Piranha 3D

Every spring Lake Victoria swells with tens of thousands of partiers who turn a quiet Arizona resort into a raucous playground. After an earthquake opens a fissure on the lake bottom, a prehistoric swarm of piranha is released and begins hunting anyone in the water. Sheriff Julie Forester and her teenage son Jake find themselves scrambling to warn townspeople while a mix of spring breakers, locals, and opportunists try to get out of harm's way. As panic spreads, improvised defenses and risky choices collide with the relentless fish, turning what should have been a weekend of excess into a chaotic struggle to survive.

Released in 2010, Piranha 3D was directed by Alexandre Aja from a screenplay by Josh Stolberg, updating the 1978 Piranha for a modern audience and emphasizing 3D splatter effects and dark comedy.

The film opened with strong genre interest, fueled by its 3D gimmick and summer timing, and it did well enough commercially for a midlevel horror remake, drawing crowds who wanted shock value and spectacle.

Its over-the-top gore, frequent one-liners, and splashy kills helped Piranha 3D stand out during the brief revival of 3D horror. The movie became a talking point among grindhouse fans, noted for practical effects and a playful tone that nudged the line between nasty and silly, securing a modest cult following among viewers who enjoy loud, messy horror.

Critical reaction was mixed, with many reviewers applauding the practical creature effects and the film's willingness to embrace camp, while others faulted thin characterization and relentless gore. The movie plays with themes of mass tourism versus local life, the consequences of careless hedonism, and how ordinary people improvise under absurdly extreme circumstances.