{{short description|2025 American documentary film}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = The Python Hunt | image = The Python Hunt poster.jpeg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Xander Robin | producer = {{Plainlist| * Xander Robin * Lance Oppenheim * Mel Oppenheim * Lauren Cioffi }} | writer = | starring = | music = Nick León | cinematography = {{Plainlist| * David Bolen * Matt Clegg }} | editing = Max Allman | production_companies = {{Plainlist| * Artists Equity * To Be Formed }} | distributor = Oscilloscope Laboratories | released = {{Film date|2025|3|8|SXSW|2026|5|8}} | runtime = 91 minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/films/2206313|title=The Python Hunt|website=South by Southwest|access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref> | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross = $45,664<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl4086661121/weekend/|title=The Python Hunt|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=May 31, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Python-Hunt-The-(2026)|title=The Python Hunt|website=The Numbers|access-date=May 31, 2026}}</ref> }}
'''''The Python Hunt''''' is a 2025 American documentary film, directed and produced by Xander Robin. It follows a group of hunters competing in an invasive python removal contest in the Everglades, over the course of ten nights.
It had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 8, 2025. It was released on May 8, 2026, by Oscilloscope Laboratories.
==Premise== Every year, the Florida government invites the public to participate in a competitive invasive python removal contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://naturecoaster.com/local-hunter-toby-benoit-to-be-featured-in-the-python-hunt-film/|title=Local Hunter Toby Benoit to be Featured in "The Python Hunt" Film|website=Nature Coaster|first=Diane|last=Bedard|date=February 27, 2025|access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref>
==Production== Lance Oppenheim approached Xander Robin about making a documentary revolving around the Python Hunt competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/03/the-python-hunt-everglades-documentary-artists-equity-sxsw-1236315457/|title=Artists Equity Unveils Slithery Docu 'The Python Hunt' At SXSW|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=March 8, 2025|access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref> Artists Equity produced and financed the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/the-python-hunt-snake-hunting-doc-sxsw-1235101647/|title='The Python Hunt': How Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's Artists Equity Helped Turn a Snake-Hunting Contest Into a SXSW Doc Hit|website=IndieWire|first=Anne|last=Thompson|date=March 14, 2025|access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref>
==Release== It had its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 8, 2025, where it won the Documentary Feature Competition Special Jury Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/sxsw-2025-lineup-the-studio-death-of-a-unicorn-more-1236263538/|title=Seth Rogen Comedy Series 'The Studio' To Open SXSW 2025; 'The Accountant 2,' 'Death Of A Unicorn', 'Drop,' 'Happy Face' & More Also To Screen|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=January 22, 2025|access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sxsw.com/film/2025/sxsw-2025-film-tv-jury-and-special-awards-winners-announced/|title=SXSW 2025 Film & TV Jury and Special Awards Winners Announced|website=South by Southwest|first=Jordan|last=Roberts|date=March 12, 2025|access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref> It also screened at the Miami Film Festival on April 9, 2025, where it won the Made in MIA Feature Film Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cms.miamifilmfestival.com/program/event/the-python-hunt/|title=The Python Hunt|website=Miami Film Festival|date=2 February 2025 |access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/miami-film-festival-lineup-meet-the-barbarians-1236328732/|title=Miami Film Festival Sets Lineup With 'Meet the Barbarians' Opening and 'On Swift Horses' Closing Night Screening|website=Variety|first=Katcy|last=Stephan|date=March 6, 2025|access-date=March 15, 2025}}</ref> In October 2025, Oscilloscope Laboratories acquired distribution rights to the film.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2025/film/news/oscilloscope-buys-python-hunt-doc-artists-equity-1236559504/|title= Oscilloscope Laboratories Buys Doc 'The Python Hunt' From Filmmaker Xander Robin and Artists Equity (EXCLUSIVE)|website=Variety|first=Brent|last=Lang|date=October 23, 2025|access-date=October 23, 2025}}</ref> It was released on May 8, 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/trailers/the-python-hunt-trailer-snake-hunting-documentary-1235189977/|title=‘The Python Hunt’ Trailer: A Wacky Cast of Snake Hunters Descend Upon the Everglades in Stranger-Than-Fiction Doc|website=IndieWire|first=Christian|last=Zilko|date=April 21, 2026|access-date=April 21, 2026}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|95|6.8|22|ref=yes|access-date=May 21, 2026}}
==See also== *Burmese pythons in Florida *Florida Python Challenge *''Invasion of the Giant Pythons: Florida with Nigel Marven''
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|35514288}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Python Hunt, The}} Category:2025 English-language films Category:2025 American films Category:2025 documentary films Category:2025 films Category:American documentary films Category:Artists Equity films Category:Documentary films about reptiles Category:Everglades Category:Documentary films about animal hunting Category:Documentary films about competitions Category:Films about snakes Category:Films shot in Florida