Top 10 Pop Culture References in the Shrek Franchise
#10: Puss in Boots Copies a “Flashdance” Routine “Shrek 2” (2004)
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All of the musical numbers in the Shrek franchise definitely qualify as big pop culture references. But we had to highlight a specific move from Puss in Boots. During the “Livin’ La Vida Loca” routine, the cat soaks himself with water while leaning back on a chair. This is a direct homage to the moment the dancer Alex drenches herself with water in “Flashdance”. It was hilarious to see a kid-friendly film make fun of a much more mature movie. But since the “Shrek” franchise is known for including some adult references, the scene wasn’t too surprising. Maybe we'll see Puss and an animated Alex team up to perform a routine in a future film.
#9: A Humongously Sweet Character Enters the Final Battle “Shrek 2” (2004)
When Shrek needs to break into the castle in the climax, he and Gingy get the muffin man to cook up a way in. The baker creates a giant gingerbread man named Mongo that’s able to power through the guards and get our heroes inside. Unfortunately, the sweet giant is defeated by milk. Everything from Mongo’s size to demise is a funny twist on “Ghostbusters”. In the classic comedy’s climax, Ray accidentally causes a big Stay Puft Marshmallow Man to antagonize the city. The sugary supervillain is slowed down by flames and ultimately perishes after a fiery explosion. While both gigantic dessert monsters had similar sizes and character arcs, we’ll definitely miss Mongo more.
#8: A Satisfying Zorro Introduction “Shrek 2” (2004)
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Puss in Boots was arguably the breakout star of “Shrek 2”. His look, weapon and mannerisms were all modeled after the popular character Zorro. The iconic vigilante traditionally slices the first letter of his name onto nearby surfaces during his missions as a calling card. This inspired Puss in Boots to scratch the letter “p” onto a tree during his introduction. What makes this sharp reference even better is the voice behind the cat. Before Antonio Banderas stole the show as Puss in Boots, he played Zorro twice in two live-action films. The actor’s decision to voice the cat was a fun way to pay homage to the legendary vigilante’s legacy.
#7: Pinocchio Completes an Impossible Mission “Shrek 2” (2004)
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After Shrek, Donkey,and Puss in Boots get arrested, their fairy tale friends race to help them out. They save them by borrowing cues from “Mission: Impossible”. One of the pigs uses a match while a very familiar musical cue plays. Not only is the theme ripped from “Mission: Impossible”, but seeing a match light a rope is a recurring image in the action films. “Shrek 2” further hammers in the reference by lowering Pinocchio into the trio’s prison. The way he drops in on strings is a loving nod to one of the most famous stunts in the action franchise. When the “Shrek” scene’s music, imagery and stunts are combined, they add up to one hilarious reference that's impossible to miss.
#6: Fiona Experiences “The Seven Year Itch” “Shrek 2” (2004)
The first meeting between Fiona and the Fairy Godmother features a little singing and lots of magic thrown around. During the spellbinding spectacle, a mystical gust of wind causes Fiona’s dress to fly up. Her momentary wardrobe issue was a quick shout out to a famous scene with Marilyn Monroe in “The Seven Year Itch”. But that's not the only similarity between the two films. In “The Seven Year Itch”, a man named Richard worries that he may be unfaithful to his wife and have an affair with a woman who wears a white dress. Similarly, Shrek worries that Fiona might be tricked into falling for a man that rocks a white outfit. But everyone stays faithful to their true loves in the end.
#5: An Iconic Kiss “Shrek 2”
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It's incredible to see how many movie references “Shrek 2” packed into its opening musical montage. One of our favorite moments came when the husband and wife come across a few goons. After Shrek is caught in a trap and left hanging upside down, Fiona takes out their enemies and plants a kiss on his face. Mary Jane Watson also found a similar situation to be just as romantic. Shortly after Spider-Man saves her from a few thieves, she plants a kiss on the upside down webhead in the rain. It was great to see the ogres put a spin on this iconic scene without losing any of the romantic undertones.
#4: Lord Farquaad Plays the Dating Game Wrong “Shrek” (2001)
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To say Lord Farquaad is a shallow ruler would be an understatement. The best demonstration of his extremely superficial nature comes when he's trying to pick a prospective princess to pursue. After threatening his magical mirror, the mystical item shows the ruler three princesses while listing their positive and negative qualities. The entire scene borrows the flower;y background and format from the real life show “The Dating Game”. However, there is one big difference. Prospective romantic partners on “The Dating Game” normally didn't see each other on the show. The fact that Lord Farquaad evaluated how each princess looked instead of focusing on their personalities showed how shallow he is.
#3: Queen Lillian Hums A Couple of Julie Andrews Songs “Shrek the Third” (2007)
In “Shrek the Third”, Queen Lilian, voiced by Julie Andrews, ends up imprisoned in a stone tower. She decides to literally use her head to get them all out. After head-butting through two walls, she ends up dazed and humming the tunes to two familiar songs. If you listen closely, you can hear “My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music”. Queen Lillian also hums a little of the famous “Spoonful of Sugar” song from Mary Poppins. Naturally, Julie Andrews gave royal performances in both films. Hearing her reprise two of her many great vocal numbers was just music to our ears.
#2: A Trio of “Lord of the Rings” References “Shrek 2” (2004) & “Shrek the Third” (2007)
While royal women from the “Shrek” franchise are moving underground, they travel atop architecture that’s eerily similar to how the mines of Moria looked in “The Lord of the Rings”. The franchise also copies how Gollum talks to his reflection by making Cinderella do the same in “Shrek the Third”. But the most blatant “Lord of the Rings” reference is all about an accessory. In the first movie in the fantasy franchise,there’s a scene where the camera is aimed above Frodo as the ring falls on his finger. “Shrek 2” uses the same point of view to show Fiona's wedding band falling on her hand. After seeing this trilogy of homages, it's safe to say the animators were big Frodo fans. Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Puss in Boots Attacks Shrek’s Chest, “Shrek 2” (2004) The Cat Imitates an Infamous Scene From “Alien” (1979) Snow White Belts Immigrant Song, “Shrek the Third” (2007) She Poked Fun at the Song & Gave a Shout Out to “Thor Ragnarok” a Decade Early A Sandy Kiss, “Shrek 2” (2004) The Franchise Parodies the War Drama “From Here to Eternity” & “The Little Mermaid” Too Yelling Each Other’s Names at Dinner, “Shrek 2” (2004) Shrek & His New Family Members Parody a Scene From “Rocky Horror Picture Show” Dragon Pretends She’s a T-Rex, “Shrek” (2001) The Fire Breather Eats an Antagonist Just Like the Dinosaur Would
#1: Fiona Enters the Matrix “Shrek” (2001)
Two years after “The Matrix” revolutionized the action genre with slow motion and bullet time effects, the first “Shrek” movie debuted. Although the two movies couldn't be more different, the unconventional fairy tale found a way to recognize the Sci-Fi epic. Fiona and Shrek find themselves surrounded by Robin Hood and his merry men. While the princess is fighting back, she's able to slow down time to take out her enemies. The camera movement during this scene is a hilarious imitation of a “Matrix” fight sequence. While the sci-fi movie has been parodied by many, Fiona’s scene is still one of the best and funniest tributes to the groundbreaking movie.
