Japanese Horror “Hot Spring Shark Attack” Bites Into Theaters And VOD July 11

Los Angeles, CA – June 23, 2025 – Utopia has announced the official release of the acclaimed shark film “Hot Spring Shark Attack.” Utopia will bring the “Hot Spring Shark Attack” to select theaters and major streaming and cable platforms on July 11th. The film premiered at the 2024 Tokyo International Shark Film Festival, where it took home the Audience Award, and was released in Japan and other international territories last year.

“Hot Spring Shark Attack” will debut for special previews at various Alamo Drafthouse locations on Wednesday, July 9th. The film will officially open theatrically for extended runs and special engagements on Friday, July 11th, including Los Angeles and New York City. The same day, audiences across North America will be able to rent or own “Hot Spring Shark Attack” on Cable VOD and Digital HD, including Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango at Home, iNDEMAND, and Vubiquity.

The horror comedy marks the feature directorial debut of writer/director Morihito Inoue. The cast includes Takuya Fujimura (“One Cut of the Dead”), Daniel Aguilar (“Shin Godzilla”), Shôichirô Akaboshi, Masaki Naito, Koichi Makigami, Kiyobumi Kaneko, and Mio Takaki.

Ahead of the US rollout, Inoue shared, “Shark movies are popular in Japan as well, but the number of shark films produced here has not yet met the growing demand. My film was made domestically in Japan and received great acclaim, not only from regular shark movie enthusiasts but also from many viewers who were previously unfamiliar with the genre. I’m very excited to see how this work will be received outside of Japan.”

Selected “Hot Spring Shark Attack” July 11th Theatrical Openings:

• Los Angeles: Laemmle Glendale (weeklong)
• New York: Posteritati (one night)
• Dallas: Texas Theatre (one night)
• Atlanta: The Plaza (one night)

A full list of screenings can be found HERE. More dates will be added as confirmed.

In a small hot spring town in Japan, a ferocious ancient shark reawakens and begins terrorizing the local hot spring facilities. As the threat escalates, the townspeople band together to protect their beloved town from the menacing predator, leading to a fierce and thrilling battle.

Available on VOD and in Theaters Friday, July 11th