Why Under Paris is a huge success on Netflix

Choose what’s trending Netflix It can be a simple guessing game. Some movies are so heavily promoted that they’re guaranteed to make the charts even if they get poor reviews from critics. But every now and then, a movie pops up out of nowhere with little hype and shoots its way up the rankings. A recent Netflix original French horror/action movie is one such example. Under Paris,it is It reached number one in almost every country and became a sensation. Godzilla Minus One.

Despite this lukewarm review, it’s important to note why the film caught so much attention and became a surprise hit for Netflix. We examine how a movie about sharks invading Paris and their offspring managed to climb the Netflix charts.

“Under Paris” is a unique take on the shark attack subgenre

Marine researcher Sofia Assaras is devastated after a shark kills her team and family, forcing her to retreat to an academic role outside of field research. But the past catches up with her when a group of teenagers discover that the same shark she encountered, Lilith, has somehow migrated from the Pacific Ocean to the Seine in Paris. With the help of an activist group called SOS (Save Our Seas), led by Mika, and the river police, led by police officer Adil, Sophia must fight a neglectful government to protect the people of Paris from Lilith I photographed her and her spawning before our annual swimming event.

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Bérénice Bejo plays the lead role of Sofia, a marine scientist. Though not a household name, Bejo is a talented actor in her native France, where she has received acclaim for her roles in films such as: The artistShe was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 2019. Naseem Reece, who plays Adil, is best known for starring in the 2023 action film Adil and the Chamber of Secrets. Big fuss! Leah Leviant, who plays the young activist Mika, has her first notable role in this production. Under ParisThe film is directed by Xavier Jans, who fans of “New French Extremity” will know. FrontierBut in the West, He is best known for his video game adaptations Hitman.

Under Paris touches on themes of environmental protection and power corrupts

In the opening scene of Under ParisWhile a shark attack in an ocean filled with plastic waste might seem too blatant to underline the film’s environmental commitment, this aspect quickly becomes one of the film’s greatest strengths. Empowering a younger generation, led by the passionate leader of an underground environmental group, to save the planet might seem a bit too pandering, but taking that one away from the story isn’t such a terrible thing. More importantly, It gives Leah Levien a youthful look that some viewers can relate to.It embodies a self-righteousness reminiscent of the Stop Oil campaign.

There is also a shift in power by putting much of the pressure to stop the sharks in the hands of young people, with a corrupt mayor acting as the villain who refuses to acknowledge the danger his city is in. The hero/villain in the film is pretty straightforward, along with the environmental theme; This simplicity also makes the film easy to approach.especially, Under Paris The film is not overly preachy or politically biased, Leah Levien’s Mika is a flawed hero, Officer Adil presents a positive interpretation of the police force and most importantly, while the audience can empathise with the social elements, they can easily ignore them in favour of the more sensationalist elements.

Under Paris’ cheesy shark attack will appeal to fans of the genre

Shark movies have become almost synonymous with the “so bad they’re funny” genre of films. Jaws, Shallow wateror ReefStreaming services are full of silly, cheap money-making schemes. These movies are made with an audience in mind that will bite anything with a shark attached to it.No matter how absurd the premise or how poor the production quality, Sharkura, Corn Sharkand Sharktopus There is an audience (although this may be puzzling to anyone not obsessed with the niche horror genre).

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Under Paris is certainly on the higher end of the big-budget, big-concept shark horror genre, but that doesn’t mean it won’t satisfy fans with some of the genre’s most ridiculous moments. The shark attacks throughout the film are over the top in the best sense of the word. In addition to the swimming contest seen in the trailer, there’s a string of wonderfully chaotically ridiculous moments, including a close-up sewer kill and an underwater fight with a painfully obvious CGI behemoth (the special effects are somewhere between big-budget and B-movie). Though it’s environmentally conscious, the ending has a slightly cheesy undertone that calls to mind another oversaturated genre of “so bad it’s funny”: the disaster movie.

For those looking for nonstop, silly, pointless underwater bites, Under Paris is not equivalent to Sharknado But its willingness to be messy and sensational in its effects serves that need. If you watch this film and ignore the dramatic and social elements, you can enjoy it as a silly horror movie.

Why Under Paris is becoming a hot topic on Netflix

Under Paris It may seem like an unexpected hit.Both French cinema and shark horror remain somewhat niche, and outside of that genre, it’s expected to hit number one in almost every country. Additionally, the film wasn’t particularly well-received by critics. Under Paris It’s drawing the attention of socially conscious young audiences who care about environmental issues, as well as those who want to see some shark-themed mayhem. As it is a Netflix original, it is only available for streaming. Under Paris On the platformIf you don’t mind getting a little bloody, then jump in!