Piranha II: The Spawning (1982)
August 14, 1982Release Date
Piranha II: The Spawning (1982)
August 14, 1982Release Date
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Plot.
Where to Watch.
Currently Piranha II: The Spawning is available for streaming online, rent, buy or watch for free on: Google Play Movies, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, YouTube, Apple TV, Vudu
Streaming in:πΊπΈ United States
Cast & Crew.
Media.
Details.
Release DateAugust 14, 1982
StatusReleased
Running Time1h 24m
Content RatingR
Budget$145,786
Genres
Wiki.
Piranha II: The Spawning (released internationally as Piranha II: Flying Killers) is a 1982 horror film directed by James Cameron (in his feature directorial debut) from a screenplay by Charles H. Eglee and Cameron (both under the pseudonym H. A. Milton). The film stars Tricia O'Neil and Lance Henriksen, who would both later appear in Cameron's productions (Henriksen starred in The Terminator and Aliens; O'Neil had a small role in Titanic). It is the second installment in the Piranha film series and the sequel to Piranha (1978).
Cameron, previously a special effects artist for Roger Corman, was hired as director after executive producer Ovidio G. Assonitis fired his predecessor. The production was fraught with difficulties arising from Assonitis' exerting an unusual amount of creative control, hiring an Italian crew that did not speak English and preventing Cameron from viewing any footage during the editing process. The exact degree of creative control Cameron had has been disputed by multiple sources, with some claims arising that Assonitis fired Cameron after two weeks and directed the film on his own while others maintain that Cameron was present for the entirety of principal photography.
After its release, Cameron largely disowned Piranha II for many years, but has since acknowledged the film as his directorial debut. A director's cut exists only on Laserdisc and VHS from Embassy Home Entertainment. In 2003, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment released the film on Region A DVD in a full-frame format. In other regions, the DVD was released in a widescreen format. In 2018, Scream Factory released the film on Region A Blu-ray in an improved widescreen transfer. It received negative reviews upon release and was a box office bomb, but has enjoyed later success as a cult film by fans of James Cameron.