Summary

Shrek 5 must surpass the iconic musical moments of the franchise.
Harnessing the power of music could elevate Shrek 5's success.
Social media can boost Shrek 5's popularity, drawing from Jack Black's viral songs in recent films.

DreamWorks' decision to create Shrek 5 over a decade after the previous installment in this franchise has everyone intrigued as to what might happen. With a new animation style and Zendaya joining the cast, plenty of news has already been revealed for Shrek 5, and there's a genuine buzz about the movie.

At this point, the iconic green ogre has his own subculture of the internet, which should lead to Shrek 5 performing well when it's released. The fact that the cast announcement video already had over 14 million views on YouTube proves there's a buzz for this movie, but there's something Shrek 5 could do to ensure that there's even more interest.

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By Matthew Wilkinson

Shrek 5 Must Top Some Of The Most Iconic Scenes In The Franchise

Musical Numbers Have Been Big In Shrek Movies

The Shrek franchise has produced many iconic moments throughout the previous four movies, which is why it's so beloved. However, many of those have been musical moments. Whether it's Donkey singing 'I'm A Believer' or the Fairy Godmother performing 'I Need A Hero,' there have been some unforgettable songs throughout the past four movies. Even originals such as 'Welcome to Duloc' still get talked about and shared to this day, showcasing the power that music can play in a film beyond just the soundtrack in the background. Shrek films have done a great job balancing those songs with the rest of the film, with the musical moments often elevating everything that's going on.

That is something that Shrek 5 needs to try and top. It's going to be difficult for DreamWorks to achieve that because the existing songs and scenes are so great. However, fans will be heading into this movie expecting to see someone burst into song, and it must be grander, funnier, and more memorable than those that have come before. It's something that would help elevate the quality of the film, but also has the potential to vastly improve how successful it is.

Shrek 5 Needs To Learn From The Super Mario Bros Movie

Bowser in Super Mario Bros. Movie poster — Super Mario Bros. Movie Bowser poster

The world of cinema has changed drastically since the last time a Shrek movie was released in 2010, and social media is a big reason for that. Every film is looking for something to help get it trending before its release and as soon as it hits theatres. Whether that's marketing like Barbenheimer or clips going viral, that's something that two recent Jack Black movies have done perfectly. In The Super Mario Bros. Movie, his character Bowser sang the song, 'Peaches,' which was impossible to avoid on social media for a period. Everyone was singing the tune because it was catchy, and over 120 million people have viewed it on YouTube. That was instantly great marketing for a movie that went on to gross over $1 billion at the box office. It had people talking about the film and wanting to know more, and Black's song 'Lava Chicken' is now doing the same for A Minecraft Movie. That is another video game adaptation smashing box office expectations and has the highest-grossing opening weekend of any film in 2025 so far. A reason for that is that clips such as the song have gone viral, leading people to go to the cinema to experience it properly for themselves. Music is something that's easy to share and talk about, and it has proven to be a big win for movies.

The Shrek franchise has used musical moments before, but when those films came out, social media wasn't there to make them go viral. Instead, for movies like that, or Toy Story, which features the brilliant 'You've Got A Friend In Me,' those songs would be for people to enjoy at the moment and talk about after the fact. While viewers might discuss how great they were, without being able to see it and have it trend online, the same impact cannot be felt. The industry has moved on now, meaning a great song's influence is even more significant.

Shrek Is A Perfect Franchise For Music

It Is Already Established From Previous Films

Sometimes, incorporating a musical scene into a non-musical movie can be jarring, as it represents a significant shift in tone. That can often damage the quality of a film if it's not done right, but the animation genre is perfect for musical scenes, which is why so many iconic movies feature musical numbers. There are already many within the previous Shrek films, which means that it is established and built up for the audience. Seeing Donkey burst out into song won't take people out of the moment, as people will be going into it knowing there's a possibility of songs. This is a franchise that has its own West End musical stage adaptation, proving just how seamlessly music can fit in. The fantasy world can take people to a different place, and dropping a quick song feels like it suits that vibe. Given the potential benefits a good song can have and the fact that there is very little risk in adding one, this is a no-brainer for Shrek 5.

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