# Shrek

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

- Owner: DreamWorks Animation / PDI; DreamWorks Pictures (original distributor)
- Kind: Film
- Sector: Entertainment
- Seed date: 2001-05-12
- Peak proxy date: Week of May 25, 2001
- Date basis: Proxy date; not a directly measured attention peak. Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.
- Spread Score: 69 (Viral, provisional), v1.3
- Mechanics: Transgression, Identity badge, Fandom mobilisation, Platform jump, Press loop

## Summary

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.

## Timeline

- 2001-04-16 — DreamWorks Consumer Products / Kroger (Retail) — DreamWorks and Kroger announced a ticket promotion supported by TV, radio and print ads.
- 2001-04-22 — DreamWorks (Box office) — DreamWorks held a special screening at Mann’s Village Theater for cast, executives and guests.
- 2001-05-04 — Variety / Todd McCarthy (Press) — Variety published Todd McCarthy’s review ahead of the Cannes screening.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/shrek

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “Shrek.” Case HIS-01438. Spread Score v1.3: 69/100. Updated 2026-10-23. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-01438