Summary
After plenty of rumors and speculation,Shrek 5has finally received a release date, and it will come out alongsideToy Story 5andFrozen IIIin 2026. Having first been released back in 2001,theShrekfranchise became a huge deal in the animation world, but its last mainline film came in 2010, meaning everyone’s favorite ogre will have been away from the big screen for 16 years when he finally makes his return.Shrek 5’s release date announcement, with the movie confirmed for June 30, 2025, is a huge relief. I’m super excited about the next installment, but it has some huge competition in 2026.
Toy Story 5’s release datewas also confirmed earlier this year and will drop just a few weeks beforeShrek 5releases(Pixar’s sequel comes out August 02, 2025),pitting these iconic animated franchises against one another. In addition,Frozen IIIwill be released towards the end of 2026, making it an absolutely massive year for animated movies. WhileFrozenandToy Story’s last outings were big financial hits,Shrek’s long absence leaves its performance a little more uncertain. However,Puss in Boots 2’s incredible box office haul makesShrek 5look destined for success, and I can’t wait to see just how well these massive franchises perform.
Every Shrek Movie Ranked From Worst To Best
The Shrek movies range from very good to very very bad. Which animated film is an All Star, and which one is still Holding Out For A Hero?
2026 Can Break 2019’s Box Office Record As The Highest-Grossing Year For Animated Movies
2026’s Exciting Release Slate Means It Could Surpass 2019’s Record Breaking Box Office
2019’s animated box office haul totaled over $3 billion, but I’m optimistic that 2026 can surpass this and become the highest-grossing year ever for animated movies. WithToy Story 4andFrozen 2both coming out in 2019, their sequels instantly make 2026 competitive. While2019 also provided the likes ofHow to Train Your Dragon 3,The LEGO Movie 2, andPokémon Detective Pikachu,Shrek 5offers 2026 a huge franchise to help grow the year’s box office total. These three franchises alone should make it a massive year, but other animated films could help.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2’s latest updaterevealed that it is also set for a 2026 release date, adding another big sequel to the calendar. The first movie grossed over $1 billion, which means there could potentially be four animated hits that cross this threshold in 2026.Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2,The Cat in the Hat, and theAvatar: The Last Airbendermovie are also set to drop in the same year, adding some more big projects to this already stacked schedule.
All these exciting films mean 2026 is lining up to be one of the biggest years yet for animated movies. While having so many releases in one year could end up hurting some films' box office, the theatrical longevity of these projects gives them strong box office potential as animated hits tend to have longer cycles in theaters, meaning they should still find financial success. This makes me full of belief that 2026 will break this incredible box office record, withShrek 5’s announcement only adding to my enthusiasm.
Every Animated Disney Movie Ranked From Worst To Best
From Snow White to Ralph Wrecks the Internet, and everything in between, here are all of Disney’s animated movies, ranked.
2026 Could Provide The Highest-Grossing Animated Movie Of All Time
There Are Several Movies That Could Overtake Frozen II’s Incredible Record
Frozen 2’s $1.45 billion triumph remains the benchmark, but if its sequel can continue the franchise’s trajectory, it will overtake its predecessor and make cinematic history.
AlthoughFrozen IIis currently the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, 2026 provides a perfect opportunity for a new film to take the crown.Frozen 2’s $1.45 billion triumph remains the benchmark, but if its sequel can continue the franchise’s trajectory, it will overtake its predecessor and make cinematic history. EachToy Storyfilm has also out-grossed the previous entry, makingToy Story 5a potential threat.The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2could also follow up the original’s $1.36 billion success and potentially surpass this milestone, meaning 2026 has plenty of candidates to break this record.
1995
$394,436,586
1999
$497,375,381
2010
$1,067,316,101
2019
$1,073,841,394
2001
$488,628,188
2004
$932,396,221
2007
$813,367,380
$752,600,867
2013
$1,285,048,126
$1,453,683,476
Shrek 5remains an outside shot as none of the previous films have made more than $1 billion, but the franchise’s long-awaited return may give it more box office appeal than ever.Inside Out 2’s impressive trajectory means it could potentially break this record before 2026, but this only proves how big animated films are at the moment, giving these massive upcoming films a chance at making history. With so many huge animated films coming out in 2026, I can’t wait to see how they perform, and I look forward to seeing if any can surpass this box office record.
Shrek
A solitary ogre named Shrek embarks on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona from a dragon-guarded castle. Accompanied by Donkey Shrek sets out to fulfill a bargain with Lord Farquaad.
