Piranha

Two young people disappear while swimming in a river near a summer camp, prompting a private investigator and a local resident to search for them. Their inquiries lead them to an abandoned military site, where they release the contents of a test pool and unleash a school of piranhas. The fish were bred for use in the Vietnam War and can tolerate both fresh and salt water. They breed rapidly, spread downstream toward a newly opened holiday resort, and attack anyone who enters the water.

Joe Dante directed the film, the first of sixteen features in his directing career and the one that came before The Howling. John Sayles wrote the screenplay, Jon Davison produced it, and the cast includes Bradford Dillman, Heather Menzies, Kevin McCarthy, Keenan Wynn, Dick Miller and Barbara Steele.

Released in August 1978, the American production mixes horror and science fiction with comedy and runs 94 minutes. It earned about 16 million dollars worldwide. On IMDb it holds 5.9 out of 10 from roughly 28,000 votes, while on TMDB it stands at 6 out of 10 from far fewer votes. A critics' rating of 6.5 out of 10 from 29 reviews places it slightly above the audience scores.