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Who needs Netflix and Prime? BBC iPlayer has a terrific collection of films to watch – here’s our updated list of what to watch right now (and when they’re leaving the service).

Whilst all eyes tend to be on streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime when it comes to movie updates, on the quiet the BBC iPlayer service continues to play host to a limited, diverse selection of films. What’s more, a good number of them you can download to your tablet to watch on the move.

So, without further ado, welcome to the weekly updated iPlayer film list. This list will be updated every week with the test available data from the BBC, in order of how long you have left to watch (so you can prioritise your viewing pleasure)

New! – denotes all new movies this week!

Brand-new This Week: In the Loop, The Ipcress File,...

Antonio Banderas and Karl Urban's 2017 action/thriller movie, Acts of Vengeance, is now streaming for free. The film is available on Tubi.

Acts of Vengeance was directed by Isaac Florentine and stars Banderas as Frank Valera, a lawyer who goes on a mission to avenge the death of his wife and daughter. Frank soon takes a vow of silence, which will not be broken until he finds who killed his family and gets his vengeance. The film also features Karl Urban as Officer Hank Strode, a Pittsburgh Police officer who rescues Frank early in the film. Paz Vega and Cristina Serafini also have supporting roles in the film.

RelatedDarren Aronofsky's Oscar-Nominated Wrestling Drama With 99% Rt Score Gets New Streaming Home

Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei were both nominated for acting Oscars for their roles in the acclaimed Darren Aronofsky flm.

Acts of Vengeance was released in select theaters worldwide...

The Shrekfranchise has had a hold on pop culture for over two decades since the release of the first film in 2001. The unofficial mascot of DreamWorks, Shrek, has become a figure associated with humor and satire as the film critiques conventional notions of fairy tale stories, mainly poking fun at companies like Disney for its tired tropes. The franchise currently has four main films and two spinoff films centering around the secondary character, Puss in Boots.

With the release of Shrek Forever After in 2010, many thought that this would be the end of the main series. Once talks started to emerge that a fifth film was in development, fans wondered where the series could go next with the main cast of characters. On February 27, 2025, an official casting announcement was released on Universal Pictures's YouTube channel. The 27-second clip features five characters who appeared in the preceding films and a...

At this point, fans have accepted that it is Zendaya’s world and we are just living in it. Everything she touches turns to gold. And now? She’s stepping into the Shrek universe. Yep, Shrek!!! And 2025 being the bearer of this news, is proving to be not that bad after all.

It is now official that she’s set to play the daughter of Shrek, voiced by none other than Mike Myers, and Fiona, voiced by the beautiful Cameron Diaz.

Zendaya in Spider-Man: No Way Home | Marvel Studios

And even with all her success and practically ruling Hollywood these past years, Zendaya (who currently stands at a very impressive $30 million) still isn’t the richest Shrek cast member. Yep, five other actors have even bigger bank accounts.

5. John Lithgow-$50 million John Lithgow in a still from Conclave | Credits: Focus Features

John Lithgow, is sitting on a cool $50 million (as per Yahoo), yep,...

A fifth Shrek film has been officially in the works. It’s set for a December 2026 release date (around the 25th anniversary of the original film) , with original cast members Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy all confirmed. Murphy himself, in the press lead-up to Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, revealed that some recording had already been done for the film and that his character, Donkey, is set for his own spinoff movie. Yesterday, it was announced that Zendaya will be joining in on the next storybook adventure as she’s been cast as Shrek and Fiona’s daughter.

The studio revealed the news in an announcement teaser trailer that showed all the regular principal characters returning, as well as the addition of Zendaya’s character. Just like the Toy Story movies have evolved, many will notice that the animation in the new trailer has been updated with more modern effects.

Despicable Me is already the highest-grossing animated franchise of all time based on its box office gross. Now, the series is also establishing its streaming dominance.

The franchise, which debuted in 2010, has since seen Gru's Minions branch out with their own films. With movies in the original series and two Minion-led spinoffs, the franchise has been a major hit, passing the four Shrek films and its two Puss in Boots spinoffs at the box office. Per Tudum, Despicable Me also beat Shrek on streaming, taking over the charts globally for the week between Feb. 17 and 23.

RelatedShrek 5 Casts Zendaya in Major Role

DreamWorks Animation announces the main voice cast for Shrek 5 and it includes Zendaya in a major role.

Just recently, the DreamWorks Adaptations Shrek franchise took over streaming with several installments ahead of the highly anticipated Shrek 5. The first three films stayed in the global charts for two weeks.

DreamWorks finally released the teaser for Shrek 5, and well, let’s just say that fans have some opinions, starting off with the new animation style. It has been fifteen years since the last Shrek film was released. It goes without saying that things have changed since then in terms of how the animation industry works. With new technology, movies don’t really have to look like what they used to decades ago.

Shrek 5 (2026) | Credits: DreamWorks Animation

Unfortunately, it looks like fans are not too happy with how the animation style has changed for Shrek 5 since Shrek Forever After (2010). Throwing it back to the time when people basically bullied Paramount into changing how Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) looked, fans are hoping DreamWorks will hear their pleas too.

Fans react to the new Shrek 5 teaser A still from Shrek 5‘s teaser | Credits: DreamWorks Animation

“Far, Far Away’s finest are coming.

Shrek fans were celebrating when it was announced that a fifth installment was finally on the way, but having been given a quick glimpse at what they can expect from the new movie, they have already picked fault with one aspect of the new film. As Dreamworks shared the first look at Shrek 5 with an official casting video announcement, there is something slightly different about everyone’s favorite ogre that has riled a lot of people to the point that some have urged Dreamworks to just cancel the belated sequel now.

Though that may seem dramatic for such a small piece of footage to cause this level of backlash, it only takes a minor change to a tried-and-tested formula to send fans into meltdown mode. In this case, it is a slight change in the animation style that fans are not happy about. Some have even suggested that a...

"Who's making this stuff?" Good question - because wow this looks awful. DreamWorks Animation debuted a tiny 20 second teaser announcing Shrek 5, a new sequel in the Shrek franchise. This will be released a full 16 years after Shrek Forever After, the fourth movie that opened back in 2010. There hasn't been any other continuation since, unless you count the recent Puss in Boots movies or Shrek on Ice (for real) or whatever random brand concepts they've cooked up. Shrek 5 is the fifth movie in this popular animation series, which began in 2001. The original voice cast returns - Cameron Diaz as Fiona, Mike Myers as Shrek, Eddie Murphy as Donkey. With the addition of Zendaya voicing Felicia, Shrek & Fiona's not-so-young-anymore daughter. It's set for release on Christmas Day in December 2026 more than a year from now, after being pushed back from its original July 2026 date. This teaser footage shows that they've...

Shrek is arguably one of the greatest animated franchises ever made, with fans loving the adaptation of the classic children’s picture book by William Steig. In the franchise, actor Eddie Murphy voices the iconic sidekick Donkey. In an interview, Murphy admitted that Donkey is one of the most hilarious characters in the series.

Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop (Credit: Paramount Pictures).

As a result, the comedian-actor felt that Donkey was more deserving of a solo spin-off movie compared to the likes of Puss in Boots. Since the latter has already appeared in two solo movies, Murphy made a strong case for a Donkey spin-off. Here is what Murphy had to say about his only condition for a Donkey spin-off after Shrek 5.

Eddie Murphy reveals his only condition for a Donkey spin-off after Shrek 5

Actor Eddie Murphy is best known for his breakout role as Detective Axel...

Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation has released the first teaser for the highly anticipated Shrek 5, confirming the returns of Mike Myers as Shrek, Eddie Murphy as Donkey, and Cameron Diaz as Fiona - as well as confirming that  Zendaya (Spider-Man: No Way Home; Dune: Part Two; Challengers) has indeed joined the voice cast as Shrek and Fiona's daughter Felicia.

Plot details remain under wraps for now and there's also no word on who's going to be lending their voices to her siblings Fergus and Farkle.

Franchise veterans Walt Dohrn (Trolls; Trolls World Tour; Trolls Band Together) and Conrad Vernon (Monsters vs. Aliens; Sausage Party; The Addams Family) have been tapped to direct, with Brad Ableson (Minions: The Rise of Gru) serving as co-director, while Michael McCullers (Austin Powers in Goldmember; Baby Mama; The Boss Baby) penned the script. 

This will be the first installment in the main franchise in sixteen years,...

Gold Derby's top news stories for Feb. 27, 2025. Zendaya to star in Shrek 5 as Shrek’s daughter

Zendaya will lend her voice to the latest Shrek movie, playing the green ogre's yet-to-named daughter, per The Hollywood Reporter. The Emmy-winning superstar will join Mikey Myers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy, who are set to reprise their roles as Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey, respectively. Universal and DreamWorks Animation have set a release date for Dec. 23, 2026.

This is the fifth installment from the Shrek franchise. The original film became the first Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature in 2001 and grossed $488 million worldwide. Three sequels followed, along with two Puss in Boots spinoffs, propelling the franchise to global box office of more than $4 billion. It's the second-highest grossing animated franchise after Despicable Me.

Oscars will feature music of James Bond, honoring longtime producers

The 97th Academy Awards will toast to the music of James Bond,...

A fifth Shrek film has been officially in the works. It’s set for a December 2026 release date (around the 25th anniversary of the original film) , with original cast members Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy all confirmed. Murphy himself, in the press lead-up to Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, revealed that some recording had already been done for the film and that his character, Donkey, is set for his own spinoff movie. Dreamworks made the official Shrek 5 announcement via social media, along with a tease for the film you can see embedded above! The Hollywood Reporter has now revealed that Zendaya is now set to star in the film as Shrek and Fiona’s daughter.

Zendaya’s resume is already filled to the brim with anticipated projects as she’s set to make a return to the sandy epic sci-fi franchise with Dune: Messiah, as well...

Once upon a time, Zendaya was Meechee. Then, Zendaya was Chani. Now, Zendaya is Felicia. The prophecy is complete. Yes, news has just come in for the actor’s latest major role – no, not the third chapter of Dune, nor another collaboration with Luca Guadagnino. Added to Zendaya’s upcoming slate is Shrek 5, in which she’s confirmed to voice Shrek and Fiona’s ogre daughter – as revealed by the film’s first teaser trailer. Give it a look:

It’s a short teaser, but there’s plenty to unpack there. Firstly, that Shrek memes – perhaps the ogre’s most enduring cultural presence in recent years – are now canon in the Shrek-verse. Secondly, that the designs of the characters are largely in line with how we left them in Shrek Forever After, but with a few subtle tweaks, rather than a total Puss In Boots: The Last Wish visual overhaul.

Zendaya is Meechee, Chani, and Tashi, but now she will be... Felicia, a.k.a. Shrek's daughter in Shrek 5. Shrek 5 is slated to hit theaters in December 2026, marking 16 years since everyone's favorite ogre graced the silver screen with his own feature film. Shrek 5 has easily become one of the most anticipated movies of 2026 and now has the added advantage of an entire generation who grew up with the original Shrek movies now being old enough to be some of Hollywood's newly established actors who would leap at the chance to join the franchise.

It appears one A-lister joining the Shrek franchise is Zendaya. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Zendaya has joined the cast of Shrek 5 as Shrek's daughter Felicia, first seen in Shrek the Third. The character will now be a full-grown teenager in the upcoming sequel. Universal Pictures released an official video revealing the cast,...

Zendaya has joined the cast of Shrek 5, in a major get for the franchise, as announced on the series’ official X page Thursday morning.

The in-demand actress plays the daughter of Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz). As previously announced, Eddie Murphy will also reprise his role in the new film as Donkey. Watch a teaser offering a first look at Zendaya’s character below.

Slated for release on December 23, 2026, Shrek 5 will be the first installment to hit theaters since Shrek Forever After all the way back in 2010. No word yet on the storyline.

Walt Dohrn (Trolls franchise), who worked on the second and third films as a writer and artist and as Head of Story on the fourth film, is directing alongside co-director Brad Ableson (Minions: The Rise of Gru), with The Trolls franchise’s Gina Shay returning to produce alongside Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri (The Super Mario Bros. Movie...

Zendaya is taking her talents to the swamp.

The mononymous, in-demand actor has joined “Shrek 5” as Felicia, the daughter of Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz).

Universal and DreamWorks, the studios behind the animated adventure set in the land of Far, Far Away, released a teaser along with the updated casting news. In the clip, Shrek’s trustee sidekick Donkey (Eddie Murphy) asks: “Hey Magic Mirror, who’s the fairest of them all?”

Magic Mirror, you know, the one from “Snow White,” responds: “Why Shrek! Of course.”

But this Magic Mirror appears to have a distinctly 21st century twist, allowing the green ogre to swap between various Gen Z-ified looks at Shrek. This prompts very different reactions from Felicia and Fiona as Shrek raises the question of the hour: “Who is making this stuff?” Just then, Pinocchio pops up to tell a nose-growing lie, declaring “Not me!”

View...

Shrek 5 has landed a star that may make other franchises green with envy.

Zendaya has joined the venerable animated film series as the daughter of Shrek (Mike Myers) and Fiona (Cameron Diaz). She also joins Eddie Murphie, the voice of Donkey.

Zendaya is one of the most in-demand stars working today, with her upcoming schedule including Dune: Messiah, the fourth Spider-Man movie and Euphoria season three. Last year, she starred in Challengers, the well-regarded tennis drama from Luca Guadagnino, as well as Dune: Part Two. Her presence in Shrek 5 gives extra vibrancy to the 25-year-old franchise and could help bring new audiences to the fold.

The feature has a Dec. 23, 2026 release date from Universal and DreamWorks Animation, and is the first in the main series since 2010’s Shrek Forever After.

Shrek veterans Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon direct, along with Minions: The Rise of Gru co-director Brad Ableson.

It turns out Bikini Bottom is in Frisco, Texas.

NBCUniversal has cut a deal with Paramount Global, an agreement that will bring the long-running popular Nickelodeon show Spongebob Squarepants to the kids and family-focused theme park Universal Destinations and Experiences is building in the Lone Star State.

Universal officially announced all of the IP-driven lands that it is building at the new resort, which will open next year in Frisco. Most of the lands will be based on IP owned or connected to NBCUniversal, with Spongegob being the outlier (and one other with an asterisk).

The lands will include DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek, Puss in Boots, Trolls and Gabby’s Dollhouse; Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants; Illumination’s Minions, as well as Jurassic World.

Gabby’s Dollhouse, of course, is a Netflix series, but it is produced by Dreamworks Television. Minions, Jurassic World, Shrek and Trolls are all based on blockbuster franchises owned...

Paramount Animation wants to start the weekend by adding some pep to your step with the first single, “Higher Love,” from the forthcoming Smurfs movie. The joyous track hails from Desi Trill and features DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Natania, and Subhi. You can listen to the track by watching the video posted above, which includes new footage of the Smurfs.

Desi Trill is a new genre of music that celebrates South Asian music with an emphasis on collaborations with other artists. “Higher Love” begins with a spin on Belinda Carlisle’s 1987 hit “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” before rolling into fresh lyrics and beats from Cardi B, Natania, and Subhi. The lyric video features the Smurfs mugging for the camera and getting into mischief. It also features fuzzy creatures similar to the Kakamora from Disney’s Moana movies.

“I’m excited to be a part of this iconic collaboration,...

A Shrek franchise mainstay is definitely returning for the next new film!

In 2001, Mike Myers’ cantankerous ogre took the world by storm in Dreamworks Animation’s Shrek. The movie was such a runaway hit and awards circuit darling that eventually, Shrek expanded into a full-fledged multimedia franchise.

Dreamworks has largely let the property rest for over a decade, save for a couple of Puss in Boots spin-offs, but the studio has another sequel, Shrek 5, in development for 2026.

Read full article on The Direct.

Netflix has now updated its weekly list of top shows and movies on Tudum. The lists are a great insight into what everyone is watching and a chance to make sure you aren't missing out. Check them out to see some of the new shows and movies in town and past favorites returning.

Th top five movies certainly see a change as a result of additions to Netflix recently. Four entries are new on the list from last week with a couple of surprises and a brand new movie. One action movie retains its place on the list but slips down to second. They are all great films to watch though.

New seasons dominate the top five shows. There are some great watches in there this week, and two new entries from last week's list arrive. They both add a different twist to life and how we all deal with...

Shrek premiered in 2001, and the franchise was a massive success. Ahead of a new installment, which is set to premiere next year, three of the four feature animated films became a hit on streaming.

The media franchise, which comes from DreamWorks Adaptations, is loosely based on William Steig's 1990 book Shrek!, and it follows the bad-tempered, yet kind green titular Ogre, and his adventures with his friends and family. The franchise features four films, and several TV specials, a spin-off, Puss in Boots, and a state musical adaptations. Ahead of the upcoming Shrek 5, the first three Shrek films became a hit on Netflix globally between the week of Feb. 3 and 9, Tudum reveals.

RelatedDisney Adding New Disclaimer Ahead of Dumbo, Peter Pan, and More Old Titles

Disney is trying to acknowledge its past while looking at the future with a brand-new disclaimer.

The first installment, 2001's Shrek, reached the third...

Rihanna goes blue as Smurfette in the new trailer for the upcoming Smurfs movie, in which she not only debuts her new character, but also sings “Don’t Stop the Music” and “Heaven Is a Place on Earth.”

After an introduction from Rihanna, the clip begins with a mash-up of the original Smurfs theme and “Don’t Stop the Music” as the “coolest Smurf in the whole village” dances alongside her buddies. Their idyllic existence gets shattered, however, when Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is kidnapped and Smurfette must lead them into the real world.

A sleepy cover of Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” — which gets rudely interrupted by DJ Khaled yelling over it — soundtracks their journey, which results in a somewhat amusing introduction to Papa Smurf’s irascible brother (Nick Offerman) and the Paris Neighborhood Watch Smurfs. Check out the full trailer below.

While announcing her...

Rihanna goes blue as Smurfette in the new trailer for the upcoming Smurfs movie, in which she not only debuts her new character, but also sings “Don’t Stop the Music” and “Heaven Is a Place on Earth.”

After an introduction from Rihanna, the clip begins with a mash-up of the original Smurfs theme and “Don’t Stop the Music” as the “coolest Smurf in the whole village” dances alongside her buddies. Their idyllic existence gets shattered, however, when Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is kidnapped and Smurfette must lead them into the real world.

A sleepy cover of Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” — which gets rudely interrupted by DJ Khaled yelling over it — soundtracks their journey, which results in a somewhat amusing introduction to Papa Smurf’s irascible brother (Nick Offerman) and the Paris Neighborhood Watch Smurfs. Check out the full trailer below.

While announcing her...

Antonio Banderas had that kind of charm that made even Madonna shoot her shot — publicly. The pop icon was absolutely smitten, and she wasn’t exactly subtle about it. The only problem? Melanie Griffith wasn’t having any of it. Banderas’ wife at the time made sure to keep stuff in check and let’s just say things got so awkward that she ended up being banned from Madonna’s set.

Antonio Banderas in a still from Uncharted (2022) | Credits: Sony Pictures Television

When you’ve got the Madonna openly crushing on your man, you know he’s got some serious magnetism. Too bad for her — Banderas was already off the market, and Griffith made sure it stayed that way.

Madonna wanted Antonio Banderas, but Melanie Griffith got banned from the Evita set Madonna in Evita | Credits: Hollywood Pictures

Back in the ‘90s, Antonio Banderas was caught in a wild love...

Are you feeling a little blue today? Paramount Pictures has something that could have you feeling Smurfy in no time! The studio that brought us the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise will tap into another nostalgic property this July with Smurfs, an animated adventure based on characters created by Belgian comic artist Peyo. Paramount shared a little trailer tease yesterday, but now smurf on over to smurf the new trailer for the animated/live-action hybrid, Smurfs.

Rihanna gives a little intro as the new voice of Smurfette, as well as contributing to the soundtrack of the movie with her cover of “Heaven is a Place on Earth,” formally by Belinda Carlise. Smurfs combines the style of the classic Saturday morning cartoons with more modern 3D animation. Smurf village is devastated when a mysterious force abducts Papa Smurf and it’s up to a small group of ragtag Smurfs to get him back.

Paramount Animation has revealed the first trailer and the Super Bowl spot for Smurfs, which is coming to theaters on July 18, 2025. The film was written by Pam Brady and directed by Chris Miller.

When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe.

Based on the characters and works of Belgian artist Pierre Culliford, also known as Peyo, Smurfs is a Ty Ty and Jay Brown production. It is produced by Jay Brown, Ty Ty Smith, Robyn Rihanna Fenty and Ryan Harris.

Smurfs features an all-star voice cast including Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, Jp Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine,...

Jules Feiffer, the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist who also wrote occasionally for the stage and screen, including Mike Nichols’ film “Carnal Knowledge” and Robert Altman’s “Popeye,” died on Jan. 17 at his home in upstate New York. He was 95. Feiffer’s wife confirmed to the Washington Post that he died of congestive heart failure.

Feiffer was a cartoonist with the Village Voice for more than 40 years until 1997.

His first connection with the film business came with the Oscar-winning 1961 animated short “Munro,” based on Feiffer’s story — a parable about the mindless military mentality in which the title character, a 4-year-old, is drafted.

Feiffer adapted his own play “Little Murders,” a dark satire about life in New York that had been briefly staged on Broadway in 1967, for the 1971 film of that name directed by Alan Arkin and starring Elliott Gould. Roger Ebert gave the movie four out of four stars and said,...

There are many theories about what Shrek 5 will be about, and one suggests a great way to solve a major mystery about the ogres while continuing a key franchise trend. The world of animation has seen the rise of studios that have become strong competition for Disney and Pixar, and at the top is DreamWorks. The project that boosted the studio and established it as a competitor to Pixar is Shrek, released in 2000. Loosely based on the 1990 children’s picture book of the same name by William Steig, Shrek gave an unexpected but refreshing twist to fairy tales.

The first adventure of Shrek (voiced by Mike Myers), Donkey (Eddie Murphy), and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) was a huge critical and commercial success, making way for a media franchise. Shrek was followed by three sequels, with the fourth movie released in 2010. After expanding with the Puss in Boots spinoff movies, the...

Antic fairytale sequel Shrek 5 has had its release date pushed back by six months. Expect to hear Mike Myers and his Scottish accent in December 2026.

Update: Date change here. Universal has shifted the release dates of Minions 3 and Shrek 5 around. It now means that Minions 3 turns up a year earlier than originally planned, on 1st July 2026. Shrek 5 has been delayed by six months, to 23rd December 2026. Both will now release in the same year.

Here’s our original story from the summer of 2024…

“Not too Far, Far Away,” DreamWorks Animation wrote on Twitter/X/Muskbook last night (the 9th July) as it announced that fairytale comedy sequel Shrek 5 will emerge in 2026.

Respectfully, this is a lie. The space year 2026 is an incredibly long two years away. By then we’ll all be flying around using jetpacks and taking regular trips to a branch of McDonalds on the moon,...

Shrek fans get some disappointing news as the film suffers a major setback.

Per Deadline, the fifth entry in the long-running Shrek feature film franchise has been pushed back by Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation. Previously slated for a July 1, 2026 release date, Shrek 5 will instead now be arriving in theaters on December 23, 2026, instead.

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Related Get Out Of My Swamp: 30 Best Quotes From Shrek That Fans Still Quote Today

The Shrek franchise made a huge impact on viewing audiences, leaving fans with plenty of quotes from Shrek and many other characters in the films.

Loosely based on William Steig's 1990 picture book, Shrek!, which follows an overtly repulsive monster who lives in a swamp as he traverses the countryside and unexpectedly finding love, 2001's Shrek kicked off what quickly became a multimedia pop culture sensation. Starring the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow, the...

Universal Pictures will release two of its biggest animated film franchises in 2026, as Minions 3 has been bumped up from 2027, which has delayed Shrek 5 back to a December release. When Shrek 5 was announced to arrive in theaters in the summer of 2026, fans were over the moon. Following the critical and box office success of Puss in Boots and the generational nostalgia for the Shrek franchise, timing Shrek 5 for the franchise's 25th anniversary seemed like a perfect play. The studio gave the DreamWorks Animation film the prime Fourth of July weekend window that Universal has previously used to great success with Illumination's Despicable Me and Minions franchise.

Variety reports that Universal's release schedule has now been shaken up. Shrek 5 has now been delayed from July 1, 2026, to Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2026, giving it a five-day holiday weekend for the Christmas season. Minions 3 has now been bumped up from June...

Universal Pictures is adjusting its movie release calendar for upcoming titles from two venerable animation franchises.

The studio announced Friday that DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek 5 is now set for release on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2026, after previously having been dated for July 1, 2026. Walt Dohrn and Conrad Vernon are directing Shrek 5 with Brad Ableson as co-director. Gina Shay and Chris Meledandri produce the film that sees the return of voice stars Mike Myers (Shrek), Eddie Murphy (Donkey) and Cameron Diaz (Fiona).

In a twinned move, Minions 3 from Illumination is now set to hit theaters on July 1, 2026, moving up from its previously planned release date of June 30, 2027. Pierre Coffin, who directed the first three Despicable Me films and the first Minions spinoff movie, is helming Minions 3 from a script from Brian Lynch. Coffin voices the yellow mischief-makers that were introduced as sidekicks to former supervillain Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) in the 2010 title Despicable Me.

If you felt a cold chill of foreboding crawl across your shoulders earlier today, it was almost certainly because… Well, okay, we can actually think of a lot of reasons you might be experiencing the grim chill of a doomed universe in this moment. But the most recent, and the most Shrek-based,...

For those wondering if Shrek is available on Netflix or any other streaming services, they'll be glad to know the animated fairy tale is easy to watch, rent, and buy. Since Shrek premiered in 2001, the Shrek franchise has continued to dominate the box office and award ceremonies, with even the lesser Shrek and Puss In Boots movies still standing above a lot of other animated children's movies. There's even a case to be made that Shrek 2 and Puss In Boots: The Last Wish are better movies than the original, a testament to the strength of the story.

That's not to say that the first Shrek has somehow not aged well. The DreamWorks hit movie still has an 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it earned $489 million at the box office (via BoxOfficeMojo). Shrek basically set the tone for the modern animated movie. After Shrek, even animated movies aimed strictly at kids seemed smarter and more knowing,...

The Shrek and Puss In Boots franchises have created an expansive universe with many unique and engaging characters. Spanning over two decades, it has become one of the most beloved intellectual properties to date, and many fans still quote it today.

Oftentimes, these memorable gems of dialogue are so frequently cited that those who hear them immediately recognize where they came from. It helps to establish Shrek's memorability and brilliance, and why it has seldom become any less relevant despite how long ago the franchise began. Memes ensure that the movies will remain immortalized regardless of whether more films are released.

Updated on December 18, 2024, by Michael Colwander: Shrek 5 is on its way, which means happily ever after Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey will have to wait in favor of more fairy tale and pop culture references. The Shrek films are among the most quotable film franchises in cinema with...

The final installment in the highly successful and acclaimed Spider-Verse film has found its directors. Bob Persichetti and Justin K. Thompson have been tapped to direct Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.

In an exclusive report from Deadline, it was announced that the Sony Animation project would recruit longtime members of the Spider-Verse family to helm the last film in the trilogy jump-started by Phil Lord and Chris Miller. And though the names of the new directors may not be as big as the aforementioned Lord and Miller, the two men have worked on the franchise since its inception.

"We have had the immense privilege of being part of Miles' journey from the very beginning, and directing the conclusion to his story is beyond exciting," said Persichetti and Thompson. "The creativity and care poured into every minute of this project has been truly inspiring. We have crafted what we feel is a very satisfying ending,...

“Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,” the third entry in Sony’s animated web-slinging trilogy, has tapped Bob Persichetti and Justin K. Thompson to direct.

They have been part of the franchise’s creative team since 2018’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” with Persichetti serving as part of the original film’s directorial trio and executive producing the 2023 sequel, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” and Thompson working as the production designer on the first film and joining the directorial trio on the second installment with Joaquim Dos Santos and Kemp Powers.

“We have had the immense privilege of being part of Miles’ journey from the very beginning, and directing the conclusion to his story is beyond exciting,” the duo said in a statement. “The creativity and care poured into every minute of this project has been truly inspiring. We have crafted what we feel is a very satisfying ending, and we can’t wait for fans to experience it.

Exclusive: The final film in Sony Animation’s Spider-Verse trilogy has found its directors as Bob Persichetti and Justin K. Thompson have been set to helm Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.

“We have had the immense privilege of being part of Miles’ journey from the very beginning, and directing the conclusion to his story is beyond exciting,” said Persichetti and Thompson. “The creativity and care poured into every minute of this project has been truly inspiring. We have crafted what we feel is a very satisfying ending, and we can’t wait for fans to experience it – we’re bringing everything we’ve got!”

Persichetti and Thompson have been integral members of the franchise’s creative team from the onset. Persichetti previously served as part of the Oscar-winning directorial team on 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and was an executive producer on last year’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Thompson served...

After a successful theatrical run, The Wild Robot is about to embark on the second stage of its life as an awards darling. The DreamWorks Animation movie achieved a record number of nominations at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, an achievement that The Wild Robot author Peter Brown doesn't find all too surprising.

The 82nd Golden Globes nominations were announced on Monday, Dec. 9. The Wild Robot picked up four nominations for Best Animated Feature Film, Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, Best Original Song ("Kiss the Sky"), and Best Original Score. With just four nominations, The Wild Robot has become the most-nominated animated film ever at the Golden Globes. Peter Brown, whose 2016 novel of the same name serves as the basis for the animated movie, reacted to the news on the social media platform X, writing, "Amazing! But I’m not surprised. The team at [DreamWorks] did an incredible job adapting my book into a gorgeous,...

In the pantheon of beloved Mike Myers characters — of which there are many — the Scottish ogre named Shrek may be his most beloved. Over the course of four films, we've all laughed and felt with Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona as they butt up against the fairytale world in which they live, and were thrilled when the studio announced the original cast of Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz return for the highly anticipated Shrek 5.

But what's the status of his long-gestating project? Well, we finally have some answers thanks to everyone's favorite Canadian character actor, who told an audience at this year's Vulture Festival that he's already working on the cantankerous green goober's cinematic return.

In a wide-reaching conversation about his truly iconic career, Myers revealed that he's already started work on the latest installment in the franchise, but also that there may still be a long ways to...

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This December, Peacock is bringing you a lot of entertainment, from the highly anticipated comedy series Laid to the streaming release of the hit horror film Speak No Evil. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Peacock this month and have an 85% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the five best films that are coming to Peacock in December 2024 with an 85% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Catch Me If You Can (December 1) Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96% Credit – Amblin Entertainment

Catch Me If You Can is a biographical crime comedy-drama film directed by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Jeff Nathanson. Based on the semi-autobiographical book of the same name by Frank Abagnale Jr., the 2002 film follows Frank Abagnale Jr, a young con man who cashes forged cheques while posing as a pilot,...

Peacock has announced the lineup of movies, TV shows, and live sports that will be available on the streaming service in December. The Peacock December 2024 schedule includes The Day of the Jackal season finale, Girls Gone Wild: The Untold Story, Laid, Paris & Nicole: The Encore, and Speak No Evil.

You can deck the halls with Peacock’s lineup of over 300 holiday titles and new Hallmark programming hitting streaming next day. Peacock also has an exclusive gift for fans of The Office when The Office Superfan Episodes: Season 8 arrives on December 12. Revisit the beloved comedy with extended laughs and never-before-seen antics from the Dunder Mifflin gang.

The streaming service a gift for Premier League fans as well. Following its successful launch during the 2024 Paris Olympics, Peacock’s Multiview feature will kick off for Premier League matches starting on December 4.

Speak No Evil December Highlights

December 3: Girls Gone Wild: The Untold...

Many movies have offered some creative interpretation of death itself, personifying the most ominous force of nature that all beings eventually meet into a fascinating character all their own. The classic image of death as the grim reaper, wearing a robe, wielding a scythe, and sporting a skeletal visage has been a cultural staple for a long time. As an art form, cinema has picked up on this, with some of the most classic movies of all time sporting their own unique interpretations of death as a concept.

Some films interpret death with a variation of the iconic cloaked imagery, putting their own spin on the classical description. Usually seen as male, death's personality can be grim, alluring, or surprisingly chill depending on the energy of the genre he's in, with horror movies, comedies, and dramas all taking the idea of what such an ancient being might act like in different places.

Prime Video’s November programming will dip its toe into Christmas and other holiday offerings such as The Holiday (2006) starring Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz and Jack Black. The streamer will also add some films with sequels arriving in theaters this month, like Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) and Ridley Scott’s 1992 film Gladiator.

For the full list of Prime Video programming in November 2024, see below.

Related: New On Netflix For November 2024: Movies, TV Shows and More

Nov. 1

Movies:

12 Days of Christmas Eve (2004) 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up (1995) 50 To 1 (2014) A Knight’s Tale (2001) Absolute Deception (2013) Across The Universe (2007) Agent Cody Banks (2003) Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004) Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) Airplane! (1980) All Saints (2017) Almost Christmas (2016) Anacondas: The Hunt For The Blood Orchid (2004) Anger Management (2003) Apache (1954) Bad Company (2002) Battlefield Earth (2000) Battleship (2012) Big Night (1996) Blizzard (2003) Blown Away (1993) Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004) Boomerang (1992) Bucky Larson Born To Be A Star (2011) Carrie...

It's time to say goodbye to one free streaming platform. The good news is that its original shows will live on.

Per Bloomberg, it has been revealed that Amazon is shutting down Freevee, the ad-supported free streaming platform. There had been some speculation that Freevee's days were numbered, and it would seem that the rumors were true. Now, the plan is to phase out Freevee over the next few weeks and consolidate its content on the Prime Video platform. Amazon will continue to offer free content for non-Prime members, while Freevee Originals will be migrating over to streaming on Prime Video as well.

Related A $473 Million Stephen King Sequel Is Losing Its Streaming Home This Month

Time is running out to watch the blockbuster Stephen King sequel before it leaves its streaming home.

We have built Prime Video into a first-stop entertainment destination where customers can personalize their viewing experience...

The Shrek franchise has become one of the most revered animated series of films from the 2000s. Its animation and story drew kids in and let them enjoy its vibrant fantasy world, and the cleverly hidden jokes left something for adults to enjoy, too. Shrek remains a staple of pop culture and was recently added to the Library of Congress, further cementing how important Shrek is in animated history. Even though the first movie is over 20 years old, fans still celebrate its witty jokes and lovable story, and a fifth movie is on its way.

The main character "got green for Christmas" in Shrek the Halls and was Scared Shrekless for Halloween (both 30-minute TV specials), and the franchise continued with Puss in Boots. Its sequel, The Last Wish, was released to rave reviews, bringing the beloved Puss in Boots back to the big screen in what could be the...

Shrek was one of the more odd films to come out of the early 2000s, but the film was one of the most successful animated features of its time. It stayed a novel take on the fantasy film genre that broke the mold Dinsey had set up for fairytales.

Mike Myers as Shrek (image credit: DreamWorks Pictures)

Lord Farquaad, the main antagonist of the first Shrek film, met his end at the hands of the dragon that was guarding Fiona, or so fans thought. While it’s not known if the scene is canon or not, Lord Farquaad might have actually survived being swallowed whole by a dragon.

A deleted scene from Shrek revealed Lord Farquad’s true fate Lord Farquaad || Credit: DreamWorks

While it is assumed that Lord Farquaad died at the end of Shrek, which seems to be true for the rest of the franchise, there was a...

Shrek's John Lithgow revealed he would be willing to reprise his role as Lord Farquaad if asked to join the franchise's upcoming fifth film. Unfortunately, Lithgow also confirmed that he's not a part of the new movie.

Speaking with People, Lithgow said he would "say yes in a minute" to joining the cast of Shrek 5 as Lord Farquaad, the villainous main antagonist of the franchise's first film. At the end of 2001's Shrek, Lithgow's character was eaten by the fire-breathing dragon who guarded Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz), and Lithgow joked to people about Farquaad's death preventing him from reprising his role. "It turns out it's impossible to recover from being eaten by a dragon," he said, adding that he hasn't been approached about joining Shrek 5.

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