Name: Piranha
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Comedy
Released: 1978-08-03
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 5.5
Cast: Bradford Dillman, Heather Menzies, Kevin McCarthy, Keenan Wynn, Dick Miller

1978·Horror·1h 34m

5.5

★

When flesh-eating piranhas are accidentally released into a summer resort's rivers, the guests become their next meal.

Directed by Joe Dante

fish

experiment

summer camp

river

animal attack

us army

reporter

piranha

tent camp

eugenics

killer fish

animal horror

b-horror

Rank

#22 in 1978·#5713 overall

Trailer

IMDB

N/A

Where to Watch

Cast

Bradford Dillman

Paul Grogan

Heather Menzies

Maggie McKeown

Kevin McCarthy

Dr. Robert Hoak

Keenan Wynn

Jack

Dick Miller

Buck Gardner

Barbara Steele

Dr. Mengers

Belinda Balaski

Betsy

Melody Thomas Scott

Laura Dickinson

Bruce Gordon

Colonel Waxman

Barry Brown

Trooper

Paul Bartel

Mr. Dumont

Richard Deacon

Earl Lyon

Crew

Joe Dante

Director

John Sayles

Screenplay

Pino Donaggio

Original Music Composer

Joe Dante

Editor

Mark Goldblatt

Editor

Jamie Anderson

Director of Photography

Roger Corman

Executive Producer

Jon Davison

Producer

Hisako Tsukuba

Co-Producer

Rob Bottin

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Jon Berg

Special Effects

Chris Walas

Special Props

Popular Reviews

260 reviews

Caitlyn

6.0★ · 06/10/26

this is a lesson in not screwing with nature or you’ll be eaten by piranhas too

Ethan Parker

5.0★ · 06/03/26

Disappointingly unsummery. Wanted a summery movie night w a few beers and this didn’t fill my fix. Some good Joe Dante-isms though.

Nick Hernandez

3.0★ · 05/11/26

Final line of Film: “There’s no reason to fear.”
Streaming service: tubi
Acting: 5/10
Script: 4/10
Cinematography: 6/10
Movie title said: Yes

Theron

6.0★ · 04/03/26

I gotta watch more Joe Dante

Sarah

6.0★ · 03/15/26

Watched for HORRORx52 2026: https://letterboxd.com/that1oboist/list/horrorx52-2026/

12/52: A Jaws rip-off