For anyone who thinks sharks are the only danger in the water: enter the piranha. Small, bloodthirsty and often with an insane grin. The Piranha films have been notorious since the '70s for their mix of pulp, gory horror and satirical humor. What started as a low-budget Jaws knock-off grew into a colorful series in which gallons of blood, flying limbs and absurd situations are standard. And yes: sometimes the fish literally fly out of the water. Here are all the Piranha films, from the original to the crazy 3D party versions.
Piranha (1978)
This original cult classic by Joe Dante (Gremlins) came out three years after Jaws and leaned heavily on satire and gore. Genetically engineered piranhas escape from a military facility and terrorize a summer camp. Cheesy, bloody and surprisingly smart, with a sharp script by John Sayles, it became a horror fan favorite. Even Spielberg called it the best of the Jaws rip-offs.
Piranha II: The Spawning (1981)
James Cameron's first credited feature, although he was reportedly pushed aside by the producer. This sequel takes an absurd turn: the piranhas can now fly. Yes, really. Set at a tropical resort where tourists are attacked from above and below. Downright ridiculous, but a cult film in its own right.
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Piranha (1995)
A TV remake of the original produced by Roger Corman. Nearly a shot-for-shot copy, with slightly more modern effects and a few small updates. Not bad, but completely unnecessary; it lacks the original's atmosphere.
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Piranha 3D (2010)
Alexandre Aja's insanely gory reboot combines the original's satire with brutal effects and 3D gimmicks. Spring break at a lake goes horribly wrong when an earthquake releases prehistoric piranhas. Think bitten-off body parts, chaos and appearances by Elisabeth Shue, Ving Rhames, Christopher Lloyd and Richard Dreyfuss. Completely over the top, and that's exactly the point.
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Piranha 3DD (2012)
The sequel moves the action to a water park, and of course the piranhas find their way in there too. With extra crude humor and a cameo by David Hasselhoff as himself, this film throws off every brake. Worse than its predecessor, but so blatantly trashy that it becomes fun again.
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