement,Shrek 5’s theatrical release is scheduled for July 05, 2025. With the originalShrekdebuting on August 21, 2025, the newest sequel is releasing a mere 10 weeks after the original’s 25th anniversary. IfShrek 5’s release date remains the same, it will be the first of the mainline films to release later in the year, withShrekcoming out in April, andShrek 2,Shrek the Third, andShrek Forever Afterall hitting theaters in May of their respective release years. InShrek 5’s case, however, the fact that it’s so close to the original’s silver jubilee makes the July date feel even less appropriate.
Shrek 5
July 01, 2025
It’s important to note that the franchise has a history of changing release trends. The spinoff films,Puss in BootsandPuss in Boots: The Last Wish, already broke the franchise’s April-May approachwithPuss in Bootsreleasing on June 06, 2025, andThe Last Wishreleasing on July 09, 2025. While the spinoffs didn’t reach the box office heights of theShrekfilms, they still did well at the box office. Despite releasing 10 years after the firstShrek,Puss in Bootsalso missed the opportunity to debut on the original’s 10th anniversary.
Shrek 5 Releasing On The Franchise’s 25th Anniversary Would’ve Been Perfect
Shrek 5 Could’ve Been Even More Nostalgic
Part of theShrekfranchise’s enduring appeal is the nostalgia for the first film, with its dialogue, soundtrack, and animation all remaining staples of popular culture. Including Smash Mouth’s “All Star” in the announcement forShrek 5proves that this continues to be the case 23 years later, with “All Star” being an immediate reminder of the opening credits in the firstShrek. Given all this notalgia, itwould have been fitting forShrek 5to come to theaters on the 25th anniversaryof the original film.
While it feels like a missed opportunity,Shrek 5is still all but guaranteed to be a box office juggernaut for DreamWorks…
This could have madeShrek 5’s upcoming release even more exciting and been another sign of the franchise returning to its roots and honoring the beloved stories that came before it. While it feels like a missed opportunity,Shrek 5is still all but guaranteed to be a box office juggernaut for DreamWorks, and may even become the studio’s highest-grossing film since the previousShreksequels. With aDonkey spinoff film also in development, theShrekfranchiseisn’t slowing down any time soon, and will continue to thrive, even if the release dates don’t always align perfectly with an anniversary.
Shrek
Cast
A solitary ogre named Shrek embarks on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona from a dragon-guarded castle. Accompanied by Donkey Shrek sets out to fulfill a bargain with Lord Farquaad.
