Let me just apologize in advance if this article makes you feel as old as it did me, but Dreamworks’ Shrek — the animated adventure that redefined cinema as we know it — released in theatres 22 years ago today, May 18. Usually, we would refrain from using the word “perfection” too carelessly, as it can be a controversial statement to make. However, there’s a no more apt word to describe Shrek than that. There’s absolutely no one alive that hasn’t seen Shrek (of course there is, but we choose to ignore), and even less who’ve seen Shrek and didn’t instantly love it.
We’re still trying to figure out what makes Shrek so incredibly groundbreaking, but a large portion of the credit should go to the characters, whom voice actors Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz brought to life in 2001. Three years later, Antonio Banderas joined the cast as Puss in Boots and sealed the deal. From that moment on, Dreamworks knew that Shrek would be big — bigger than anything before or since.
There is the age-old debate, however, concerning whether or not Shrek is superior to its sequel. Statistically, Shrek 2 won over audiences at the global box office, grossing $441,226,247 overall compared to Shrek’s measly $267,665,011. In fact, even Shrek the Third grossed more than the original with $322,719,944, but don’t let the numerical data fool you; compared to Shrek and Shrek 2, the third one… well… sucked. It just couldn’t compare, which is nothing to be ashamed about. Back in 2001, Shrek was the first of its kind, and Shrek 2 had the edge of Puss in Boots to tip the scales. It isn’t easy to compete with a talking cat.
To commemorate Shrek‘s 22-year success, Entertainment Weekly prompted audiences to partake in a Twitter poll to decide once and for all which Shrek is better from the OG to the most recent, Shrek Forever After. If you’re interested in getting involved, we’ve pasted the poll below, which also allows you to see the standings for yourself.
Unless you’d rather not cast your vote, we’ll just include the current (at the time of writing) standings. As expected, Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After are nowhere to be found in the runnings. As for Shrek and Shrek 2, it couldn’t get any closer. Right now, Shrek 2 is winning by over 2% of votes, but we can’t count the OG out yet. After all, how do you choose between a timeless classic and one of the best sequels ever made?
If the scales don’t tip in Shrek’s favor (or even if they do), we can safely say that Shrek 2 is undeniably the best in the franchise, although we can’t say by a long shot. It’s incredibly close and we can’t discount the original, but it’s definitely Antonio Banderas to blame for Shrek 2 pushing ahead. Puss even got his own spin-off film and subsequent sequel, Puss in Boots and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Without spoiling anything, we can expect a Shrek multiverse on the horizon.
