Martin Scorsese’s Scene-Stealing Role Keeps Shark Tale a Streaming Hit

The 2000s were a big decade for Martin Scorsese: he began a creative partnership with Leonardo DiCaprio and directed The Departed, the film that finally won him the Best Director Oscar. He also took an acting turn in 2004, voicing a character whose distinctive delivery made him instantly recognizable by voice alone.

That role reunited him with Robert De Niro and placed him alongside Will Smith, Jack Black, Renée Zellweger and Angelina Jolie. The film in question was DreamWorks’ Shark Tale, released October 1, 2004. Running 90 minutes and directed by Bibo Bergeron, Rob Letterman and Vicky Jenson, it arrived a few years after Finding Nemo and played as a loving homage to The Godfather — a reference some critics, including Roger Ebert, wondered whether children would even recognize.

Shark Tale proved a solid box-office performer, grossing around $375 million worldwide against a reported $75 million budget, even as critics were underwhelmed.

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