Utopia has officially announced the release of Hot Spring Shark Attack, the critically praised shark-themed movie that blends horror and comedy in a fresh, thrilling narrative. The film will hit select theaters, along with major streaming and cable platforms, starting July 11.
The movie premiered at the 2024 Tokyo International Shark Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Audience Award. After a successful launch in Japan and other international markets last year, Hot Spring Shark Attack is now poised to captivate North American audiences.
Special preview screenings are scheduled for July 9 at several Alamo Drafthouse locations, with the official theatrical release following on July 11, including extended runs in key cities such as Los Angeles and New York City. On the same day, viewers across North America can rent or purchase the film on Cable VOD and Digital HD platforms, including Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango at Home, iNDEMAND, and Vubiquity.
Written and directed by Morihito Inoue in his feature directorial debut, Hot Spring Shark Attack showcases a talented cast featuring Takuya Fujimura (One Cut of the Dead), Daniel Aguilar (Shin Godzilla), Shôichirô Akaboshi, Masaki Naito, Koichi Makigami, Kiyobumi Kaneko, and Mio Takaki. Inoue remarked on the film’s cross-cultural appeal, saying, “Shark movies are popular in Japan, but the domestic production of such films hasn’t matched the growing demand. Our movie has been well received by both shark movie fans and newcomers to the genre. I’m eager to see how audiences outside Japan respond to it.”
The plot unfolds in a tranquil hot spring town in Japan, where an ancient, ferocious shark awakens from dormancy and begins terrorizing local hot spring resorts. Facing a mounting threat, the townspeople unite to defend their community, leading to an intense, suspenseful showdown.
For fans of the horror movie genre and those interested in unique movie characters, Hot Spring Shark Attack offers a refreshing take on shark-themed cinema that blends scares with humor. The film also contributes to the evolving film industry by introducing a distinctive cultural perspective to a globally popular genre.
