Netflix’s hit “absurdly entertaining” shark thriller lands perfect director for its sequel

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Following the success of the 2024 Netflix shark thriller Under Paris, a sequel is now in development, and a director has been confirmed. The original film, directed by Xavier Gens, centers on a scientist named Sophia (played by Bérénice Bejo) who is trying to prevent a dangerous, mutated shark from disrupting a major triathlon in the Seine River.

The show immediately became a huge hit on Netflix, quickly climbing to the top of its most-watched list, and a follow-up has already been confirmed.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Alexandre Aja is set to direct Under Paris 2. Vincent Roget, who produced the first film, will return for the sequel, and Bérénice Bejo is likely to reprise her role as Sophia.

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Aja has experience with monster movies, having previously directed films like Crawl and Piranha 3D.

The movie ‘Under Paris’ quickly became a hit on Netflix, achieving the biggest opening for a non-English language film and becoming the most popular French film ever on the platform.

Currently, the film has a 64% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics generally agree that while it combines environmental messages with over-the-top thrills, it ultimately delivers a fun, if somewhat silly, shark attack experience.

Okay, so I just finished watching Under Paris, and Daily Dead totally nailed it – it’s ridiculously fun shark horror! They didn’t want to spoil why it works so well, and honestly, I get it – it’s better to go in not knowing everything. It’s way more than just the silly ‘shark in the Seine’ concept you might expect from something on Syfy. The director, Gens, really delivers and makes it something special.

According to NPR, the film feels like a well-made suspense thriller dealing with an unusual danger. Unlike lower-budget productions like Sharknado, it’s visually polished, effectively filmed and edited, and genuinely creates tension and fear – meaning it successfully delivers on its promise.

Empire praised the film as a reliably thrilling shark movie, though its message about environmental issues felt a bit heavy-handed at times. They noted it’s most enjoyable when it fully embraces its suspenseful, action-packed nature.

Okay, so Variety said something pretty interesting about Under Paris. Basically, they think it’s exactly the kind of movie that might be keeping the French President up at night! They said it’s a really good thriller – one that actually works and breathes some life back into a genre that’s been feeling a little stale lately. I’m definitely adding it to my watchlist now!

Under Paris is streaming now on Netflix.

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2026-02-10 13:49