Piranha

Piranha is currently streaming in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and fuboTV, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Bradford Dillman — stay for everyone else around them. Start it on Amazon Prime Video whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Piranha is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The jokes in Piranha land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. When flesh-eating piranhas are accidentally released into a summer resort's rivers, the guests become their next meal. Bradford Dillman and Heather Menzies lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1978. The timing in Piranha is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Piranha is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Bradford Dillman sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.