Utopia, the award-winning independent studio known for arthouse films like “Pet Shop Days,” “Shiva Baby,” The Sweet East,” Holy Spider,” and “Red Rooms” has announced the acquisition of “Hot Spring Shark Attack” (aka “Onsen Shâku”).
Utopia has acquired North American rights to the Japanese shark film and is planning a summer 2025 rollout. The film will make its U.S. debut at the Chattanooga Film Festival, where Utopia and festival programmers have teamed up to sponsor a beach-themed opening night party—featuring the surf rock sounds of special guests Big Kahuna and themed beach beverages presented by Cathead Distillery—chaotically culminating in a karaoke clambake where everyone gets lei’d.
“Hot Spring Shark Attack” marks the directorial debut of Morihito Inoue, a two-time winner of the National Independent Kaiju Film Championship. The film is set in a small, hot spring town in Japan, where a ferocious ancient shark reawakens and terrorizes 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.
The film premiered at the 2024 Tokyo International Shark Film Festival, where it took home the Audience Award.
Utopia acquired the North American rights through a deal negotiated by Candace Tan on behalf of Utopia and Akiko Uchida of King Record.
