Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Swimming With Sharks

Play trailer Poster for Swimming With Sharks R 1994 1h 33m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
76% Tomatometer 38 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Guy (Frank Whaley) is a young film executive who's willing to do whatever it takes to make it in Hollywood. He begins working for famed producer Buddy Ackerman (Kevin Spacey), a domineering, manipulative, coldhearted boss. When Guy also finds out that his cynical girlfriend, Dawn (Michelle Forbes), has been using sex as a career move, he reaches his limit. Guy decides to exact revenge on Buddy by kidnapping him and subjecting him to cruel and unusual punishment.
Swimming With Sharks

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Swimming With Sharks is a smart, merciless Hollywood satire that's darkly hilarious and observant, thanks to Kevin Spacey's performance as ruthless studio mogul Buddy Ackerman.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (38) Critics Reviews
Manohla Dargis Spin Shot in a cramped and stage-like style, and sounding like warmed- over Mamet, Swimming With Sharks tries to go for the big picture but comes up empty from the first frame to the last. Apr 18, 2022 Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out The picture's raison d'être has to be Spacey's 'loud and nasty' performance: he's the sort of actor who grabs you by the throat and beats you about the head without ever lifting his feet from the desk. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Nell Minow Movie Mom Rated: 3/5 Oct 4, 2003 Full Review Jamie Broadnax Black Girl Nerds 'Swimming with Sharks', although it is peak 90s in terms of some scripted dialog on outdated movie references about Shelly Winters and has some super choppy editing, is a fantastic movie to watch. Rated: 4/5 Apr 12, 2022 Full Review Malcolm Johnson Hartford Courant Unfortunately, Spacey's no-holds-barred portrait is about the only reason to take in Huang's low-budget, writing-directing debut. The story line proceeds predictably, though often unpersuasively. Jun 8, 2018 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Despite some sharp dialogue, this is a nasty, derivative film, sort of a cross between Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and Altman's The Player. Rated: C+ Mar 18, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (719) audience reviews
Bahad j I am very happy that the movie shows us the steps and choices that are necessary in the life of a great person. I like the movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/29/24 Full Review Bulgantamir B the main character was really cute Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/29/24 Full Review Munkhjargal A There was a young film director who was willing to do whatever it took to make a movie in Hollywood. he starts working with a famous producer who is a domineering, manipulative and cold-hearted boss. Guy is also pushed to his limits when he learns that his sarcastic girlfriend has been using sex as a career move. he decides to take revenge by kidnapping her and inflicting cruel and unusual punishment on her. this movie is a brutal movie. I feel a little sick Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/29/24 Full Review Бавуу Э Guy (Frank Whaley) is a young film executive who's willing to do whatever it takes to make it in Hollywood. He begins working for famed producer Buddy Ackerman (Kevin Spacey), a domineering, manipulative, coldhearted boss. When Guy also finds out that his cynical girlfriend, Dawn (Michelle Forbes), has been using sex as a career move, he reaches his limit. Guy decides to exact revenge on Buddy by kidnapping him and subjecting him to cruel and unusual punishment. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/29/24 Full Review Bacon N Surprisingly engaging. I've seen it called a comedy, but I didn't see much humor. Spacey gives an excellent performance as an unbelievably assholish asshole. Whaley seems somewhat miscast in this role. He performs well the overrun employee, seeming even to deserve some of the abuse. It's in the payback realm that he is far less convincing. The surprise ending is far less than convincing, almost absurd, but how else could it end and remain compelling? I would've like to see a lot more from Del Toro, I can't figure out why he was cast in such a nothing role. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/31/24 Full Review Alec B The twist at the end isn't all that chilling, frankly it's forced and a little excessive. It's a shame because this may be Spacey's best "shouting egomaniac" performance. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 12/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Swimming With Sharks

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Swimming With Sharks

Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - Bathroom Break Denied Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - Bathroom Break Denied 1:43 Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - Let's Finish It Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - Let's Finish It 2:38 Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - I Get What I Want Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - I Get What I Want 2:31 Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - What Do You Really Want? Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - What Do You Really Want? 2:49 Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - Paper Cuts Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - Paper Cuts 1:24 Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - Saw This in a Movie Once Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - Saw This in a Movie Once 1:03 Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - You Gotta Be A Man! Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - You Gotta Be A Man! 2:31 Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - A Pump or a Loafer Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - A Pump or a Loafer 2:00 Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - Destroy Time Magazine Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - Destroy Time Magazine 2:56 Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - Unreachable Swimming with Sharks: Official Clip - Unreachable 2:10 View more videos
Arizona Dream 87% 86% Arizona Dream Watchlist Mad Dog Time 17% 51% Mad Dog Time Watchlist Jimmy Hollywood 28% 31% Jimmy Hollywood Watchlist Hurlyburly 58% 65% Hurlyburly Watchlist Trees Lounge 81% 79% Trees Lounge Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Guy (Frank Whaley) is a young film executive who's willing to do whatever it takes to make it in Hollywood. He begins working for famed producer Buddy Ackerman (Kevin Spacey), a domineering, manipulative, coldhearted boss. When Guy also finds out that his cynical girlfriend, Dawn (Michelle Forbes), has been using sex as a career move, he reaches his limit. Guy decides to exact revenge on Buddy by kidnapping him and subjecting him to cruel and unusual punishment.
Director
George Huang
Screenwriter
George Huang
Production Co
Cineville
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 6, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$34.7K
Runtime
1h 33m