My earliest fear was of bodies of water that may or may not be hiding a people-eating shark beneath their calm surface views. Shark movies fueled that paranoia by constantly reminding my younger self that the world's natural order could strike at any time.
Fin flicks seem to have a straightforward concept—vacationers, boaters, or divers hunted by one or multiple sharks—but many films struggle to execute it well. When shark movies get it right, they offer an adrenaline-fueled experience that will make you wary of entering any body of water for a long time.
So, prepare your Shark Spray. Here are our picks for the 10 best shark movies of all time. For more creature thrills, explore our guide to the greatest monster movies.
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10. Shark Night (2011)
The ratio of "alpha" to "minnow" in shark movies leans heavily toward the negative, which means films like Shark Night make the list for their general competency. Vacationers in the Louisiana gulf are attacked by backwoods maniacs who take their Shark Week obsession to the extreme by attaching cameras to ferocious sharks. It's over-the-top—a Great White jumps out of the water and decapitates someone on a WaveRunner. The original theatrical billing as "Shark Night 3D" captures the early 2010s horror vibe (think popcorn entertainment), which the film achieves. Credit the late David R. Ellis for this "better with booze" bite of jawesomeness, even if it's not the shiniest lure in the tackle box.
Jaws 2 may not surpass its predecessor, but it stands out in a field with little competition. Roy Scheider returns to protect Amity Island from another Great White shark that targets water skiers and beachgoers. It's more action-oriented—a shift that cost original director John D. Hancock his position due to his inability to handle such scenes—and continues the familiar narrative. It has its flaws, but also boasts exploding boats and more underwater carnage executed with skill. If it ain't broke, why not turn it into a franchise?
Yes, there are two Deep Blue Sea sequels. Deep Blue Sea 3 significantly improves upon the franchise's second installment, returning to the original's shark-centric thrills. Scientists on the artificial island of Little Happy, attempting to protect Great White sharks, encounter mercenaries and bull sharks that threaten their safety—a full-on B Movie. The film includes martyrdom explosions, action brawls with aerial Bull Shark tag-team action, comical memes leading to character deaths, and one of the most unexpected victories in recent shark movie history. Kudos to the cast and crew for delivering an aquatic horror that exceeds expectations for direct-to-video sequels and absurd shark cinema that understands its entertainment value.
Jason Statham versus a 75-foot-long shark from the Mariana Trench? While I wish The Meg wasn't toned down to PG-13 and had less narrative bloat, it delivers as a blockbuster aquatic horror spectacle. The Megalodon's massive chompers threaten to shatter dive cages and underwater facilities, while Statham uses his expert diving skills to stop the not-so-extinct predator. A stacked cast including Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, and Cliff Curtis tries to prevent the Megalodon from devouring beachgoers like hors-d'œuvres, with varying success. The film blends Kaiju Lite tropes with oddly endearing soap opera dramatics. What's promised on the package is delivered, making The Meg a grand enough splash.
2023 saw the release of The Meg 2, but the sequel didn't quite meet the original's standards. In fact, it's "bigger and badder in all the wrong ways" according to our review. As such, it doesn't earn a spot on our list of the best shark films.
Unlike Jaws, which used a mechanical shark, and many other films that opted for CGI, Open Water seeks authenticity by using real sharks. Filmmaker Chris Kentis and his wife, producer Laura Lau, who are avid scuba divers, aimed to capture as much natural behavior as possible. They also served as cinematographers, relying on their scuba expertise to ensure authenticity. The film feels different from more entertainment-focused examples on this list, as it follows an American couple left miles from shore in shark-infested waters after their boat accidentally departs. Not the most action-packed, but it's suspenseful and harrowing.
Before Crawl trapped family members in a flooded crawl space with alligators during a category 5 hurricane, Bait trapped patrons and workers inside a supermarket with agitated Great White sharks during a freak tsunami. Australia delivers one of the better recent shark films, as survivors fashion diving gear from shopping carts and parking lots with people stuck in cars become hunting grounds. The film blends effects to maintain tense and bloody aquatic thrills as the action escalates. The tsunami also interrupts a robbery, forcing criminals and clerks to work together against the swimming killers. Bait stands as a strong entry in the subgenre of "When Animals Attack in Trapped Locations During Freak Weather Incidents."
The ticking clock in 47 Meters Down adds urgency to an already tense underwater escape. Mandy Moore and Claire Holt play sisters trapped on the ocean floor after a disastrous shark diving expedition, unable to move without attracting the attention of sharks. The film uses the vast expanse of underwater nothingness to heighten tension, as the sisters are surrounded by pitch-black waters hiding lurking sharks. It's nerve-wracking and intense, with multiple scares that may reuse techniques but effectively highlight the heightened frights of proper shark cinema.
You know a movie's good when there's an LL Cool J song about it. "Deepest, bluest, my hat is like a shark's fin" captures the 90s outrageousness of Deep Blue Sea, which focuses on genetically enhanced Mako sharks and the consequences of pharmaceutical greed. A loaded cast fights to escape their own creation, but not even Samuel L. Jackson can avoid becoming another soggy snack. Despite some dated animation, the film features plenty of practical shark effects, from sharks floating down hallways to flooded kitchens. Deep Blue Sea embraces creature-feature "nonsense" in the best way, making the most of karma's razor-sharp teeth.
Blake Lively faces off against a formidable finned foe in The Shallows. Jaume Collet-Serra proves his prowess as a contemporary blockbuster filmmaker, using just a few locations (a rock formation, water, and a buoy) to heighten tension. Lively's performance against a still-terrifying CG shark is commendable, and The Shallows ages like fine yacht wine. There's no wasted moment. Collet-Serra dives into an unfathomably hopeless scenario and delivers relentless intensity.
Steven Spielberg revolutionized the summer blockbuster with the undisputed king of shark cinema. Despite challenges with the animatronic Great White, the film's success was undeniable, grossing $476.5 million at the box office. Jaws masterfully builds suspense, with Spielberg's ace being the people-eating shark named Bruce. This New England tale of summertime madness illustrates the consequences when mayors prioritize tourist revenue over public safety, with scenes like Alex Kintner's fate still haunting viewers. Decades later, Jaws remains the best shark movie of all time.
AnswerSee ResultsLooking for more horror movies with teeth? Take a look at our guide to the best vampire movies of all time next or dive into our favorite dinosaur movies.For those eager for more shark movies, several are in development or have been announced. Here are some of the most anticipated upcoming shark movies:
Shark Week 2025 is scheduled to run from July 6 to July 13, 2025, with the Discovery Channel planning to broadcast a wide range of shark-related content.
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