Shrek the Third

Shrek the Third
Name	Shrek the Third
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Chris Miller, Raman Hui
Producer	Aron Warner
Writer	Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman, Chris Miller, Aron Warner
Starring	Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, John Cleese, Rupert Everett, Eric Idle, Justin Timberlake
Music	Harry Gregson-Williams
Cinematography	Yong Duk Jhun
Editing	Michael Andrews
Studio	DreamWorks Animation, Pacific Data Images
Distributor	Paramount Pictures
Released	2007, 5, 18
Runtime	93 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$160 million
Gross	$813.4 million

Shrek the Third. It is a 2007 American computer-animated film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. As the third installment in the ''Shrek'' franchise, the film follows the titular ogre as he is reluctantly thrust into the line of succession for the throne of Far Far Away. The film was directed by Chris Miller and Raman Hui, with a screenplay by Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman, Miller, and producer Aron Warner.

Plot

Following the death of King Harold, Shrek and Princess Fiona are tasked with ruling Far Far Away, a responsibility Shrek desperately wishes to avoid. Learning of another heir, the teenage Arthur Pendragon, Shrek embarks on a quest with Donkey and Puss in Boots to retrieve him from Worthington Academy. Meanwhile, the spurned Prince Charming rallies a legion of classic fairy tale villains, including Captain Hook and the Evil Queen, to stage a coup in Far Far Away. With Shrek away, a pregnant Princess Fiona leads a resistance of princesses, including Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty, against Charming's forces at the palace.

Voice cast

Mike Myers returns as the voice of the titular ogre, Shrek, with Eddie Murphy as Donkey and Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona. Antonio Banderas reprises his role as the swashbuckling Puss in Boots. The supporting cast includes Julie Andrews as Queen Lillian and John Cleese as King Harold. Rupert Everett returns as the antagonist Prince Charming, while Eric Idle voices the wizard Merlin. Justin Timberlake joined the franchise as the voice of the insecure teenager Arthur "Artie" Pendragon. The film also features vocal performances from Amy Poehler, Amy Sedaris, Cheri Oteri, Maya Rudolph, and Larry King.

Production

Development began following the success of Shrek 2, with DreamWorks Animation aiming for a 2007 release. Directors Chris Miller and Raman Hui sought to explore Shrek's anxiety over impending fatherhood and responsibility. The animation was produced at DreamWorks Animation's Glendale, California campus and Pacific Data Images in Redwood City, California, utilizing advanced rendering techniques for more complex character models and environments like the Worthington campus. Harry Gregson-Williams returned to compose the score, which incorporated themes from the previous films and new material, while the soundtrack featured songs by artists like The Eels and Led Zeppelin.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 6, 2007, and was theatrically released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on May 18, 2007. It was the first film in the franchise not distributed by DreamWorks Pictures, following the corporate split between DreamWorks SKG and Paramount. The release was supported by extensive promotional partnerships with companies like Burger King, Hewlett-Packard, and General Mills. It opened in numerous international markets throughout May and June 2007, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany.

Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for its animation and voice cast but criticism for a perceived lack of originality compared to its predecessors. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an approval rating lower than those for Shrek and Shrek 2. Commercially, it was a major success, grossing over $813 million worldwide against a $160 million budget, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2007. It was nominated for several awards, including a Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Animated Movie and a People's Choice Award for Favorite Family Movie, but did not receive Academy Award or Golden Globe Award nominations like the earlier films.

Home media

The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray by Paramount Home Entertainment on November 13, 2007. The home media release included several bonus features such as deleted scenes, interactive games, and the DreamWorks short film Shrek the Halls. It topped the Nielsen VideoScan sales charts upon release. Subsequent releases included a triple-feature pack with Shrek and Shrek 2, and it was later included in the Shrek: The Whole Story box set. The film is also available for digital rental and purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.

Category:2007 animated films Category:DreamWorks Animation films Category:American animated films