71
Metascore
8 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 88Slant MagazineSlant MagazineDante makes films that Spielberg’s id might make, movies that double down on pop cultural know-how and riotous thrills without pausing for anything so unentertaining as an earnest assessment of humanity.
- 80EmpireKim NewmanEmpireKim NewmanLike all the best exploitation flicks, Piranha is driven by a ruthless desire to entertain and, in this non-pretentious ambition, it succeeds magnificently.
- 75The A.V. ClubNathan RabinThe A.V. ClubNathan RabinWith Piranha, Dante delivers a superior Jaws rip-off with a light, goofy touch that anticipates the anarchic, gleeful mayhem of his later work.
- 70Time OutTime OutEngaging tongue-in-cheek exploitation pic.
- 63TV Guide MagazineTV Guide MagazineThe silliness of the whole concept is handled with a sly sense of humor by director Dante, with some tongue-in-cheek appearances by Keenan Wynn, Kevin McCarthy, Paul Bartel, Barbara Steele, and Dick Miller adding to the fun.
- 60IGNIGNWhether Piranha was made as an intentionally cheesy spoof of Jaws or a cynical bargain-basement imitation, the fact remains that it's just bad enough to qualify as good. As long as you don't take it too seriously (after all, the filmmakers clearly didn't).