Swimming With Sharks

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Swimming With Sharks

R

1994

1h 33m

Comedy

Drama

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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.

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.

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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

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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

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 3/5

Oct 4, 2003

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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'Swimming with Sharks', although it is peak 90s in terms of some scripted dialog on outdated movie references about Shelly Winters and has some super choppy editing, is a fantastic movie to watch.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

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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

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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

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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

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Bulgantamir B

the main character was really cute

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/29/24

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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

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George Huang

Director

Kevin Spacey

Buddy Ackerman

Frank Whaley

Guy

Michelle Forbes

Dawn Lockard

Benicio del Toro

Rex

Jerry Levine

Jack

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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