‘Steven Spielberg Hailed ‘Piranha’ as the Best ‘Jaws’ Ripoff’

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The groundbreaking filmmaker Steven Spielberg significantly transformed both cinema and his own career with the release of the movie “Jaws” in 1975. This gripping tale centered around a skilled shark hunter pursuing a menacing great white shark that was terrorizing beachgoers, was an enormous success. Alongside Star Wars, this film played a crucial role in shaping the modern Hollywood business structure, which primarily focuses on generating substantial box-office earnings from action, adventure, horror, and comedy films that have captivating storylines. Typically, these movies are scheduled for release during the summer months, shown in numerous theaters, and extensively promoted.

The film titled “Jaws” garnered three Oscars: Best Film Editing, Best Original Dramatic Score, and Best Sound. It was also contended for the Best Picture award but ultimately lost to “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.“. Due to its triumph, numerous filmmakers emulated its structure. A slew of movies featuring man-eating animals, predominantly marine creatures, emerged during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Some notable examples include “Grizzly, Mako: The Jaws of Death, Barracuda, Great White, Alligator, Day of the Animals,” and “Eaten Alive.“. Among the imitators, Steven Spielberg particularly praised “Piranha” (directed by Joe Dante and produced by Roger Corman) as the most impressive.

The Vietnam War Is to Blame for the Horror in ‘Piranha’

Piranha starts off with a pair of teenagers taking a swim in an abandoned military base’s pool, located in the Texas Hill Country. Regrettably, their frolic doesn’t go on for long. It turns out that some mysterious aquatic creatures rise from the facility’s underwater network and brutally kill them. One could ask, what were they thinking? There are plenty of movie teens who might find themselves questioning their actions after this incident.

The narrative subsequently focuses on Maggie McKeown (Heather Menzies), a proficient skip tracer who takes up the challenge of locating the vanished teenagers. Additionally, there’s Paul Grogan (Bradford Dillman), a lazy local fellow more inclined towards drinking beer and napping than manual labor. Despite her recognition of his shortcomings, Maggie persuades him to join her in her quest, making him an unlikely ally.

Upon reaching the facility, they uncover proof of “Operation Razorteeth,” a clandestine government endeavor aimed at creating genetically modified piranhas with aggressive traits to aid America in the Vietnam War. The project was terminated when the war concluded, but Dr. Robert Hoak (Kevin McCarthy), the primary scientist, persisted in his research independently.

Maggie and Paul end up emptying the pool in search of the lost teenagers’ remains. Unintentionally, they release a sizable group of piranhas into the process. These fish make their way into the local river network, prompting Maggie and Paul to inform the authorities about the incident. Regrettably, their reports are dismissed until the piranhas start attacking swimmers in the water.

Initially, a band of piranhas attacks a group of summer campers, resulting in fatalities and injuries, with Paul’s daughter unfortunately being one of the casualties. Fortunately, she manages to evade danger by hiding in a canoe. Subsequently, these dangerous fish move towards a well-known riverside resort, owned by an avaricious businessman who prioritizes profit over safety concerns. Will Maggie and Paul reach the resort in time to halt a potential bloodbath?

Spielberg Prevented the Studio From Suing

In the book “Steven Spielberg: A Biography” written by Joseph McBride, the director shares that the success of his films felt personally meaningful to him. When discussing “Jaws”, he expressed feeling more flattered than annoyed by the numerous imitations that emerged over time. He held a high regard for the film “Piranha”, stating that it followed his blueprint instead of duplicating everything, and found it not only original but also highly enjoyable.

It’s worth noting that the team at Universal initially felt differently. Upon learning about the film “Piranha”, they seriously considered obtaining a court order to halt the release of Joe Dante’s movie. Their primary worry was that they had recently released “Jaws 2” in the same summer, and they were anxious to avoid similar films competing for audience interest. However, Spielberg stepped in, asserting that legal action wasn’t necessary as he had seen the film and found it distinctive enough to avoid accusations of plagiarism.

Speaking to SciFiNow., Dante said:

He explained that there was no connection with “Jaws”, and they were advised to back off. So, even though I hadn’t met him yet, Steven Spielberg played a part in allowing us to enjoy the film. Thankfully, everything worked out well, and it turned out to be a huge success for Roger.

It seems that Spielberg was quite taken with the individual who executed his assignments exceptionally well. Over time, these two cinematic minds forged a strong bond of friendship, and the director of ‘Jaws’ later collaborated with Dante on three separate projects.

To begin with, Chris Columbus initially developed the idea for the screenplay of Gremlins as a spec script to demonstrate his writing skills, without intending to direct it. Later on, Steven Spielberg purchased this screenplay and enlisted Joe Dante, who was known for his work in horror-comedy genres, to direct it. Subsequently, Spielberg hired Dante again for the films Innerspace and Gremlins 2: The New Batch.

‘Piranha’ Is “Low Budget,” and It Shows, but There Are a Few Standout Elements

It’s clear why Steven Spielberg appreciated the film “Piranha” – much like the ferocious fish, it seizes your attention mercilessly and refuses to let go. Despite being a relatively low-budget production, you’ll notice some economical special effects and props. For instance, in many scenes, the presence of piranhas is suggested rather than shown, often through bubbles and splashing water. Given its budget of just $2.9 million, such creative techniques were essential.

As per Cinefantastique Magazine, the movie creators made 76 rubber piranhas, and just four with metal teeth for close-ups. Originally, they intended to use stop-motion animation for the piranha sequences, but due to budget constraints, this idea proved impractical.

Instead of saying that Piranha compensates for all its weaknesses heavily, you could express it as: Piranha makes up for any shortcomings with exceptional qualities. For instance, the dialogue is remarkable, potentially superior to Jaws. Imagine a moment when a character questions the established food chain after hearing about people being attacked by fish. When told that piranhas are responsible, he says, “People eat fish, Grogan. Fish don’t eat people.” In another scene, the resort owner asks an employee what the piranhas are doing, to which the employee matter-of-factly replies, “They’re eating guests, sir!” A significant portion of the credit for this goes to screenwriter John Sayles, who has been twice nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Mingled among the hilarious scenes is a stark critique of a time when environmental concerns were largely ignored, painting a grim picture. The performances and social observations are skillfully executed.

Once more, we have solid evidence as to why Roger Corman was a legend. He consistently produced wonders, even on minimal budgets. Noteworthy, Piranha wasn’t merely a temporary knockoff; it morphed into a cult favorite and gave birth to a series, beginning with the sequel, Piranha II: The Spawning, followed by two remakes – one in the ’90s and Piranha 3D in 2010, which also had a sequel in 2012. While the remakes are impressive, the authenticity of Dante’s vision in the original film, coupled with superb editing, makes it a must-watch for any movie enthusiast. Don’t pass up this iconic blend of horror and comedy, beautifully complemented by Pino Donaggio’s soothing score.

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2025-04-27 04:36