Shortly before the Summer Olympics in Paris, a mutated giant shark wreaks havoc in the Seine. What begins as a classic horror film with an animal main attraction turns into a crazy survival thrillerwhich takes no prisoners and shocks with its ending.
The French production In the Waters of the Seine is one of the biggest Netflix sensations of the year. Since the beginning of June, the monster shark has been raging in the Top 10 most popular films of the streaming service. It has now even made it onto one of Netflix’s all-time lists. At first, however, no studio wanted to make the film.
Netflix has saved shark horror: In the waters of the Seine Director Xavier Gens on the making of the film
The project first made the rounds in 2019. Ultimately, it would take five years before In the Waters of the Seine saw the light of day. In an interview with Variety, director Xavier Gens (Hitman) reveals the reason for this: Before Netflix came on board in 2023, the film was considered by several French studios rejected.
Gens explains:
In France, not dare, [Im Wasser der Seine] It’s a film that couldn’t have been produced and financed through traditional means because people assumed that shark movies could only be made by Americans or Koreans.
Netflix
In the water of the Seine
It was only thanks to Netflix that the budget could be covered.
Ultimately, the film was produced with a budget of 15 to 20 million euros, which by French standards a lot The budget was largely covered by Netflix, along with tax breaks in France, where post-production took place, and in Belgium and Spain, where the film was shot.
Gens has invested half a decade in the realization of the material. Now he is celebrating one of the greatest successes of his career. In the Water of the Seine set a record right from the start: the film was sold in the first five days 41 million views – the most successful launch of a non-English language film on Netflix.
Two weeks after its launch, In the Waters of the Seine has even made itself comfortable in the all-time list of the most successful non-English language Netflix films. With just under 70 million views and over 120 million hours viewed, the bloody shark encounter ranks fifth – and the next place is already within reach.
The most successful non-English language Netflix films:
Even more shark horror: Is In the Waters of the Seine 2 coming?
Given these figures, the question of a sequel naturally arises. Gens revealed to Variety that no concrete plans yet for In the Waters of the Seine 2. Nevertheless, the director is open to the idea of adding another chapter to the story:
There is a chance that we will soon [über eine Fortsetzung zu Im Wasser der Seine] If there is a sequel, it will be set in a Paris that is completely under water.
For now, you can watch In the Waters of the Seine on Netflix. Since June 5, 2024 The film is available there as part of a streaming subscription. And if you’re looking for another shark horror film that will shake you up, then we recommend The Shallows by Jaume Collet-Serra with Blake Lively. It’s also currently streaming on Netflix.