Shrek

Shrek opens with a cranky, solitary ogre whose swamp life is upended when a bunch of banished fairy tale creatures take over his home. To get his peace back he makes a deal to rescue Princess Fiona from a distant tower guarded by a dragon. Along the way he’s paired with a nonstop-talking Donkey, and the two clash, joke, and gradually form an unexpected bond. The mission isn't just about a rescue, it's about how people see themselves and how others define them, with sharp humor and warm moments carried by standout voice performances.

Released in 2001, Shrek was directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson, and its screenplay adapted material from William Steig's picture book with writers Terry Rossio and Joe Stillman shaping the feature-length story. The voice cast includes Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow.

Shrek won the first ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2002, a milestone for the genre. It also picked up recognition from critics groups and helped solidify animation as a contender for major awards beyond technical categories.

The film left a big mark on pop culture with lines like "Ogres are like onions" and "Get out of my swamp," plus its subversive take on fairy tales. Its soundtrack and visuals showed a willingness to mix modern music and irreverent humor with classic storybook imagery, and elements of the film have been widely referenced and parodied in other media and online.

Critics praised Shrek for its blend of adult-targeted jokes and family-friendly heart, along with memorable vocal performances by Myers and Murphy. The movie balances satire and sincerity, tackling themes of identity, appearance, and friendship while upending fairy tale expectations and inviting viewers to laugh at and rethink familiar tropes.