Shrek
Shrek is a 2001 American animated fantasy comedy film loosely based on the 1990 children's picture book of the same name by William Steig. Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson (in their feature directorial debuts) and written by Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman, and Roger S. H. Schulman, it is the first installment in the Shrek film series. The film stars Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow. In the film, an embittered ogre named Shrek (Myers) finds his home in the swamp overrun by fairy tale creatures banished by the obsessive ruler Lord Farquaad (Lithgow). With the help of Donkey (Murphy), Shrek makes a pact with Farquaad to rescue Princess Fiona (Diaz) in exchange for regaining control of his swamp. After purchasing rights to Steig's book in 1991, Steven Spielberg sought to produce a traditionally-animated film adaptation, but John H. Williams convinced him to bring the project to the newly founded DreamWorks in 1994. Jeffrey Katzenberg, along with Williams and Aron Warner, began development on Shrek in 1995, immediately following the studio's purchase of the rights from Spielberg. Chris Farley was cast as the voice for the title character, recording most of the required dialogue, but died in 1997 before his work on the film was finished; Myers was hired to replace him, and gave Shrek his Scottish accent. The film was initially intended to be created using motion capture, but after poor test results, the studio hired Pacific Data Images to complete the final computer animation. Shrek parodies other fairy tale adaptations, primarily animated Disney films. Shrek premiered at the Mann Village Theatre In Westwood, and was later shown at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or, making it the first animated film since Disney's Peter Pan (1953) to be chosen to do so. The film was theatrically released by DreamWorks Pictures in the United States on May 18, 2001, and grossed over $492 million worldwide, becoming the fourth highest-grossing film of 2001. It was widely praised by critics for its animation, voice performances, soundtrack, writing and humor, which they noted catered to both adults and children. Shrek was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and won the first ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It earned six nominations at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), winning for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film's success helped establish DreamWorks Animation as a competitor to Pixar in feature film computer animation. Three sequels have been released—Shrek 2 (2004), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010)—along with two spin-off films—Puss in Boots (2011) and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)—and other productions in the Shrek franchise. A fifth Shrek film is in development. It is also regarded as one of the most influential animated films of the 2000s and one of the greatest animated films ever made. The United States Library of Congress selected Shrek for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2020, becoming the first animated film of the 21st century to be preserved.
My beloved monster and me We go everywhere together Wearing a raincoat that has four sleeves - Gets us through all kinds of weather - Aah! She will always be the only thing That comes between me and the awful sting That comes from living in a world that's so damn mean [Croaks] Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh Hey! - La-la, la-la, la-la-la-la - [Both Laughing] La-la, la-la, la-la There it is, Princess. Your future awaits you. - That's DuLoc? - Yeah, I know. You know, Shrek thinks Lord Farquaad's compensating for something, which I think means he has a really-- Ow! Um, I, uh-- - I guess we better move on. - Sure. But, Shrek? - I'm-- I'm worried about Donkey. - [Blubbering] - What? - I mean, look at him. - He doesn't look so good. - What are you talking about? I'm fine. That's what they always say, and then next thing you know, you're on your back. - Dead. - You know, she's right. You look awful. Do you want to sit down? - I'll make you some tea. - I didn't want to say nothing, but I got this twinge in my neck, and when I turn my head like this, look. - [Bones Crunch] - Ow! See? -Who's hungry? I'll find us some dinner. -I'll get the firewood. Hey, where you going? Oh, man, I can't feel my toes! I don't have any toes! I think I need a hug.
Shrek
- What is this? - Uh, weedrat. Rotisserie style. No kidding. Well, this is delicious. Well, they're also great in stews. Now, I don't mean to brag, but I make a mean weedrat stew. [Chuckling] [Sighs] I guess I'll be dining a little differently tomorrow night. [Gulps] Maybe you can come visit me in the swamp sometime. I'll cook all kinds of stuff for you. Swamp toad soup, fish eye tartare-- you name it. [Chuckles] I'd like that. [Slurps, Laughs]
Shrek
[Chuckles] - Man, isn't this romantic? Just look at that sunset. - Sunset? Oh, no! I mean, it's late. - I-It's very late. - What? Wait a minute. I see what's going on here. - You're afraid of the dark, aren't you? - Yes! Yes, that's it. I'm terrified. You know, I'd better go inside. Don't feel bad, Princess. I used to be afraid of the dark, too, until-- Hey, no, wait. I'm still afraid of the dark. - [Shrek Sighs] - Good night. Good night. - [Door Creaks] - [Donkey] Ohh! Now I really see what's going on here. Oh, what are you talking about? I don't even wanna hear it. Look, I'm an animal, and I got instincts. I know you two were digging on each other. I could feel it. You're crazy. I'm just bringing her back to Farquaad. Oh, come on, Shrek. Wake up and smell the pheromones. -Just go on in and tell her how you feel. - I-- There's nothing to tell. Besides, even if I did tell her that, well, you know-- and I'm not saying I do 'cause I don't-- she's a princess, and I'm-- An ogre? Yeah. An ogre. - Hey, where you going? - To get... more firewood.
Shrek
- Aah! - Oh, no! - No, help! - Shh! - Shrek! Shrek! Shrek! - No, it's okay. It's okay. - What did you do with the princess? - Donkey, I'm the princess. - Aah! - It's me, in this body. Oh, my God! You ate the princess! - Can you hear me? - Donkey! - Listen, keep breathing! I'll get you out of there! - No! - Shrek! Shrek! Shrek! - Shh. - Shrek! - This is me. [Muffled Mumbling]
Shrek
Princess? What happened to you? You're, uh, uh, uh, different. - I'm ugly, okay? - Well, yeah! Was it something you ate? 'Cause I told Shrek those rats was a bad idea. - You are what you eat, I said. Now-- - No. I-- I've been this way as Ion as I can remember. What do you mean? Look, I am not never seen you like this before. It only happens when the sun goes down. By night one way, by day another. This shall be the norm... until you find true love's first kiss... and then take love's true form. Ah, that's beautiful. I didn't know you wrote poetry. It's a spell. [Sighs] When I was a little girl, a witch cast a spell on me. Every night I become this. This horrible, ugly beast!
Shrek
I was placed in a tower to await the day my true love would rescue me. That's why I have to marry Lord Farquaad tomorrow... before the sun sets and he sees me... like this. [Sobs] All right, all right. Calm down. Look, it's not that bad. You're not that ugly. Well, I am not gonna lie. You are ugly. But you only look like this at night. Shrek's ugly 24-7. But, Donkey, I'm a princess, and this is not how a princess is meant to look. Princess, how 'bout if you don't marry Farquaad? I have to. Only my true love's kiss can break the spell. But, you know, um, you're kind of an ogre, and Shrek-- well, you got a lot in common. Shrek? Princess, I-- Uh, how's it going, first of all? Good? Um, good for me too. I'm okay. I saw this flower and thought of you because it's pretty and-- well, I don't really like it, but I thought you might like it 'cause you're pretty. But I like you anyway. I'd-- uh, uh-- [Sighs] I'm in trouble. Okay, here we go. [Fiona] I can't just marry whoever want. Take a good look at me, Donkey. I mean, really, who could ever love a beast so hideous and ugly? Princessand ugly don't go together. - That's why I can't stay here with Shrek. - [Gasps] My only chance to live happily ever after is to marry my truelove. - [Deep Sigh] - Don't you see, Donkey? That's just how it has to be. It's the only way to break the spell. - You at least gotta tell Shrek the truth. - No! You can't breathe a word. No one must ever know. What's the point of being able to talk if you gotta keep secrets? Promise you won't tell. Promise! All right, all right. I won't tell him. But you should. I just know before this is over, I'm gonna need a whole lot of serious therapy. - Look at my eye twitching. - [Door Opens]
Shrek
- Are you all right? - Perfect! Never been better. I-- I don't-- There's something I have to tell you. You don't have to tell me anything, Princess. - I heard enough last night. - You heard what I said? Every word. I thought you'd understand. Oh, I understand. Like you said, Who could love a hideous, ugly beast? But I thought that wouldn't matter to you. Yeah? Well, it does. [Gasps, Sighs] - Ah, right on time. - [Horse Whinnies] Princess, I've brought you a little something. [Fanfare] [Yawns] What'd I miss? What'd I miss? [Muffled] Who said that? Couldn't have been a donkey.
Shrek
Princess Fiona. As promised. Now hand it over. Very well, ogre. The deed to your swamp, cleared out, as agreed. Take it and go before I change my mind. Forgive me, Princess, for startling you, but you startled me, for I have never seen such a radiant beauty before. I am Lord Farquaad. Lord Farquaad? Oh, no, no. - [Snaps Fingers] - Forgive me, my Lord, for I was just saying... a short... farewell. That is so sweet. You don't have to waste good manners on the ogre. It's not like it has feelings. No, you're right. It doesn't. Princess Fiona, beautiful, fair, flawless Fiona. - I ask your hand in marriage. - [Gasps] Will you be the perfect bride for the perfect groom?
Shrek