Steven Spielberg helped shape the world of cinema, with several famous releases that inspired a whole new generation of directors. When he made Jaws, his talent became well and truly apparent. Not only was Jaws a huge commercial success, but it also raised the bar for Hollywood productions.
Jaws ended up winning three Oscars for Best Sound, Best Original Dramatic Score, and Best Film Editing. Ever since then, a number of aquatic movies have been released, including Alligator, Eaten Alive, and Piranha. With that said, according to a recent statement, Spielberg thinks that if any movie were to do Jaws justice, it would be Piranha.

Spielberg was Impressed by the Movie

Piranha starts with two people swimming at an abandoned military facility. Understandably, the fun doesn’t last for very long as piranhas maul them to their death. When the discovery is made, the pool is drained, resulting in a school of piranhas being set upon the town. They get into the water system and wreak havoc on the small city.

According to Spielberg’s latest biography, he speaks out about how he was flattered by how the movie used the template he created, but instead, created something entirely new from it. Universal disagreed and tried to sue Joe Dante, the director, while stopping the release of the movie.

Thanks to Spielberg, the lawsuit didn’t go ahead. He was also very impressed with the movie production, to the point where he would go on to work with him on three different occasions.

Source: Unsplash

Our Fascination with the Deep Dark Depths of the Ocean

We as humans have always been drawn to the things that lurk underneath the sea. Not only is it a mystery, as most of the ocean is yet to be explored, but it also allows for such creativity in storylines as well. This has resulted in some very new and interesting movies coming out that take the concept to the extreme. The theme extends beyond movies as well.

In games like Beyond Blue, for example, you’re tasked with exploring the ocean’s wonders while tracking aquatic life. Even casino slots, like Big Bass Splash, take inspiration from aquatic life, using buckets of chum, bass, and fishing gear to emulate the sport of fishing.

Titles like Big Catch, Even Bigger Bass 3 do this as well, but with a focus on big fishing boats, rather than a single fisherman. Interestingly, games like Iron Lung add a more horror slant, where you control a convict as you sail in a decaying submarine, trying to find any signs of life. The game became so big that there’s now set to be an Iron Lung movie, directed by popular YouTuber Markiplier, scheduled for release in 2026.

With so many movies and games coming out since Jaws, it’s safe to say that it has inspired a whole new generation of deep-sea content. With that said, it is so easy to see why he loved Piranha so much.  Sure, it’s low budget, and there are some cheap special effects. There are some times where piranhas are implied, but not shown, but it’s got a lot of heart, creativity and charm, which is why it’s made its mark on cinematic history.