Shrek (2001)
The greatest fairy tale never told.
It ain't easy bein' green -- especially if you're a likable (albeit smelly) ogre named Shrek. On a mission to retrieve a gorgeous princess from the clutches of a fire-breathing dragon, Shrek teams up with an unlikely compatriot -- a wisecracking donkey.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 18 May 2001 |
| Genre | Animation, Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure, Family |
| Director | Andrew Adamson |
| Starring | Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz |
| Runtime | 90 min |
| Rated | PG |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 8.3/10 · Metacritic 84/100 · Rotten Tomatoes 89% · TMDB users 7.8/10 |
| Budget | $60 million |
| Box office | $488 million worldwide |
Where to watch Shrek
Shrek is streaming on Peacock ($16.99 a month) in the US. If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Peacock is $16.99 at list price.
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What kind of watch this is
Andrew Adamson directed this 2001 animated fantasy, which runs 90 minutes and leans on the chemistry between Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy. The film takes standard fairy tale tropes and runs them through a deconstructive filter, turning the classic quest into a bickering road trip. The humor is dry and self-aware, relying on the friction between the grumpy ogre and his loud companion rather than visual gags. It is a film that knows exactly how silly its own premise is, yet treats the characters' frustration with genuine affection. The tagline calls it the greatest fairy tale never told.
What the critics said
Critics called it a triumph, and the numbers agree. Rotten Tomatoes sits at 89% as of September 2026, with an average rating of 8.3 out of 10. Metacritic, slightly more conservative, lands on 84 out of 100 as of January 2026. Roger Ebert called it "jolly and wicked," a description that fits the tone perfectly. Susan Wloszczyna singled out Eddie Murphy for giving "the comic performance of his career." The consensus was high enough that no one felt the need to argue against the fun.
How it did with audiences
Produced on a $60 million budget, the film took in $268 million in the United States and $488 million worldwide. That ratio of input to output is the kind of arithmetic that makes accountants smile and studios sign more checks. On TMDB, users rate it 7.8 out of 10. It wasn’t just a hit; it was a reliable one, turning a modest studio bet into a very heavy bag of coins.
Awards
Shrek collected 4 awards against 3 nominations. It took the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2002, with Aron Warner named as the recipient. The film also secured the Annie Award, Critics' Choice Movie Award, and a BAFTA in 2001.
What came next for the cast
Mike Myers traded Austin Powers for Tarantino and Queen, a pivot that feels less like a career change and more like a wardrobe malfunction. Eddie Murphy returned to his 1988 hit two decades later, proving that sequels can outlive their source material’s relevance. Cameron Diaz moved from rom-coms to Scorsese, a shift that suggests the genre was finally ready to let her go. These trajectories do not prove Shrek altered their paths. They only show where the industry decided to send them next.
Where it left its mark
Shrek didn't just parody fairy tales; it made the parody mainstream. Before it, shows like Fractured Fairy Tales and The Princess Bride had already parodied the traditional fairy tale. But Shrek pushed further, paving the way for a wave of computer-animated spoofs that leaned into adult humor. Titles like Happily N'Ever After and Enchanted followed its lead. The New York Times later noted its characters and jokes still permeate pop culture. In 2020, the Library of Congress preserved it in the National Film Registry. A green ogre, canonized.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Shrek.
Sources
- Shrek on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q483815 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Shrek” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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