GLENDALE, Calif. (DreamWorks
Pictures press release) - The first "Shrek" has been pushed down a notch in the top-grossing animated film rankings, going from third to fourth, but you won't hear the big green ogre complaining.
That's because the film doing the pushing is its sequel, DreamWorks Pictures' computer-animated comedy "Shrek 2," which has become the top-grossing animated film in history (domestically) with a cumulative domestic box office gross of $346.5 million as of Saturday, June 12.
The film crossed the previous record of $339.8 million on June 12, only its 25th day in release.
The announcement was made yesterday today by DreamWorks Pictures Head of Distribution Jim Tharp. The achievement added a new record to the already multiple record-breaking run of "Shrek 2," which has shattered virtually every record for an animated film - and several for any film in history - since its May 19th opening.
In addition to now being the top-grossing animated film of all time, "Shrek 2" now holds the records for the biggest mid-week opening day for an animated film, the largest opening weekend for an animated film, the largest five-day opening for any film, the biggest single-day Saturday gross for any film, and the biggest single-day Sunday gross for any film.
In making the announcement, Jim Tharp said, "To say that we are amazed and thrilled would be a huge understatement. We have celebrated every record, but this latest hurdle - to become the top-grossing animated film in history - is something we hardly even imagined. Everyone at DreamWorks and PDI shares in this accomplishment. We are all very, very proud of 'Shrek 2's' extraordinary success."
The natural order of fairy tales is interrupted in the sequel to the Academy Award-winning blockbuster "Shrek." "Shrek 2" sends Shrek, Donkey and Princess Fiona on a whirlwind of new adventures with more fairy-tale favorites to lampoon along the way. Shrek and Princess Fiona return from their honeymoon to find an invitation to visit Fiona's parents, the King and Queen of the Kingdom of Far, Far Away. With Donkey along for the ride, the newlyweds set off. Little did Shrek and Fiona know that their marriage had foiled all of her father's plans for her future ... and his own.
Now the King must enlist the help of a powerful Fairy Godmother, the handsome Prince Charming and that famed ogre killer Puss In Boots to put right his version of "happily ever after."
"Shrek 2" brings back the voices of Mike Myers as Shrek, Eddie Murphy as Donkey and Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona. Joining the all-star voice cast are: Academy Award winner Julie Andrews ("Mary Poppins") and Oscar nominee John Cleese ("A Fish Called Wanda") as Fiona's royal parents, Queen Lillian and King Harold; Antonio Banderas ("Spy Kids") as Puss In Boots; Rupert Everett ("My Best Friend's Wedding") as Prince Charming; and Jennifer Saunders ("Absolutely Fabulous") as the Fairy Godmother.
The computer-animated comedy was directed by Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury and Conrad Vernon, with Aron Warner, David Lipman and John H. Williams producing, and Jeffrey Katzenberg executive producing. Adamson and Joe Stillman and J. David Stem & David N. Weiss wrote the screenplay from a story by Adamson, based upon the book by William Steig.
