‘Barbenheimer’ was the buzzword of summer 2023.
The cultural sensation saw fans go wild for two Hollywood epics – Barbie and Oppenheimer – smashing major box office records and raking in millions. Now, fans say another equally explosive movie event may be looming for 2026 as two iconic films have announced sequels.
Believe it or not, this includes the fifth film in the Shrek franchise, with Mike Myers and the original cast reuniting for the first time in 16 years. The news also broke just days after Eddie Murphy, who voices Shrek’s sidekick Donkey, hinted that this character would be starring in a film of his own too.
Speaking to Collider about the DreamWorks film, he said: “We started doing [Shrek 5] months ago. I recorded the first act and we’ll be doing it this year, we’ll finish it up. Donkey’s gonna have his own movie. We’re gonna do Donkey as well. We’re doing a Donkey one next.”
Meanwhile, the hotly-anticipated Toy Story 5 is set to hit cinema screens on June 19, 2026 – less than two prior to Shrek 5’s release on July 1, 2026.
This was confirmed by Walt Disney’s CEO Bob Iger in 2023, while the corporation boss also unveiled that Zootopia and Frozen would have follow-ups too.
Toy Story, first released in 1995, remains a standalone gem as the first fully computer-animated feature film, introducing us to Woody, Buzz Lightyear and a host of other beloved characters. The latest sequel was released in 2019.
In the midst of these announcements, countless fans have flocked to social media to voice their opinions on ‘Barbenheimer 2.0’ and their thoughts on both movies.
Conflicted, one person wrote: “Toy Story 4 was the perfect ending. Woody learned that he was more than his job. He finally chose happiness and love over duty. Why tarnish that message?”
Another added: “I couldn’t care less about Toy Story 5 but Shrek 5 im so excited about,” as someone else chimed in: “Imma rent out the whole theatre with the boys.”
However, many slammed the movie announcements, claiming there are so many other sequels they’d have preferred to these. One said: “I want Bugs Life 2. Toy Story should’ve ended at 3. 4 could’ve been one of those mini movies,” while another wrote: ” We need Cars 4.”
