One of the Best Animated Movie Sequels Ever Made Released 22 Years Ago Today (& Another Film Is Coming)

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It’s famously hard to make a good sequel, even for hugely successful franchises. Recreating the special feeling of the first movie is tough, especially when fans already have fond memories of it – the Star Wars films and shows are a good example. It gets even trickier when the original movie already had a satisfying conclusion.

Lots of movies could be revisited, but fairytales present a unique challenge – how do you follow up a story with a perfect “happily ever after” ending? Attempts to make fairytale sequels often fall flat, and Cinderella II: Dreams Come True is a prime example. However, Shrek managed to do what seemed impossible, releasing a well-loved sequel 22 years ago today.

Shrek 2 Is A Truly Impressive Sequel

DreamWorks released Shrek 2 in 2004. Many people worried the sequel wouldn’t be as good as the first Shrek, but it surprisingly lived up to the hype. Some even think Shrek 2 is better than the original – a rare achievement for any sequel!

One of the things that makes Shrek 2 so good is that it successfully combines humor with a meaningful story, just like the first Shrek film. After Fiona chooses to stay an ogre and embrace true love over fitting into societal expectations, she and Shrek are invited to meet her parents in the kingdom of Far, Far Away. However, Fiona’s father strongly disapproves of Shrek.

The story delves into themes of who we are, the complexities of family, love, and putting others first, all alongside Shrek and Donkey’s signature crude humor and a fantastic musical score. It’s no surprise the movie was a hit – Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After (Shrek 4) quickly followed, and now fans are excited to see another new chapter.

Everything We Know About Shrek 5 So Far

I’m so excited to hear that Shrek 5 is officially happening! It’s been a really long wait – almost 17 years since Shrek Forever After came out in 2010. I’m hoping all that time means they’re really taking care to make this next movie something special. I heard it was originally planned for December 2026, but it’s now slated for June 30, 2027, and honestly, I’m okay with that if it means a great story!

Sequels always carry some risk, even for successful franchises like Star Wars. But if Shrek 2 is anything to go by, fans have a lot to look forward to with Shrek 5.

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2026-05-19 20:41