Summary
- Shrek 5 can benefit from Puss In Boots’ success, providing a blueprint for a fresh, appealing look and compelling narrative direction.
- The long gap between Shrek 4 & 5 isn’t necessarily a problem, as Puss In Boots proves there’s still love and admiration for the original films.
- Shrek 5 has the opportunity to come back better than ever, utilizing the successful aspects of the original films and the lessons learned from Puss In Boots.
In a film industry of often unnecessary reboots, sequels, and spinoffs, making Shrek 5 after sixteen years would be far more alarming if a certain recent movie didn’t instill hope for the franchise. When ranking the Shrek movies, the original two are generally the standout films, with the subsequent sequels falling off. 2010’s Shrek Forever After missed the mark, with a 57% score on Rotten Tomatoes and an even worse 54% from audiences. With that in mind, adding another sequel risks piling onto a lousy streak and tarnishing the franchise’s name.
The Shrek 5 release date is currently planned as July 2026, which is still a long way off. In terms of recent animated films, there’s quite a mixed bag. Inside Out 2 was a massive success, while Despicable Me 4 and Kung Fu Panda 4 were met with more mixed reviews. These late animation sequels have an enormous amount of pressure because they’re dealing with such beloved material that’s already experienced multiple rehashes. Eventually, it becomes redundant, but there are reasons to believe Shrek 5 could be more of a reinvention.
Puss In Boots: The Last Wish Elevated The Franchise After A Big Gap Between Movies
The Last Wish Arrived 11 Years After 2011’s Puss In Boots
Over a decade after the failed 2011 Puss in Boots spinoff attempt, Dreamworks took a different approach to the feline hero, resulting in one of the most artistically impressive, narratively engaging, and thematically moving animated movies of the decade. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish proves that the Shrek franchise not only has more to give but that there’s a possibility for reinvention that could make it even better than ever.
A new Puss in Boots movie, eleven years after the previous attempt and twelve years after Shrek Forever After, was a pretty big risk, and it’s unlikely that Shrek 5 would be possible without it. The The Last Wish ending teased the return of Shrek with Puss sailing off and declaring he’s going to visit old friends. However, had the movie been a critical and commercial disaster, it’s possible the franchise could have remained untouched. But Dreamworks has proven they’re still in the game and that the Shrek saga has more to offer.
Shrek 5 Can Benefit From Puss In Boots: The Last Wish
The Last Wish Offers A Blueprint For Future Movies In The Franchise
Now that Puss in Boots: The Last Wish has revitalized the franchise, Shrek 5 can utilize it as a reference. Of course, the movie has a different tone from what audiences have come to expect from the Shrek saga, but similar elements can be incorporated. For example, using the art style of The Last Wish is an instant method to give Shrek 5 a fresh, appealing look that could still capture the physical humor of the original animation while utilizing The Last Wish’s more vibrant aesthetic.
In terms of narrative, there are plenty of directions for future Shrek movies to go that can have similarly meaningful storytelling. Rivaling the likes of Lord Farquadd, Fairy Godmother, and Prince Charming with a new antagonist will be tough, but the Wolf from Puss in Boots offers a different, compelling villain type that future installments can model after. If Shrek 5 comes back with a fun new story, fresh art, and a killer soundtrack, it could definitely be the start of a new chapter for the film series. There’s certainly still an interest in more Shrek movies.
Related
Puss In Boots’ Shrek 5 Absence Is Only Good If DreamWorks Is Going To Make This Sequel Too
The upcoming Shrek 5 anticipated sequel may or may not feature Puss in Boots to resume his journey from Puss In Boots: The Last Wish
Shrek 5 Learning From The Last Wish Can Get The Main Franchise Back On Track
Puss In Boots Proves That The Long Gap Between Shrek 4 & 5 Isn’t Necessarily A Problem
Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After have less than desirable scores with critics and audiences, but there’s still so much love and admiration for the first two Shrek movies. Not only are they outstanding animation movies, but they’re simply some of the best family movies ever made and have proven so far to have a timeless appeal. Reviving any franchise is a daunting task that needs to be handled with respect and care, but there’s a genuine opportunity here for the Shrek franchise to come back better than ever.
The aspects that made the original Shrek movies so successful are still applicable to making a solid movie today. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish proves that to be true. Not only would Puss in Boots 3, in the style of The Last Wish, be exciting, but the core Shrek series being overhauled seems incredibly promising. Shrek 5 may have to win back over audiences after such a long break between installments, but if done correctly, it could be the best one yet.
Shrek 5
- Director
- Walt Dohrn , Brad Ableson
- Release Date
- July 1, 2026
- Writers
- Michael McCullers , Christopher Meledandri , William Steig
- Character(s)
- Donkey , Princess Fiona , Shrek