As an ongoing project, /r/movies will be posting Throwback Discussion threads weekly for the movies that came out this same weekend 25 years ago. As a reminder, Official Discussion threads are for discussing the movie and not for meta sub discussion.
Shrek (2001)
Summary
An ogre’s quiet life is disrupted when a group of fairy tale creatures are exiled to his swamp, leading him on a quest to rescue a princess alongside a talkative donkey.
Director
Andrew Adamson
Vicky Jenson
Writer
Ted Elliott
Terry Rossio
Joe Stillman
Roger S.H. Schulman
Cast
- Mike Myers as Shrek (voice)
- Eddie Murphy as Donkey (voice)
- Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona (voice)
- John Lithgow as Lord Farquaad (voice)
- Vincent Cassel as Monsieur Hood (voice)
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Metacritic: 84
VOD / Release
Theatrical release
Trailer
Official Trailer
by LiteraryBoner
23 Comments
I’m being 100% serious when I say this is probably the best movie ever made. Maybe I’m just saying that because it came out when I was 7 years old and completely rewired my brain. This shit was hit like it was The Godfather, Star Wars and Citizen Kane rolled together on my playground.
There isn’t a single joke that falls flat. Pretty much everything in the film just works. You want adventures? Comedy? A fairy tale story? Jokes for both kids and adults? Excellent soundtrack? This film has it all and it’s a fucking blast.
There’s a lot of scenes to highlight, but the part where Shrek says “Look, I’m not the one with the problem, okay? It’s the world that seems to have a problem with me! People take one look at me and go “Aargh! Help! Run! A big stupid ugly ogre!”… They judge me before they even know me. That’s why I’m better off alone.” My younger me got very sad at that moment.
They better not disappoint with the fifth film.
Every few months I’ll wonder what happened to Shrek director Andrew Adamson. He hasn’t directed a movie since 2012. He’s listed as producer on some stuff but idk if that’s just a contract thing.
One of the best animated movies of all time.
Look, I like Shrek. I even like 2 & 3 (not 4), and I consider them great movies.
That’s all. No butts.
SOME
I think I can attribute part of my love for religious music to Shrek and showing me the most beautiful rendition of “Hallelujah” I’ve ever heard. I can also thank it for helping me isolate the problems with an institution while still being able to care for the people in it. There’s so much to criticize about religion, but the people of each one are its cornerstone. They’re either foolish or faithful, or faithful fools. At the end of the day, I’m the same, just faithful to something else.
One of my favorite movies growing up. I watched this a billion times on VHS.
I still prefer the second one over the first but I still love this movie. Everything about this movie is perfect.
…some of you may die, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make…
Sounds like every weenie CEO in Amerika.
Took my mom to see it on the big screen as her Mother’s Day gift.
YOU SO WRAPPED UP IN LAYERS ONION BOY
Please keep off of the grass, shine your shoes, wipe your…face!
I go back and forth between this movie and The Incredibles for the best animated movie of all time. Nothing else comes close imo
An ingeniously clever satire and deconstruction of classic fairy tales and a beautiful, hilarious, sweeping fantasy adventure in its own right. This is one of my favorite animated films period. I acknowledge that the second one is a stronger film in a lot of ways, but I’m always going to love the original more.
Masterpiece.
Also, the latin dub is so iconic.
Soundtrack goes so hard. I love “Stay Home” at the end
I made out with my college girlfriend for HOURS while watching this. We’d start the movie and then by the end we’d just be making out and let the dvd menu play on loop. Good times.
Das bad, das bad, das bad, das bad.
The first kids movie to feature a character shouting “eat me”
Loved it, saw it with my childhood friends when it came out and we were laughing all night.
A nearly perfect film, but I think I slightly enjoy Shrek 2 more than the original. It’s just more fun to re-watch. Jennifer Saunders as the Fairy Godmother is sooo good, but I admit a few portions of the film feel a bit too slow or long. However, there is no part of the original Shrek that feels unnecessary, so for that reason I say it’s the better film – despite me enjoying it a tiny bit less.
Insane to think Eddie Murphy was nominated for a BAFTA for his performance in this (totally deserved).
Released May 2001. It was all downhill from there.