10 Movies To Watch This Shark Week

Shark movies have become a surprisingly prolific horror sub-genre since "Jaws" popularized the concept in 1975. Ranging from intense thrillers to "so bad it's good" comedies, these films often capitalize on universal fear. While many are low quality, some stand out for their realism, like "The Reef" and "Open Water," or their over-the-top action, such as "The Meg" and "Deep Blue Sea." Documentaries like "Sharkwater" also challenge negative perceptions. "Jaws" remains the genre's benchmark, initiating the blockbuster era and popularity for these types of films.

The horror genre has taken us many strange places throughout its course, haunted houses to monster-filled dystopias, populating their realms with zombies, with vampires and werewolves, with paranormal entities. But what about the sea?

One of the strangely prolific sub-genres of horror over the years has been shark movies, a brand of cinematic storytelling that has persisted since Jaws popularized the animal as a fearsome creature on the big screen back in 1975. There happens to be a handful of shark movies that many people would agree stand above the res. Quite a few even fall into the “so bad it’s good” category, like Sharknado (2013), Ghost Shark 2: Urban Jaws (2015) and Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus (2009). It’s a style of storytelling that both takes itself very seriously, yet likes to have fun and remain self-aware.

I have reviewed the history of shark movies and the strange allure they present, the cinematic tales that are based on terrifying true stories and, ultimately, which films about the ocean’s ultimate beast are the absolute best.

It seems few creatures on the face of this earth inspire more fear than the sharp-toothed predators who salivate at the sight (and smell) of blood. Other creatures, like snakes and crocodiles, have produced their own sub-genres within horror, but none have produced as many movies as sharks. Unfortunately, with such an influx of films—especially low-budget films that often try too hard to give off a “campy” feel—this means many shark movies are of low quality, leaving little room for a list to house high quality shark pictures.

Most shark movies, aiming to capitalize on the near-universal fear inspired by the animal, unsurprisingly fall into the horror or thriller category. There are plenty of comedies, however, from tongue-in-cheek spectacles like The Meg and Sharknado, or animated movies like The Bad Guys and Shark Tale. There are also plenty of documentaries to choose from, as the obsession with capturing the fear invoked by sharks has spurned a number of great stories that aim to defend sharks and showcase how their habitat has been encroached upon by the true “monsters,” human beings.

If you count Finding Nemo as a shark movie (personally, I do not), then the Pixar films owns the highest grossing total for shark flick ever with a worldwide gross of $941 million. But when we account for inflation, there’s no denying that Jaws, the movie that started the blockbuster craze in the United States, is the top dog, with its lifetime adjusted domestic gross standing at a whopping $1.2 billion—the seventh-highest total ever, according to Box Office Mojo.

Now we move onto the top shark movies list. Because the bar has been set so low for shark movies, I would argue that most movie critics who have seen lots of shark movies would agree that these ten notably stand above the rest.

You can’t but help be impressed by the sort of marketing done to promote The Reef. Director Andrew Traucki’s main goal was to create an honest-to-life shark experience on the big screen, opting to use real shark footage over CGI technology. The production team shot scenes with live sharks in South Australia, and streamed the footage live online as they did it.

"This kind of marketing strategy is absolutely vital,” Traucki says about a film that, true to its approach, makes you feel like you’re part of a real shark attack. And, as you’ll see several times on this list, the movie sure enough was based on the true story of Ray Boundy, the sole survivor of a 1983 shark attack. After a yacht capsizes off the coast of Australia, a group of friends tries to swim to safety, only to learn they’re being tracked by a great white shark.

The cast, including Damian Walshe-Howling, Gyton Grantley and Zoe Naylor, delivers performances that feel startlingly, almost uncomfortably, legitimate. The Reef was a hit with critics, who appreciated the realistic depiction and relished in its suspenseful atmosphere.

In a move that opted for sheer authenticity, Open Water director Chris Kentis sent stars Blanchard Ryan and Daniel Travis in with the sea creatures, with shark handlers and various measures employed to ensure safety. Still, you can see the genuine fear on the actor’s faces throughout.

Open Water centers on Susan and Daniel, a couple left behind in shark-infested waters during a scuba diving trip. As the hours wear on, the sharks begin to circle—leaving their future in jeopardy.

The film is based on the true story of Tom and Eileen Lonerga, who were stranded at sea during a scuba diving expedition. There was a massive search for the two, but they were never found. This minimalist thriller won over critics, who praised the film for its suspenseful and realistic portrayal of survival horror. Its nothing-but-the-essentials approach made for an effective use of tension, making Open Water a rare shark film that doesn’t feel outlandish or cartoonish, but instead frighteningly palpable.

I know this movie isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for some sci-fi elements to be mixed into your shark story, if you’re hoping for something ridiculous—preposterous, even—then let Jason Statham be your guide.

The action star plays Jonas Taylor, a rescue diver who encounters a massive prehistoric shark known as the “Megalodon.” When the creature resurfaces years later, he’s called to confront it once more.

Directed by Jon Turteltaub and starring Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson and Ruby Rose, The Meg got mixed reviews from critics, who appreciated the fun, over-the-top atmosphere, but ultimately found it lacked depth and originality. While there may be truth to those criticisms, it doesn’t stop the film from being a heck of a time.

In 1947, Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl set out on an expedition to demonstrate that ancient people could have made long sea voyages and connect disparate cultures. Sailing from Perus to the Polynesian islands on a raft made from balsa wood, Heyerdahl and his crew traveled 4,300 miles in 101 days. And, obviously, this trip included confrontations with sharks, which in turn became a major component of the journey’s filmic adaptation.

Kon-Tiki, starring Pål Sverre Hagen as Thor Heyerdahl and directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, sparked controversy because of the liberties it took with the real story, such as one specific scene where an expedition member was attacked by a shark (which never happened in real life).

Still, with a stellar 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie was a hit with critics back in 2012, with writers praising the movie’s breathtaking visuals and epic storytelling. To boot, the Academy Awards nominated the movie for Best Foreign Language Film. So while Kon-Tiki isn’t a “shark movie” per se, the sea creatures are a big enough part of the story that you can enjoy some classic shark elements while consuming the much grander story.

Of all the movies on this list, 47 Meters Down is the one that might be too much for some people to handle. This tense thriller, directed by Johannes Roberts, follows two sisters, Lisa and Kate (Mandy Moore and Claire Holt), who decide to go cage diving amongst a pool of sharks while vacationing in Mexico. But their fun adventure turns into an absolute nightmare when the cage breaks free and plunges into the ocean, leaving them trapped at the bottom with only an hour’s worth of oxygen. To survive, they must travel half a football field’s length back up to the surface.

Despite how scarily real everything feels in 47 Meters Down, the film is not based on a true story. Critics weren’t overly impressed with the movie, as they praised the performances and taught tension, but ultimately felt the characters were underdeveloped and paper-thin. Personally, I think that’s the point—the film’s chief aim is to immerse you in the most unfathomable situation possible. So 47 Meters Down gets a full recommendation for anyone (like me) who likes getting their pants scared off.

Here’s where you can stream 47 Meters Down.

On Jan. 31, 2017, filmmaker Rob Stewart disappeared during a scuba dive he performed while filming Sharkwater Extinction, the sequel to his famous first documentary. However, at some point, Stewart vanished beneath the waves, and his body was found three days later—a tragic moment for a man who spent his career changing a negative public perception of sharks created by the kinds of movies you’ll find on this list. And his most important contribution to that cause was the renowned documentary Sharkwater.

In this important film, Stewart embarks on a dangerous journey to expose the illegal practices that threaten the apex predators. This documentary combines breathtaking underwater footage with a compelling narrative about the stark reality sharks face in our cruel, morally compromised waters. Given its intense and uncompromising mission, Sharkwater was unsurprisingly met with critical acclaim, with Stewart’s legacy forever solidified as one of the shark species’ most important and outspoken voices.

The gigantic great white shark that prowls the waters of Jaws was famously 25 feet long. So what did director Renny Harlin do for his shark in Deep Blue Sea? He made it 26 feet long, of course. And that one little fact exemplifies everything you should expect when watching Deep Blue Sea—they are going for it. Harlin, who directed movies like Cliffhanger and Die Hard 2, wanted nothing more than to create the ultimate shark blockbuster in 1999, and he did one heck of a job.

Powered by an all-star cast that includes Saffron Burrows, Thomas Jane, LL Cool J, Jacqueline McKenzie, Michael Rapaport, Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson, this highly-ridiculous-yet-highly-entertaining shark movie follows a research team that’s studying genetically engineered sharks in an underwater facility.

Unfortunately, they made the sharks too smart for their own good—and now the sea creatures are looking to punish everybody. Receiving mostly positive reviews from critics, who appreciated its action and surprising twists, Deep Blue Sea has become a cult hit, and is often considered the second-best shark movie ever behind Jaws.

Here’s where you can stream Deep Blue Sea.

In 2010, Ryan Reynolds starred in the movie Buried, in which he remained trapped inside a coffin the entire time. Inspired by such a bold acting choice, his wife Blake Lively wanted to commit herself to a minimalist experience that would require a similar set of acting skills.

The resulting film, then, was The Shallows, a survival thriller about a surfer who becomes stranded on a rock 200 yards from shore after being attacked by a great white shark. With limited resources and a rising tide, Nancy (played by Lively) much use her wits and determination to make it back to safety. This film isn’t based on a true story, but was a huge hit with critics, largely thanks to the movie’s stunning cinematography that creates a sense of terror and alienation, as well as Lively’s convincing performance of what might be the most terrifying situation imaginable.

Movies can be great for lots of different reasons, but, personally, I can’t help but fall for a movie that’s this terrifying. It’s truly remarkable. If you’re looking to be scared half to death by your shark movies, then many people would agree: The Shallows is about as scary as it gets.

Here’s where you can stream The Shallows.

Since 1975, Jaws has been considered, by all accounts, the most quintessential shark movie... in the fictional context. But there’s another movie that is resoundingly acclaimed as the greatest shark documentary of all time—and it came out just three years ago.

Backed by a stellar 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Playing With Sharks follows the life and career of diver and filmmaker Valerie Taylor, whose groundbreaking work in shark conservation, along with her efforts to change the public perception of these misunderstood creatures, was immortalized on screen by director Sally Aitken.

This documentary uses archival footage and personal anecdotes to showcase Taylor’s fearless approach to underwater exploration, her dedication to protecting marine life, her ruthless persistence to changing the grand shark narrative. Critics universally praised Playing With Sharks, which painted an engaging narrative that both informed with its observations about shark culture and entertained through Taylor’s vibrant life and career. If you’re looking for a great shark documentary, then Play With Sharks has to be your top pick.

Here’s where you can stream Playing With Sharks.

At the end of the day, when it’s all said and done, once we look back at every shark movie ever made, everything will inevitably trace back to the shark flick that started the entire cultural phenomenon: Jaws.

This Steven Spielberg movie is the ultimate cinematic experience when it comes to sharks, noted for kickstarting the age of blockbuster entertainment through the director’s timeless stylistic approach to narrative. The film stars Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw as three men hunting a massive great white shark that’s terrorizing a small coastal town. The movie’s plot is truly that simple, with man tracking and attempting to outsmart beast, but it’s also stuffed to the brim with greatness in so many other ways, from John Williams’ iconic score to an incredible script that’s filled with classic lines like, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

Critics emphatically lauded this loosely-based-on-real-events movie, which won three Academy Awards for editing, score and sound (it lost the Best Picture category to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), cementing its status as a movie that’s more than a shark movie—it’s a landmark experience that initiated the age of the blockbuster in Hollywood.

From terrifying true stories to electric documentaries to timeless blockbusters, shark movies capture a thrilling sentiment that make them worth watching. This list highlights some of the most of the most appealing films to watch if you want to get invested and have a weekend full of shark movies.

Sharknado (2013) was directed by Anthony C. Ferrante, Sharknado tracks a freak hurricane in Los Angeles that unleashes thousands of sharks upon the unexpected public. Ghost Shark 2: Urban Jaws (2015), directed by Johnny Hall and Andrew Todd, follows two detectives as they track a spectral shark that haunts the city of Auckland, New Zealand. Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus (2009), directed by Jack Perez, tells the story of a prehistoric shark and a colossal octopus that engage in a catastrophic battle that a team of scientists desperately try to stop.

Several shark films are based off true stories, drawing from inevitable circumstances that have happened in everyday life. The Reef (2010), directed by Andrew Traucki, centers on a group of friends who must swim to safety through shark-infested waters after their yacht capsizes. Open Water (2003), directed by Chris Kentis, follows a couple that, after being left behind by their scuba diving group, faces the terror of being stranded in shark territory. Kon-Tiki (2012), directed by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, tells the tale of Thor Heyerdahl, who famously embarked upon a mission in 1947 to sail the Pacific Ocean on a rudimentary balsa wood raft.

There are four Jaws movies. Jaws (1975) is about a police chief, a marine biologist and a shark hunter join forces to stop a great white shark from terrorizing the small town of Amity Island. In Jaws 2 (1978), our years after the events at Amity Island, a new shark shows up to wreak havoc. Police Chief Brody shows up once again to protect the town and his family. In Jaws 3-D (1983), a great white shark infiltrates an underwater theme park at SeaWorld. Police Chief Brody’s sons just happen to be present and commit to stopping the shark. In Jaws: The Revenge (1987), After her son is killed by a great white shark, Ellen Brody travels to the bahamas to face the deadly creature.

While many shark movies are part of the horror genre, there are also a few notable family-friendly movies that feature sharks including Shark Tale (2004), The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava Girl (2005) and Soul Surfer (2011).

The Reef (2010) and Open Water (2003) include real sharks instead of CGI technology. For the film The Reef, Director Andrew Traucki wanted to create an honest-to-life shark experience, so the production team shot scenes with live sharks in South Australia, and streamed the footage live online as they did it. 

There are six Sharknado films currently available to watch: Sharknado (2013), Sharknado 2 (2014), Sharknado 3 (2015), Sharknado 4 (2016), Sharknado 5 (2017) and The Last Sharknado (2018). In November 2025, Variety reported on a new film in development on “Sharknado Origins,” which was eyeing a 2026 release.  

New shark movies that have been released include Meg 2: The Trench (2023), Thrash (2026) and The Devil’s Mouth (2026). 

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