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Piranha (1978)

R | | Comedy , Horror , Sci-Fi | 3 August 1978 (USA)
Piranha Poster
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When flesh-eating piranhas are accidentally released into a summer resort's rivers, the guests become their next meal.

Director:

Joe Dante

Writers:

Richard Robinson (story), John Sayles (story) | 1 more credit »

Stars:

Bradford Dillman, Heather Menzies-Urich, Kevin McCarthy | See full cast & crew »
71
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1 win & 1 nomination. See more awards »

Videos

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Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bradford Dillman ... Paul Grogan
Heather Menzies-Urich ... Maggie McKeown (as Heather Menzies)
Kevin McCarthy ... Dr. Robert Hoak
Keenan Wynn ... Jack
Dick Miller ... Buck Gardner
Barbara Steele ... Dr. Mengers
Belinda Balaski ... Betsy
Melody Thomas Scott ... Laura Dickinson (as Melody Thomas)
Bruce Gordon ... Colonel Waxman
Barry Brown ... Trooper
Paul Bartel ... Mr. Dumont
Shannon Collins Shannon Collins ... Suzie Grogan
Shawn Nelson Shawn Nelson ... Whitney
Richard Deacon ... Earl Lyon
Janie Squire Janie Squire ... Barbara Randolph
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

When flesh-eating piranhas are accidentally released into a summer resort's rivers, the guests become their next meal. Written by Concorde - New Horizons (with permission).

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

piranha | summer camp | experiment | child in peril | rescue | See All (181) »

Taglines:

A hideous death lurked unseen in the river... See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
Edit

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 August 1978 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Piraña See more »

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA See more »
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Box Office

Budget:

$600,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$6,000,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$16,000,000
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Piranha Productions,New World Pictures See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (TV)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The piranha were done by attaching rubber puppet fish to sticks. See more »

Goofs

When Kevin McCarthy is pulled into the boat after being attacked, his legs show no sign of any damage. See more »

Quotes

Maggie McKeown: That guard is still out there.
Paul Grogan: Fine, I need you to distract him.
Maggie McKeown: What for?
Paul Grogan: So I can get away.
Maggie McKeown: So YOU can get away? What about me?
Paul Grogan: Well suit yourself. Just come onto him, tell him what an admirer you are of Army or something like that.
Maggie McKeown: What if he's gay?
Paul Grogan: Then I'll go and distract him!
See more »

Crazy Credits

The FBI warning at the end of the credits ends with the phrase "So There." Producer Jon Davison used the same joke for the FBI warning in his later picture "Airplane." See more »

Connections

Remade as Piranha 3D (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

Great Green Gobs of Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts
(uncredited)
Traditional camp song
See more »

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User Reviews

"Something bit me!"
13 October 2003 | by Backlash007 – See all my reviews

The 1978 Roger Corman produced picture Piranha was about…well, piranha. Killer fish escape a government research lab and kill hapless vacationers, fishermen, and scientists. The film could have been real hokey if not for writer John Sayles and director Joe Dante. The two of them would become very successful in Hollywood with the release of The Howling. The cast is full of familiar faces such as Kevin McCarthy, Paul Bartel, Dante regulars Robert Picardo and Dick Miller, and Barbra Steele. The effects are cheesy but that's part of the fun. I believe that they made the best movie about menacing fish that they could. It has just the right mix of comedy and terror and it's entertaining. The Jaws video game was a nice touch too.

"They're eating the guests, sir."
19 of 25 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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