'Shrek' turned 25 years old this year
Shrek is widely considered to be one of the most game-changing American animated films ever made, as it popularized and perfected the concept of layering the film with jokes that only adults could understand.
Originally released in 2001, Shrek — which featured the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow — became a cultural phenomenon, helping establish DreamWorks Animation as a legitimate rival to Disney and Pixar while becoming the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Now, a quarter of a century later, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is celebrating the Oscar-winning animated classic with a 25th Anniversary Edition that was released on Digital, 4K Ultra HD, and in a limited edition Steelbook on Tuesday, November 3.
Shrek 25th Anniversary Edition features a new 4K remaster, exclusive retrospective, and tons of bonus content
The newly remastered edition of Shrek features Dolby Vision and HDR10, which offer enhanced color, brightness, and contrast, along with Dolby Atmos audio for an upgraded home theater experience.
In addition to the technical upgrades, the anniversary edition includes 30 minutes of brand-new bonus content, highlighted by an exclusive retrospective titled Origin of an Ogre, which sees members of the film’s creative team reflecting on the making of the groundbreaking animated movie.
Based on the 1990 children’s book by William Steig, the original Shrek tells the story of an antisocial ogre who sets out to rescue Princess Fiona from a dragon-guarded castle to reclaim his swamp from the villainous Lord Farquaad.
The film’s success spawned three direct sequels, two Puss in Boots spinoff movies, television specials, an animated series, and even a Broadway musical. In total, including box office, retail, and physical media releases, Shrek ranks as the 49th overall on the list of highest-grossing media franchises, with an estimated total lifetime revenue of around $6.3 billion.
More than two decades after the original film’s release, the franchise is still going strong, with a fifth Shrek movie currently in development and scheduled to release in 2027, with Zendaya joining the cast as Shrek and Fiona’s daughter.
Shrek: 25th Anniversary Edition is now available on Digital and 4K Ultra HD, including a limited edition Steelbook from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.