Will Shrek Flop?
By Andrea Baldeon and Samara Pierre
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Shrek has been a beloved franchise by all audiences. Starting in 2001 to now 2026, it consists of four movies and a few short films. A fifth movie is set to release in 2026, and many are wondering if it will live up to the originals. Animation, humor, and storytelling have changed over time, which could make this new film feel different. Some hope it will bring back the charm of the old movies, while others wonder if it will offer something new for a younger audience. With high expectations, fans are eager to see if Shrek 5 will continue the series’ success.
The first movie came out more than 20 years ago, allowing a variety of different audiences to have grown up with this franchise. Take for instance Hillcrest High School teacher, Ms. Kraft. “I haven't seen the trailer, but I've seen pictures of it and I am thoroughly disappointed. The animation is trash. I feel like it could be good but it's just nerve racking like they're gonna ruin it.” Shrek has a very specific look to it and the new movie having a completely different style is something the audience is not looking forward to, especially it’s older audience. According to Mr. Hernandez, ¨Yes I do think they should have renewed the Shrek franchise, but I hope it doesn't get to a point where it's like Fast and Furious where there are just too many repetitive movies.¨ Shrek already has four movies so was a fifth one really necessary?
Now comes the idea of nostalgia. Since many grew up with this franchise the question, “Will this new movie bring back enjoyment, or will it just be like any other film?” lingers in the audience's minds. Ms. Kraft says, “I feel like it's going to just make a lot of us angry..I don't know if it's the same writers maybe because they understand the humor that they put in the first few, but I think that it's more so going to just make us angry as to them trying to modernize our childhood.¨
Even though the new Shrek movie follows the storyline of the previous movies, viewers are having a negative reaction to the new animation style. Viewers are saying that the Shrek movie will have the “Sonic movie effect,” meaning that the creators will completely redo the new Shrek movie with modernized animation. When Shrek 5’s teaser was released, people believed that it was AI-generated.
On the other hand, some viewers argue that the creators changed the animation style to target a new and younger audience. However, a large portion of moviegoers are 18+. People are also claiming that the movie looks too predictable. People across social media platforms have shared their predictions saying it will be like any other father/daughter coming of age movie and have the same Gen Z humor.
Although people anticipate the return of the franchise, there is still concern for the level of creativity and emotional depth. Do you believe that Shrek 5 will be able to provide a nostalgic feeling despite the new animation style, or will it falter due to the criticism?
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