Piranhas (2019): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
Piranhas is a 2019 crime drama directed by Claudio Giovannesi, starring Francesco Di Napoli as Nicola, Alfredo Turitto and Carmine Pizzo. It runs 1 hour 45 minutes and earned $2.3 million worldwide. Critics gave it 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and 57 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 45m (105 min)
- Director
- Claudio Giovannesi
- Original language
-
Italian
- Studio
- Music Box Films
- After the credits
- Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
What Is Piranhas About?
The premise of Piranhas without spoilers.
Living in the dangerous underworld of Naples, fifteen-year-old Nicola is drawn into the lucrative but perilous world of drug dealing, seeking luxury and status. His choices lead him to become entangled with the ruthless Camorra mafia, threatening his innocence and straining relationships with friends and family. Nicola must navigate the brutal realities of crime, power struggles, and the fight for survival in this intense drama.
Piranhas Cast & Characters
Francesco Di Napoli leads the cast as Nicola, with Alfredo Turitto as Biscottino and Carmine Pizzo as Limone. Directed by Claudio Giovannesi; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Claudio Giovannesi
- Francesco Di Napoli as Nicola
- Alfredo Turitto as Biscottino
- Carmine Pizzo as Limone
- Ciro Pellechia as Lollipop
Also Starring in Piranhas
· 6 more- Ciro Vecchione 'O Russ
- Luca Nacarlo Cristian
- Mattia Piano Del Balzo Briatò
- Pasquale Marotta Agostino
- Viviana Aprea Letizia
- Ar Tem
More from Claudio Giovannesi
More films directed by Claudio Giovannesi: Hey Joe, Fiore and Ali Blue Eyes.
Piranhas Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Piranhas 58% on Rotten Tomatoes and 57 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 69/100, strongest in sensory experience (80) and weakest in story & flow (55).
Piranhas Echo Score Breakdown
Piranhas offers a visually engaging portrayal of adolescent street gangs with moments of compelling energy and pacing. While the director’s focus on youth and the execution of scenes maintain a brisk momentum, the narrative often feels familiar and, at times, uneven in structure. The film’s strong visual tone and natural performances contrast with its conventional plotting and episodic flow. Overall, it emerges as a solid but moderately inconsistent crime drama with both vivid atmosphere and narrative limitations.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 78
In terms of visual craft and direction, Piranhas exhibits a strong cinematic style with consistently effective framing and production design. The film’s cinematography delivers an atmospheric quality that immerses viewers in the Neapolitan streets, supported by carefully composed shots and color choices. Some transitions feel abrupt, suggesting occasional uneven editing rhythms. Overall, the film’s art direction and visual composition stand out as one of its most engaging elements.
- Character & Emotion 70
When it comes to character depth and emotional resonance, Piranhas features moderately authentic performances that convey a tangible sense of adolescent camaraderie. The cast delivers naturalistic acting, enhancing the film’s realist ambition and sporadic moments of emotional tension. However, individual personalities remain largely undifferentiated, limiting deeper connections with specific characters. In sum, the ensemble energy provides an engaging mood even as character development stays relatively restrained.
- Story & Flow 55
In terms of story coherence and pacing, Piranhas maintains a brisk tempo that effectively sustains viewer interest through rapid scene shifts. The narrative follows familiar crime dramas beats and offers few unexpected developments, resulting in a predictable trajectory. Critics and audiences noted moments of narrative unevenness and episodic structure that detract from overall cohesion. Ultimately, the story is engaging enough to hold attention but lacks significant originality and depth.
- Sensory Experience 80
When it comes to sensory experience, Piranhas delivers a vividly atmospheric soundscape and visual style that immerses viewers in Naples’s urban environment. The score complements on-screen action with measured restraint, while sound design captures ambient street noises with clarity. The deadpan tone and cohesive visual palette reinforce the film’s unsettling undercurrents. Altogether, sensory elements contribute to a consistently immersive experience that underscores the film’s thematic intensity.
- Rewatch Factor 60
When it comes to rewatch value, Piranhas offers visual flair and energetic sequences that invite a second viewing. However, the predictable plot structure and limited character development reduce lasting curiosity. The brisk pacing and immersive atmosphere may encourage an initial revisit, but familiar story beats and episodic form hinder strong enduring appeal.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 58% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 61%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 57 Metascore
User score 7.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 68% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.4 /5
9 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 1.8 /5
See on Movie Insider
Piranhas Box Office
Piranhas grossed $2.3 million worldwide. $23,494 came from the US and Canada and $2.3 million (99%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$2.3M
- US & Canada
- $23.5K
- International
- $2.3M
Piranhas Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Piranhas.
Piranhas Also Known As
15 alternative titles, including “나폴리: 작은 갱들의 도시” and “Пираньи Неаполя”.
- Also known as
-
- 나폴리: 작은 갱들의 도시
- Пираньи Неаполя
- Піраньї Неаполя
- Pirañas. Los niños de la Camorra
- Paranza - Der Clan der Kinder
- Η Μεγάλη Νύχτα της Νάπολης
- Пираните на Неапол
- Piranie
- Ragadozók
- 少年黑手党
- Piranalar
- Neapolio piranijos
+3 more Show fewer
- Pirane s detskou tvárou
- 食人少年幫
- Piranje
Seen Piranhas?
Piranhas FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Piranhas, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Piranhas?
Piranhas runs 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes).
When was Piranhas released?
Piranhas was released on August 2, 2019.
Who directed Piranhas?
Piranhas was directed by Claudio Giovannesi.
More films by Claudio Giovannesi Who is in the cast of Piranhas?
Piranhas stars Francesco Di Napoli as Nicola, Alfredo Turitto as Biscottino and Carmine Pizzo as Limone, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Piranhas make at the box office?
Piranhas grossed $2.3 million worldwide ($23,494 domestic, $2.3 million international).
How is Piranhas rated?
Piranhas has 58% on Rotten Tomatoes, 57 on Metacritic, 68% on TMDB and 3.4/5 on Letterboxd.
Does Piranhas have a post-credit scene?
Yes. Piranhas has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.
What language is Piranhas in?
The original language of Piranhas is Italian.
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