When flesh-eating piranhas are accidentally released into a summer resort's rivers, the guests become their next meal.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 1 win & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Bradford Dillman | ... |
Paul Grogan
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| Heather Menzies-Urich | ... |
Maggie McKeown
(as Heather Menzies)
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| Kevin McCarthy | ... |
Dr. Robert Hoak
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| Keenan Wynn | ... |
Jack
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| Dick Miller | ... |
Buck Gardner
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| Barbara Steele | ... |
Dr. Mengers
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| Belinda Balaski | ... |
Betsy
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| Melody Thomas Scott | ... |
Laura Dickinson
(as Melody Thomas)
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| Bruce Gordon | ... |
Colonel Waxman
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| Barry Brown | ... |
Trooper
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| Paul Bartel | ... |
Mr. Dumont
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Shannon Collins | ... |
Suzie Grogan
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Shawn Nelson | ... |
Whitney
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| Richard Deacon | ... |
Earl Lyon
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Janie Squire | ... |
Barbara Randolph
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Roger Richman | ... |
David
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| Bill Smillie | ... |
Jailer
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Guich Koock | ... |
TV Pitchman
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Jack Pauleson | ... |
Boy in Canoe
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Eric Henshaw | ... |
Father in Canoe
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Robert Vinson | ... |
Soldier
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Virginia Dunnam | ... |
Girl
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| Diamond Farnsworth | ... |
Water-skier
(as Hill Farnsworth)
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| Bruce Paul Barbour | ... |
Man in Boat
(as Bruce Barbour)
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Robyn Ray | ... |
Screaming Woman
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Mike Sullivan | ... |
Dam Guard
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Jack Cardwell | ... |
Brandy
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Sally Bondi | ... |
Swimming Deb (uncredited)
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| Eric Braeden | ... |
Dr. Robert Hoak (swimming double) (uncredited)
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| Joe Dante | ... |
Scuba Diver #2 (uncredited)
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| Amy Holden Jones | ... |
Hertz Clerk (uncredited)
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| R.C. Keene | ... |
Beach goer (uncredited)
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Andrew G. La Marca | ... |
Scuba Diver #1 (uncredited)
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| John Sayles | ... |
Army Sentry (uncredited)
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| Phil Tippett | ... |
Scuba Diver #3 (victim) (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Joe Dante | ||
Written by
| Richard Robinson | ... | (story) and |
| John Sayles | ... | (story) |
| John Sayles | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Roger Corman | ... | executive producer |
| Jon Davison | ... | producer |
| Jeff Schechtman | ... | executive producer |
| Hisako Tsukuba | ... | co-producer (as Chako Van Leeuwen) |
Music by
| Pino Donaggio | ||
Cinematography by
| Jamie Anderson | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Joe Dante | ||
| Mark Goldblatt | ||
Editorial Department
| Brenda Balanda | ... | assistant editor |
| Stacy Russo | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Susan Arnold | ||
Art Direction by
| Bill Mellin | ||
| Kerry Mellin | ||
Set Decoration by
| Jeff Ayers | ||
Makeup Department
| Rob Bottin | ... | special makeup |
| Vincent Prentice | ... | special makeup |
Production Management
| Thomas M. Hammel | ... | production manager: second unit |
| Tom Jacobson | ... | production manager |
| Harry Wowchuk | ... | unit production manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Charles H. Eglee | ... | assistant director (as Charles Eglee) |
| Greg Gears | ... | assistant director |
| Dick Lowry | ... | second unit director |
| Costa Mantis | ... | background director |
Art Department
| Tim Doughten | ... | assistant art director |
| Kathleen Hughes | ... | property master |
| Kevin Hughes | ... | property master |
Sound Department
| Richard L. Anderson | ... | sound effects editor (as Richard Anderson) |
| Teresa Eckton | ... | sound effects editor (as Terry Eckton) |
| Joel Goldsmith | ... | location sound mixer |
| Anthony Santa Croce | ... | boom operator (as Tony Santa Croce) |
| David Lewis Yewdall | ... | sound effects editor (as Dave Yewdall) |
| Velcie Yewdall | ... | foley artist |
| Kendrick Sweet | ... | dialogue editor (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Douglas Barnett | ... | mechanical effects (as Doug Barnett) |
| Jon Berg | ... | special effects |
| Dave Morton | ... | mechanical effects |
| Robert Short | ... | special properties |
| Chris Walas | ... | special properties |
Visual Effects by
| Adam Beckett | ... | animator |
| Bill Hedge | ... | photographic effects |
| Peter Kuran | ... | photographic effects |
| Pat O'Neill | ... | special opticals |
| Jules Roman | ... | effects assistant (as Jools Tippett) |
| Jerome Seven | ... | effects assistant |
| Rick Taylor | ... | photographic effects |
| Phil Tippett | ... | creature designer and animator |
| Chris Casady | ... | photographic effects (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Roger Creed | ... | stunts |
| Conrad E. Palmisano | ... | stunt coordinator (as Conrad Palmisano) |
| Nick Palmisano | ... | stunts |
| Bobby Sargent | ... | stunts |
| Bruce Paul Barbour | ... | utility stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Daniel Adams | ... | best boy (as Dan Adams) |
| Ted Boehler | ... | still photographer |
| Chris Brightman | ... | grip |
| Clyde E. Bryan | ... | assistant camera: second unit (as Clyde Bryan) |
| Scott Buttfield | ... | grip: second unit |
| Dana Christiaansen | ... | assistant camera |
| Bill Decker | ... | grip |
| Ben Haller | ... | key grip |
| M. Todd Henry | ... | director of photography: second unit |
| Michael Katz | ... | gaffer (as M.W. Katz) |
| Andrew G. La Marca | ... | assistant camera (as Andy La Marca) |
| Mosh Levin | ... | grip: second unit (as Moshe Levine) |
| O.C. Perkins | ... | still photographer |
| Eric Stoner | ... | underwater grip |
| Lynn Troupe | ... | underwater grip |
| Christopher Tufty | ... | assistant camera: second unit |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Jack Buehler | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Linda Pearl | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
Location Management
| Nava Jacoby | ... | location auditor |
| Harry Wowchuk | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Natale Massara | ... | conductor |
Script and Continuity Department
| Jeanne Rosenberg | ... | script supervisor |
| Taira Rosales | ... | script supervisor (uncredited) |
Transportation Department
| Michael K. Davis | ... | driver: grip (as Michael Goldson) |
Additional Crew
| Jim Boni | ... | production assistant |
| Robert Brown | ... | production assistant |
| William Decker | ... | dog wrangler |
| Jeffrey M. Hoffman | ... | production assistant (as Jeff Hoffman) |
| David Kayler | ... | coordinator: Los Angeles |
| Michael Martin | ... | production assistant |
| Sharron Reynolds | ... | production secretary |
| John Smead | ... | scuba instructor |
| Ashley Stieglitz | ... | production secretary |
| Ed Tarbutton | ... | production assistant |
| Susan Arnold | ... | adr voice (uncredited) |
| Jack Wallner | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- New World Pictures (1978) (United States) (theatrical)
- New World-Mutual (1978) (Canada) (theatrical)
- New World Pictures (1978) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1978) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Films (1978) (Australia) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1978) (France) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1978) (Germany) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1978) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1978) (Norway) (theatrical)
- United Artists (A-Asia) (1978) (Australia) (theatrical)
- United Artists Europa (1978) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Rank Filmes de Portugal (1979) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1978) (Japan) (theatrical)
- United Artists Europa (1979) (Italy) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1979) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Makedonija Film (1979) (Yugoslavia) (theatrical)
- Özen Film (1979) (Turkey) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1980) (India) (theatrical)
- Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Warner Home Video (1984) (Finland) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1984) (Germany) (VHS)
- Concorde-New Horizons (2000) (United States) (DVD)
- Another World Entertainment (2010) (Denmark) (DVD)
- Another World Entertainment (2010) (Norway) (DVD)
- Audio Visual Enterprises (1988) (Greece) (VHS)
- Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2006) (United States) (DVD)
- Future Film (2010) (Finland) (DVD)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (streaming)
- ITT Contrast (1984) (Germany) (VHS)
- King Records (2003) (Japan) (DVD)
- King Records (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
- Koch Media (2015) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1998) (Australia) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1998) (United States) (copyright owner)
- NITV (2023) (Australia) (tv)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1980) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere)
- New Concorde Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (DVD)
- New Horizons Home Video (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- Scanvideo (1984) (Finland) (VHS)
- Scream Factory (2022) (United States) (Ultra HD Blu-ray)
- Shout! Factory (2010) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Stingray (2013) (Japan) (Blu-ray)
- Stormovie (2005) (Italy) (DVD)
- Studio S Entertainment (2010) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Varus Video (1990) (Russia) (VHS)
- Viacom (1989) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- VideoVisa (1987) (Mexico) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1985) (Australia) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1987) (Japan) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1984) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1983) (United States) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Motion Picture Association (MPA) (approved no. 25351)
- Ryder Sound Services (post-production sound)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
An insurance investigator and her local guide search the Lost River Lake area to find too missing teenagers. When stumbling on an abandoned military facility, they release by accident in the river some flesh-eating piranhas that were bred to use in the Vietnam war. The piranhas are heading straight to a nearby summer resort's lake and its guests. |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | A hideous death lurked unseen in the river... See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Box Office
| Budget | $600,000 (estimated) |
| Cumulative Worldwide Gross | $16,000,000 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Steven Spielberg described this film as "the best of the Jaws (1975) rip-offs." He and Joe Dante later collaborated on Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983). Richard Dreyfus, who played Hooper in Jaws, later had a cameo in the opening scene of the 2010 Pirahna remake. See more » |
| Goofs | The water skier is doing his runs on the river. He is wearing a orange life jacket, but when he falls into the water the jacket is yellow. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Raw Force (1982). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Great Green Gobs of Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts 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 » |
| Quotes |
Whitney:
The piranhas... Buck Gardner: What about the goddamn piranhas? Whitney: They're eating the guests, sir. See more » |