Netflix’s over-the-top shark thriller Under Paris has proved hugely popular thanks to its unlikely combination of shark attacks and Parisien culture, but the film’s finale hints that the next installment of the story may expand the action beyond the City of Light. In Under Paris‘ ending, it is revealed that the terrifying shark that’s been stalking the murky waters of the Seine is just the tip of the toothy iceberg threatening to crash into the world’s greatest cities. While the scale of the threat isn’t immediately clear, Under Paris‘ credits scene lays plain the extent to which humanity is now in danger.

After the revelation that the shark at the center of the story, Lillith, is capable of reproducing asexually, the Under Paris cast – led by Sophia (Bérénice Bejo) – begin to realize just what is at stake. Not only must they race against time to save participants in the Paris triathlon from a gruesome fate, but the discovery of Lillith’s nest means that potentially the whole world is at risk. After the literally explosive Under Paris ending subsides, the true extent of the problem is made plain, with the movie’s end-credits scene explaining where the ever-expanding swarm of sharks plans on swimming next.

7

Paris – France

The Sharks Are Spreading Through The City

Given that most of Under Paris‘ story takes place in the French capital, it almost goes without saying that the killer fish now have complete control of the city. While the shark’s presence in the Seine was a menace – as demonstrated by the triathlon massacre, the situation by the movie’s end is now even worse. As the epicenter of the outbreak, Paris is effectively ground zero for the global shark onslaught.

As outlined in the Under Paris credits sequence, the massive waves that were generated as a result of the World War Two bombs exploding under the river have helped the sharks spread throughout the city. This means that they are even less manageable than they were before the authorities’ misguided attempts at containment. While the full extent of the shark’s Parisien presence is unclear, it’s obvious that they’re now more widespread than ever.

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6

London – UK

Paris Was Just The First European Capital To Fall

Shark invasion spreading accross London in Under Paris' ending

What’s most alarming for the prospective future of the Under Paris franchise is that the movie’s credit scene revealed that the shark threat is now too far gone to be contained. A series of detailed maps following intricate waterways explains how several major capital cities are now infested with aquatic superpredators, creating a serious issue for the global population. Due to its proximity to Paris, London is the first conurbation to be highlighted.

The Under Paris credits show how the River Thames has become a highway for shark activity. Beyond this, however, the movie reveals how specific canals and waterways have become overrun by sharks, making them a problem beyond the center of town. Areas like St Katherine’s Docks and the Isle of Dogs are also highlighted, indicating the extent of the problem in some of London’s major commercial centers.

5

New York City – USA

The Threat Spreads Across The Atlantic

Not content with consolidating their position in London, Under Paris goes on to explain how the sharks have also swam across the Atlantic, threatening the United States. In some ways, this isn’t surprising. Not only does the marine environment suit the predatory fish, but it also replicates part of the journey Lillith undertook to get to Paris in the first place.

Like London and Paris, New York is a city defined by its river. As illustrated by the credits, the Hudson flows right through the heart of the metropolis, providing the perfect highway for hungry sharks. While the extent of their presence is unclear, the graphic suggests that Manhattan is potentially completely sealed off – providing a potentially thrilling setting for an Under Paris sequel.

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Bangkok – Thailand

The Sharks Undertake An Epic Journey

A woman is swallowed by a jumping shark in Under Paris

Given how far Lillith travels to get from the North Atlantic garbage patch to Paris, Under Paris has already made it clear that she and her brood are more than capable of swimming enormous distances in search of suitable prey. However, while getting from the North Atlantic to Paris is a relatively unremarkable achievement for a migratory fish, the revelation that the sharks are capable of making it to Thailand is genuinely impressive.

If Under Paris‘ title cards are to be interpreted chronologically, the film implies that Bangkok was next on the sharks’ target list after New York City. Assuming they figure out a way of navigating the Panama Canal, this means traveling over 12,000 nautical miles – a journey that would take the average ship some 50 days (via Ports). Given these impressive statistics, it follows that Bangkok is a particularly suitable home for the new species, perhaps due to the relative warmth of its water and high human population.

(Bérénice-Bejo-as-Sophia)-from-Under-Paris-and-(Nassim-Lyes-as-Adil)-from-Under-Paris--

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3

Venice – Italy

The Canals Create A Perfect Shark Habitat

Shark fins poke out of the waters of the Seine at the end of Under Paris

Putting aside the potential problems with Under Paris‘ outrageous premise, if filmmakers were given carte blanche to create a city perfectly-suited to sharks, they’d struggle to invent anything as fish-friendly as Venice. Situated in the middle of a lagoon and flooded with a labyrinth of waterways and canals, the city seems almost designed for the type of sharks shown in Under Paris. As a result, the historic city is perhaps the major human habitation at most risk from shark attacks.

As the credits graphic shows, Venice’s semi-aquatic status means that virtually nowhere is safe in the city. The interconnected network of canals makes it easy for them to travel about at will – presumably putting Venetians and tourists alike at considerable risk. A further factor is that Venice is known for relying on its waterways for transport, meaning that – unlike in Paris where the contrivance of the triathlon was the only real threat to people – it’s almost impossible to escape the water in Venice.

2

Tokyo – Japan

Taking Over Tokyo Proves Nowhere Is Safe

If reaching Thailand wasn’t impressive enough, the shark’s supposed arrival in the Japanese capital highlights the fish’s capacity for adaptability and incredible feats of enduring. Being about as far from Paris as it’s possible to get, the sharks’ presence in Japan proves that nowhere is beyond their reach. Just as in other riverine cities, their existence spells trouble for the populace.

Tokyo’s Sumida River has historically played a hugely significant cultural role in Tokyo. Notably, the river plays host to one of the world’s most famous firework displays, launched from barges in its center every year. Such a spectacle would be an incredible setting for a sequel, and would also demonstrate the incredible potential power of this new dominant species.

A great white shark with its mouth open in front of a picture of a clock face

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1

The World

Under Paris’ Closing Credits Imply That There Is No Hope

Although Under Paris only mentions six cities by name, other details suggest that the shark menace really is a global problem. Without going into specifics, the movie reveals how the sharks are not just affecting the named cities, but have in fact spread to all corners of the world. In essence, this means that every country is affected.

A global map reveals that the red lines that help track the sharks have now covered the entire planet. It’s fair to assume that, much as a zombie plague might impact every population center, anywhere that has a body of water is now fair game for the sharks. Considering that Planet Earth is 70% water, this means that there are relatively few places where the killer fish won’t have a presence. As a result, even though Under Paris has an understandably French flavor, any future follow-up stories will have to include a more global perspective – assuming the final map is accurate.

Source: Ports

Under Paris Film Poster

Under Paris (2024)

Director

Xavier Gens

Release Date

June 5, 2024

Cast

Berenice Bejo
, Nassim Lyes
, Léa Léviant
, Anaïs Parello
, Iñaki Lartigue

Runtime

101 Minutes