Shark Tale (2004) is a captivating computer‑animated family comedy‑adventure, blending humor, heart, and sharp satire. Directed by Rob Letterman, Bibo Bergeron, and Vicky Jenson, and starring an ensemble voice cast led by Will Smith and Jack Black, this English‑language feature premiered on October 1, 2004 in the U.S., going on to become one of DreamWorks Animation’s notable undersea adventures.
Movie Overview

Attribute | Details |
---|---|
Title | Shark Tale |
Genre | Animation, Comedy, Adventure, Family |
Language | English |
Release Date | October 1, 2004 (Theatrical, U.S.) |
Director | Rob Letterman, Bibo Bergeron, Vicky Jenson |
Writer | Michael J. Wilson, Rob Letterman, Damian Shannon, Mark Swift |
Cast & Crew
- Directors: Rob Letterman, Bibo Bergeron, Vicky Jenson 0
- Screenwriters / Writers: Michael J. Wilson, Rob Letterman, Damian Shannon, Mark Swift 1
- Voice Cast:
- Will Smith as Oscar
- Jack Black as Lenny
- Robert De Niro as Don Lino
- Renée Zellweger as Angie
- Angelina Jolie as Lola
- Martin Scorsese as Sykes
- Michael Imperioli as Frankie
- Ziggy Marley as Ernie; Doug E. Doug as Bernie
- Vincent Pastore as Luca; Peter Falk as Don Feinberg; Katie Couric as Katie Current
- Producers: Bill Damaschke, Janet Healy, Allison Lyon Segan 3
- Executive Producer: Jeffrey Katzenberg 4
- Music Composer: Hans Zimmer 5
- Production Designer: Daniel St. Pierre 6
- Casting Director: Leslee Feldman 7
- Editors: John Venzon, Nick Fletcher (IMDb shows John Venzon; TV Guide lists Nick Fletcher and Peter Lonsdale too) 8
User Reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience platform reflects mixed but passionate responses: several reviews praise nostalgia and voice cast performances.
- Julia V: “This movie is so awesome! … I love that fish so much” – 5/5 stars 9
- Peyton W: Mixed feelings; humorous moments but dated animation – 2.5/5 stars 10
- Stephen C: “Funny in 1.5 hours!!! … The USA grossed over $160,800,000.00!!!” – 5/5 stars 11
Overall, user sentiments range from nostalgic love to critiques of aging visuals.
Trivia
- Shark Tale premiered at the Venice Film Festival in Piazza San Marco on September 10, 2004, using an inflatable screen six stories high—first time that piazza closed for a film screening 12.
- The film grossed approximately $374 million worldwide on a $75 million budget, finishing as the ninth‑highest‑grossing film of 2004 13.
- It was originally titled “Sharkslayer,” aiming for a noir tone—title changed later 14.
- The soundtrack includes Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott’s cover of “Car Wash,” which peaked at No. 63 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100—and was a major international hit 15.
- James Gandolfini was originally cast as Don Lino but was replaced by Robert De Niro 16.
- The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature (77th Oscars, 2005), though it lost to Pixar’s The Incredibles 17.
FAQ
Is Shark Tale based on a true story? No—it’s entirely fictional, a comedic undersea fable. Who is the main voice actor? Will Smith voices the main character, Oscar, a tongue‑scrubbing fish dreaming of fame 18. What is the central plot? Oscar falsely claims to have killed Frankie, the mob boss’s son, becoming a hero; he teams up with Lenny (Frankie’s brother) to keep up the ruse 19. How did it perform at the box office? It grossed around $374 million worldwide off a $75 million budget 20. What awards did it receive? Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2005 Academy Awards; won casting Artios Award and ASCAP recognition 21.
IMDbPro
For industry-insider details—such as shoot schedules, distribution deals, and professional credits—IMDbPro offers comprehensive data on “Shark Tale.” You can access deeper profile info including filmography, contact listings, and market analytics there.
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