Shrek 2 transformed a manager’s minor complaints into a blockbuster success story

The Popcorn Champs revisits the top-grossing film in the US each year since 1960, tracing the evolution of blockbusters and trying to answer Hollywood’s age-old question: What do audiences want?

Shrek was a defiant statement. This immensely successful children’s movie series was born out of corporate resentment and arrogance, and perhaps that’s why it resonated so well. Most 10-year-olds probably weren’t concerned with the behind-the-scenes tensions that led Jeffrey Katzenberg to create Shrek as a snarky rebuke to Disney. Nevertheless, many could sense that Shrek was a direct attack on the ideals upheld by the Walt Disney Company.

Katzenberg, an ex-Disney executive, played a major role in reviving Disney’s animation in the early ’90s. However, after being fired by Disney’s Michael Eisner in 1994, Katzenberg sought revenge. He co-founded DreamWorks and focused on undermining Disney through his new studio’s animation projects.

DreamWorks often produced films similar to Disney and Pixar’s works, frequently releasing movies with themes mirroring their competitors. Shrek (2001) was a prime example, taking a shot at Disney’s conventions and promoting an anti-hero protagonist. The film boasted humor, pop culture references, and big stars like Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz. Despite its success, DreamWorks intentionally released Shrek on video the same day as Disney’s Monsters, Inc.’s theatrical premiere.

Four years later, Shrek 2 emerged as Katzenberg’s triumphant moment. The film embraced a go-for-broke attitude, employing a barrage of jokes and ideas. It overshadowed Disney’s Atlantis: The Lost Empire and even Pixar’s The Incredibles. Shrek 2 reigned as the highest-grossing animated film for a while.

Though Shrek 2 was successful, its length and themes didn’t stray far from its predecessor. It capitalized on the public’s demand for more Shrek content, epitomizing the era of kid-friendly blockbuster movies. In a landscape dominated by adventure and humor, Shrek 2 stood out with its energy and rapid jokes.

Ultimately, the Shrek franchise didn’t dethrone Disney, but it left a mark on animation history. Katzenberg’s initiative prompted Disney to enhance its animation efforts, resulting in a renaissance that birthed movies like Tangled and Frozen. As for DreamWorks, its subsequent Shrek releases couldn’t replicate the magic of the second installment, and the studio was eventually acquired by Universal.

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