In 1978, the director Joe Dante released the first movie in the series, Piranha. John Sayles wrote the movie. It was a spoof of Jaw's film. The movie is about a group of people who are terrorized by a school of piranhas that escaped from a scientific research facility.
Piranha film series is a series of American disaster horror comedy films released by The Weinstein Company. It is a famous animal horror franchise that consists of five films. The first two were released in 1978 and 1981, respectively. The third film was released in 1995.
The fourth film was released in 2010. The fifth, and most recent film in the series, was released in 2012. The franchise is based on genetically altered piranha fishes that are released into the waters and eat people.
List of Piranha Movies in Release Order
- Piranha (1978)
- Piranha II: The Spawning (1981)
- Piranha (1995)
- Piranha 3D (2010)
- Piranha 3DD (2012)
Piranha (1978)
Director: Joe Dante | Writers: Richard Robinson, John Sayles | Stars: Bradford Dillman, Heather Menzies-Urich, Kevin McCarthy | Country of origin: United States | Runtime: 1 hour and 34 minutes. | Release Date: August 3, 1978 | Language: English. | Genres: Comedy, horror, sci-fi, and thriller. | Filming Locations: San Marcos, Texas, USA | Production Companies: New World Pictures, Piranha Productions | Budget: $600,000.
The first Piranha movie was released in 1978. The film is about a group of people who are terrorized by a school of piranhas that escape from a scientific research facility. The movie was directed by Joe Dante and written by Richard Robinson and John Sayles, and starred Bradford Dillman, Heather Menzies-Urich, and Kevin McCarthy.
The film follows a group of people who are vacationing at a lake when a school of piranhas attacks them. The movie was a spoof of Jaws and received positive reviews from viewers and critics.
While swimming at a remote lake, two teenagers are attacked by a school of flesh-eating piranhas. As the bodies pile up, the local sheriff tries to close the lake but is thwarted by the town's mayor, who wants to keep the area open for a water skiing festival.
Meanwhile, two scientists working in a nearby lab discover that the piranha was purposely released into the lake by a disgruntled ex-employee.
While the movie was not well-received by critics, it did become a cult classic. It is also notable for being one of the first movies to feature computer-generated effects.
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Piranha II: The Spawning (1981)
Director: James Cameron | Writers: Charles H. Eglee, James Cameron | Stars: Tricia O'Neil, Steve Marachuk, and Lance Henriksen | Country of origin: Italy, United States, Netherlands | Runtime: 1 hour and 34 minutes. | Release Date: December 1981 | Language: English. | Genres: Horror, sci-fi, and thriller. | Filming Locations: Jamaica | Production Companies: Brouwersgracht Investments, Chako Film Company | Budget: $145,786.
The second Piranha movie was released in 1981. The movie was directed by James Cameron and Ovidio G. Assonitis and written by Charles H. Eglee and James Cameron. The film starred Tricia O'Neil, Steve Marachuk, and Lance Henriksen. This movie is a sequel to the first movie and follows a group of people who are vacationing at a resort when a school of piranhas attacks them.
The sequel to the 1978 movie Piranha II: The Spawning follows a group of scientists studying a Piranhas school in the Caribbean. When one of the scientists is killed by the piranhas, the others realize that the fish are heading for open water. As the body count rises, scientists must find a way to stop the piranhas before they reach civilization.
Piranha II: The Spawning was not well-received by critics and is considered one of the worst sequels ever made.
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Piranha (1995)
Director: Scott P. Levy | Writers: John Sayles | Stars: William Katt, Alexandra Paul, and Monte Markham | Country of origin: United States | Runtime: 1 hour and 29 minutes. | Release Date: October 1, 1995 | Language: English. | Genres: Horror and sci-fi. | Filming Locations: Los Angeles, California, USA | Production Companies: Concorde-New Horizons, Showtime Networks.
The third Piranha movie was released in 1995. The movie was directed by Scott P. Levy and written by Richard Robinson. The film starred William Katt, Alexandra Paul, and Monte Markham. After the events of the second movie, a new school of piranhas is released into a river near a small town. A group of people must band together to stop the piranhas before they reach the town.
After finding a swimming pool in an old army test site, a group of teenagers decide to throw a party. However, they are unaware that the pool is home to a school of piranhas. As the body count rises, the teens must find a way to escape before they become the next meal.
The next day, J. R. Randolph, the man who found the test site, returns with a team of scientists to study the piranhas. However, their boat is attacked by the fish, and they are forced to take refuge at the test site. With the help of a soldier who was stationed at the site, they must find a way to survive until rescue arrives.
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Piranha 3D (2010)
Director: Alexandre Aja | Writers: Pete Goldfinger, Josh Stolberg | Stars: Elisabeth Shue, Jerry O'Connell, and Richard Dreyfuss | Country of origin: United States | Runtime: 1 hour and 28 minutes. | Release Date: August 20, 2010 | Language: English. | Genres: Comedy and horror. | Filming Locations: Lake Havasu, Arizona, USA | Production Companies: Dimension Films, Intellectual Properties Worldwide, Aja / Levasseur Productions. | Budget: $24 million. | Box Office: $83 million.
The fourth Piranha movie was released in 2010. The movie was directed by Alexandre Aja and written by Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg. The film starred Elisabeth Shue, Jerry O'Connell, and Richard Dreyfuss. After a tremor releases a school of piranhas into Lake Victoria, the town must band together to stop them before they reach the town.
Many people flock to Lake Victoria during spring for an annual "Piranha 3D Day" event. However, they don't know that the lake is home to a school of deadly piranhas. When a tremor causes the lake to empty, the piranhas are unleashed on the unsuspecting crowd.
Jake visits the lake to take her sister back, where they become trapped in a floating restaurant. With the sheriff's help and a marine biologist, they must find a way to escape before the piranhas eat them alive.
Piranha 3D was a box office success, grossing $83 million on a budget of $24 million. It was also well-received by critics, with many praising the special effects and gore.
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Piranha 3DD (2012)
Director: John Gulager | Writers: Marcus Dunstan, Patrick Melton | Stars: Danielle Panabaker, Ving Rhames, and David Hasselhoff | Country of origin: United States | Runtime: 1 hour and 23 minutes. | Release Date: May 11, 2012 | Language: Spanish and English. | Genres: Comedy, horror, sci-fi, and thriller. | Filming Locations: Wilmington, North Carolina, USA | Production Companies: Dimension Films, Mark Canton Productions, Intellectual Properties Worldwide | Budget: $5 million. | Box Office: $8.5 million.
The fifth Piranha movie was released in 2012. The film was directed by John Gulager and written by Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton. The film starred Danielle Panabaker, Ving Rhames, and David Hasselhoff. The movie is a sequel to the 2010 movie and follows a group of people who a school of piranhas attacks at a water park.
Two older men go near a lake, searching for their cows. One of the men finds a fish and shows it to the other. The fish then bites the man's hand off, revealing itself as a piranha.
After the events of Piranha 3D, Maddy opened a water park called "Big Wet." However, she is unaware that the piranhas from Lake Victoria have survived and have made their way to the park. As the body count rises, Maddy and her friends must find a way to escape before they become the next meal.
Piranha 3DD was not well-received by critics and was a box office bomb, grossing only $8.5 million on a budget of $5 million.
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Movies in order by IMDB Rating
| Movies | Rating on IMDB |
|---|---|
| Piranha (1978) | 5.9/10 |
| Piranha II: The Spawning (1981) | 3.7/10 |
| Piranha (1995) | 3.9/10 |
| Piranha 3D (2010) | 5.5/10 |
| Piranha 3DD (2012) | 3.7/10 |
Other Popular Comedy-Horror Films To Binge Watch
- The Cabin in the Woods
- Shaun of the Dead
- Zombieland
- Evil Dead
- Slither
- Tucker and Dale vs. Evil
- Cooties
- The Final Girls
- Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse
FAQs
Are All of The Piranha Movies Part of The Same Series?
Yes, all of the Piranha movies are part of the same series. However, they are not all connected in terms of plot. The first two movies follow a group of scientists studying the fish, while the third movie follows a group of teens throwing a party at a pool home to a piranhas school.
What Is The Best Piranha Movie?
Piranha movie series is one of the most popular horror movies of all time. The movies are known for their gore, suspense, and humor. The franchise has been running for over 30 years and shows no signs of slowing down. The movies are also popular because they are easy to watch and entertaining.
Are The Piranha Movies Connected?
The Piranha movies are not connected. However, the franchise does take place in the same universe. This is evident from the fact that some of the characters from one movie appear in another. For example, Deputy Sheriff Julie Forester appears in both Piranha and Piranha 3DD.
Do You Need To Watch Piranha Movies In Order?
No, you don't need to watch Piranha movies in order. You can watch any of the series films without watching the others. However, if you want to get the full experience of the franchise, then it is recommended that you watch them in order.
What is the Piranha movie about?
The Piranha movies are about a group of fish that are dangerous to humans. The first movie follows a group of scientists who are studying the fish, while the second movie follows a group of teens who throw a party at a pool that is home to a school of piranhas.
How many parts does a piranha movie have?
Piranha is a horror comedy film series that consists of five movies. The original film is a parody of the Jaws franchise, while the sequels are more serious in tone.
Are piranhas as aggressive as shown in this film?
No, piranhas are not as aggressive as shown in the films. However, they can be dangerous if they feel threatened or if they are starving.
Do the Piranha movies have a sequel?
Yes, there are four sequels to the original film. They are titled Piranha 2: The Spawning, Piranha 3D, Piranha 3DD, and Piranha 4.
Is there a scene after the end credits?
No, there is no scene after the end credits.
Where Can You Watch Piranha Movies?
You can watch the Piranha movies on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and other streaming platforms. You can also purchase the films on digital stores such as iTunes and Google Play.
Conclusion
Piranha is a horror comedy film series that consists of five movies. The original film is a parody of the Jaws franchise, while the sequels are more serious in tone. Here you will find a list of all the Piranha movies in order and other popular comedy-horror films to binge-watch.
You can watch the Piranha movies on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and other streaming platforms. You can also purchase the films on digital stores such as iTunes and Google Play.
What is your favorite comedy-horror film? Let us know in the comments below!
Hey, My name is Charles Eames, I am a designer, filmmaker, and lover of photographic arts. And I usually write about movies, Famous/Influential People. I am running this blog with my girlfriend Bernice.