Swimming with Sharks

"In Hollywood his dreams could come true. But first he has to make coffee."

1994 1h 33m EN

👍

6.6

SOLID

★6.6TMDB · 345

CrimeComedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Guy 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, a domineering, manipulative, coldhearted boss. When Guy also finds out that his cynical girlfriend, Dawn, 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.

“In Hollywood his dreams could come true. But first he has to make coffee.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Kevin Spacey
Buddy Ackerman
Frank Whaley
Guy
Michelle Forbes
Dawn Lockard
Benicio del Toro
Rex
T.E. Russell
Foster Kane
Roy Dotrice
Cyrus Miles
Matthew Flint
Manny
Patrick Fischler
Moe

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: George Huang
Writers: George Huang
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Shot for just $0.7M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 55% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

32 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by George Huang, shot by Steven Finestone. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Tom Hiel. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Ed Marx shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Kevin Spacey and Frank Whaley and Michelle Forbes carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "In Hollywood his dreams could come true. But first he has to make coffee.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

George Huang directs. Steven Finestone behind the camera. Tom Hiel scores. Ed Marx cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Shot for just $0.7M — micro-budget by Hollywood standards.
2Earned back only 55% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
332 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
4Directed by George Huang, shot by Steven Finestone. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Tom Hiel. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Ed Marx shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Kevin Spacey and Frank Whaley and Michelle Forbes carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "In Hollywood his dreams could come true. But first he has to make coffee.".
9IMDB entry: tt0114594 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 15 themes, including "career", "kidnapping", "manipulation", "dark comedy".