Universal Releasing ‘Minions 3’ a Year Early, ‘Shrek 5’ Delayed to December 2026

by

In 2026, Universal Pictures will advance the release date for “Minions 3”, causing a shift in the schedule that pushes back the premiere of “Shrek 5” to December. Initially, fans were thrilled when they learned that “Shrek 5” would hit theaters in the summer of 2026, as it was planned to coincide with the franchise’s 25th anniversary. The studio had chosen this timing due to the acclaimed and profitable performance of “Puss in Boots” and the enduring affection for the “Shrek” series. Originally scheduled for the Fourth of July weekend, a slot that Universal has previously utilized effectively with films from their Illumination and “Minions” franchises, the DreamWorks Animation film “Shrek 5” was to take advantage of this prime release window.

According to Variety, the Universal Studios release plan has been altered. Originally scheduled for July 1, 2026, Shrek 5 has been pushed back to December 23, 2026, allowing it to capitalize on the five-day holiday weekend during the Christmas season. On the other hand, Minions 3 has moved up from its June 30, 2027 release date and will now premiere on July 1, 2026, taking over the spot that was previously held by Shrek 5. The original June 30, 2027 release date for Minions 3 has been reassigned to an as-yet unnamed Illumination production.

It’s understandable that we might see Minions 3 sooner rather than later, given the massive success of Despicable Me 4 in both domestic and international markets in 2024. The Despicable Me and Minions series have consistently performed exceptionally well during summer holiday weekends. Specifically, Minions: The Rise of Gru opened on July 1, 2022, and grossed $123 million over the four-day weekend. On the other hand, Shrek 5 is set to debut outside of the traditional mid-year release slot that the Shrek franchise has previously occupied. Interestingly, the same December weekend that saw Puss in Boots: The Last Wish rake in $485.3 million worldwide in 2022 is when Shrek 5 is planning to be released. The makers of Shrek 5 are hoping to emulate the successes of other December releases like Avatar, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Aquaman, all of which were blockbusters that premiered at the end of December.

Animated Films Could Dominate the Box Office in 2026

2026 will see the release of “Minions 3” alongside four other highly anticipated animated movies from prominent franchises. Joining “Minions 3” and “Shrek 5” are “The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2” (April 3), “Toy Story 5” (June 19), “Ice Age 6” (December 18, just before “Shrek 5”), and the sequel to “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” (October). There’s also speculation about “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.” If this lineup materializes, it could be a banner year for animation. In fact, there’s a strong possibility that animated films might dominate both domestic and global box offices, much like in 2010 when they accounted for half of the Top 10, with “Toy Story 3,” “Despicable Me,” and “Shrek Forever After” among them. While history may not exactly repeat itself, it could come close.

As a die-hard fan, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the next big animated blockbuster. Many are betting on “Toy Story 5” or “Minions 3,” given their billion-dollar track records. However, I believe “Shrek 5” could steal the show. It’s been sixteen long years since we last saw our favorite ogre, and with each passing day, the nostalgia for the Shrek universe grows stronger. Just look at how often memes and quotes from the previous films are shared online!

When “Shrek 2” hit theaters back in 2004, it became the highest-grossing movie of the year, a box office juggernaut. So, Disney might want to think twice about releasing “Ice Age 6” too close to “Shrek 5.” While “Ice Age” is another legacy animated franchise, none of its films have ever reached the heights that the Shrek movies have scaled. Here’s hoping we get another dose of ogre-sized entertainment soon!

Read More

2025-01-11 03:32