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Library/Film/Shrek
Grade B20 sourcesHIS-01438

Shrek

Film · 2001 · Viral

69Editable slideCertificate

Shrek opened atop the domestic box office with $42.3 million, then became a fan-made meme.

Trailer · Universal Pictures on YouTube
Clip · 3GI on YouTube
Shrek theatrical poster: the green S with Shrek, Donkey and Fiona
Box Office Mojo
Shrek 25th anniversary re-release poster: in theaters May 15
Universal Pictures on YouTube
Shrek in a still from the 2001 film
Variety
Official DreamWorks artwork of Shrek in the swamp
DreamWorks Animation
Shrek grinning in a close-up from the film
TheWrap

Spread Score

How it works
Reach90Contagion45Breadth70Velocity63Longevity6569

Numbers

Worldwide lifetime gross, including reissues (The Numbers)
$494.3M
As of Oct 23, 2026 · The Numbers
Peak proxy date
Week of May 25, 2001
May 12 ’01 to Week of May 25, 2001
Platforms
8
Started on Box office
Leverage
8.2×
$494.3M on $50M–$60M budget

Mechanics

  • Transgression
  • Identity badge
  • Fandom mobilisationPrimary
  • Platform jump
  • Press loop

How it spread

Trace the origin

DreamWorks promoted Shrek before Cannes, and its second theatrical weekend supplied the box-office peak proxy. DVD sales and an Oscar followed. Fans later carried it through forums, Shrekfest, All Star jokes and a collaborative YouTube remake.

Proxy date; not a directly measured attention peak. Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.

Weekend box office, US and Canada2001-05-18: $42,347,7602001-05-25: $42,481,4252001-06-01: $28,172,8692001-06-08: $16,520,0522001-06-15: $13,181,5762001-06-22: $10,405,7312001-06-29: $7,707,2032001-07-06: $6,007,0272001-07-13: $3,603,8432001-07-20: $2,275,2322001-07-27: $1,792,7182001-08-03: $1,072,9152001-08-10: $684,3712001-08-17: $538,7672001-08-24: $583,2622001-08-31: $786,2842001-09-07: $435,5652001-09-14: $400,7262001-09-21: $662,7612001-09-28: $461,9022001-10-05: $332,5432001-10-12: $259,6202001-10-19: $271,8702001-10-26: $261,8752001-11-02: $146,8412001-11-09: $121,2202001-11-16: $64,0802001-11-23: $88,2952001-11-30: $42,722Jul ’00Jun ’01Apr ’02May ’06Jun ’10Jul ’13Mar ’15Feb ’17Oct ’18Mar ’20Jun ’21Peak proxyRetailBox officePressTVOpen webTwitchYouTubeX
RetailBox officePressTVOpen webTwitchYouTubeX

13 more events on this chart

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Weekend box office, US and Canada: 29 dated figures from The Numbers, each checked against the source. Measured at the time, not estimated.

Timeline (16)

  1. April 2001

    DreamWorks Consumer Products / Kroger precursor · Apr 16 ’01

    DreamWorks and Kroger announced a ticket promotion supported by TV, radio and print ads.[1]

    Open the first post ↗

  2. DreamWorks precursor · Apr 22 ’01

    DreamWorks held a special screening at Mann’s Village Theater for cast, executives and guests.[2][3]

  3. May 2001

    Variety / Todd McCarthy precursor · May 4 ’01

    Variety published Todd McCarthy’s review ahead of the Cannes screening.[4]

    Shrek in a still from the 2001 film

  1. seed · May 12 ’01

  2. commercial · May 16 ’01

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Why it worked

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Origin
Mixed
Sector
Entertainment
Region
US
Worldwide lifetime gross, including reissues (The Numbers)
$494.3M
As of Oct 23, 2026 · The Numbers
Evidence
Grade B

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New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.