Top 10 Shark Movies Ever Ranked
- By Owen
- Apr 13,2025
One of my earliest fears was of bodies of water that may or may not be hiding a people-eating shark beneath their calm surface. Shark movies fueled this paranoia, constantly reminding my younger self that the world’s natural order could strike at any moment.
Fin flicks may seem straightforward—vacationers, boaters, or divers hunted by sharks—but many films struggle to capture the essence. When executed correctly, however, shark movies deliver an adrenaline-fueled experience that can make you wary of entering any body of water for a long time.
So, prepare your Shark Spray. Here are our top 10 shark movies of all time. For more creature thrills, explore our guide to the greatest monster movies.
Top Shark Movies of All Time
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10. Shark Night (2011)
The ratio of successful to lackluster shark movies is heavily skewed toward the latter, but Shark Night manages to make the cut for its general competency. Vacationers in the Louisiana gulf are terrorized by backwoods maniacs who take their Shark Week obsession to an extreme by attaching cameras to ferocious sharks. It's over-the-top—a Great White jumps out of the water to decapitate someone on a WaveRunner. The original theatrical release as "Shark Night 3D" captures the early 2010s horror vibe, aiming for popcorn entertainment, which the film achieves. Credit goes to the late David R. Ellis for this "better with booze" bite of jaw-dropping fun, even if it's not the most polished in the genre.
Jaws 2 (1978)
Jaws 2 doesn't surpass the original, but it stands out among sequels. Roy Scheider returns to protect Amity Island from another Great White that preys on water skiers and beachgoers. This sequel is more action-oriented—leading to the departure of the original director John D. Hancock—and continues the story effectively. Despite its flaws, it features exploding boats and underwater carnage with enough execution to justify its place in the franchise.
Deep Blue Sea 3 (2020)
Yes, there are two Deep Blue Sea sequels. Deep Blue Sea 3 significantly improves upon its predecessor, Deep Blue Sea 2, by returning to the original’s thrilling essence. Scientists protecting Great White sharks on the artificial island of Little Happy face threats from mercenaries and bull sharks in this full-on B Movie. The film includes explosive martyrdom, action-packed brawls with aerial Bull Shark attacks, and comical memes turned into character deaths. It's one of the most surprising victories in recent shark cinema, delivering well above the expectations for direct-to-video sequels and absurd shark movies that embrace their entertainment value.
The Meg (2018)
Jason Statham versus a 75-foot-long shark from the Mariana Trench? The Meg might have been better with an R-rating and a tighter narrative, but as a blockbuster aquatic horror spectacle, it delivers on its ancient premise. The film showcases the danger as massive Megalodon jaws threaten to shatter dive cages and underwater facilities, with Statham using his diving expertise to battle the supposedly extinct predator. A strong cast, including Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, and Cliff Curtis, tries to prevent the Megalodon from turning beachgoers into snacks. The film blends Kaiju Lite tropes with soap opera dramatics, fulfilling its promise as a grand cinematic splash.
2023 saw the release of The Meg 2, but the sequel fell short of the original, described as "bigger and badder in all the wrong ways" in our review. As a result, it doesn't feature on our list of the best shark films.
Open Water (2003)
While Jaws relied on a mechanical shark and many films use CGI, Open Water opts for authenticity with real sharks. Filmmakers Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, avid scuba divers themselves, aimed to capture natural shark behavior. They also served as cinematographers, leveraging their passion to ensure the film's realism. Open Water stands out for its suspense and harrowing atmosphere, as an American couple finds themselves stranded miles from shore in shark-infested waters.
Bait (2012)
Before Crawl featured a family trapped in a flooded crawl space with alligators during a hurricane, Bait trapped patrons and workers inside a supermarket with Great White sharks during a tsunami. Australia delivers one of the better recent shark films, with survivors improvising diving gear from shopping carts and parking lots turning into hunting grounds. The blend of effects keeps the aquatic thrills tense and bloody. The tsunami also interrupts a robbery, forcing criminals and clerks to team up against the swimming predators. Bait matches the intensity of Crawl, fitting into the niche genre of "When Animals Attack in Trapped Locations During Freak Weather Incidents."
47 Meters Down (2017)
The ticking clock in 47 Meters Down heightens the panic during an underwater escape. Mandy Moore and Claire Holt play sisters trapped on the ocean floor after a disastrous shark diving expedition, unable to move without drawing the attention of sharks. The film effectively uses the vast, dark underwater landscape to create tension, with sharks lurking in the shadows. It's a nerve-wracking and gripping experience, showcasing the best elements of shark cinema.
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
A film that inspires an LL Cool J song must be doing something right. "Deepest, bluest, my hat is like a shark's fin" captures the 90s vibe of Deep Blue Sea, a movie about genetically enhanced Mako sharks and failed pharmaceutical experiments. The cast battles to escape their own creation, but not even Samuel L. Jackson can avoid becoming shark bait. Despite some dated CGI, the film features practical shark effects in hallways and flooded kitchens. Deep Blue Sea embraces the absurdity of creature features, delivering a thrilling and entertaining experience.
The Shallows (2016)
Blake Lively faces off against a formidable shark in The Shallows. Jaume Collet-Serra proves his skill as a blockbuster filmmaker by building intense tension using minimal settings—a rock formation, water, and a buoy. Lively's performance and the still-terrifying CGI shark contribute to a film that ages well. The Shallows dives straight into a desperate scenario, delivering non-stop intensity from start to finish.
Jaws (1975)
Steven Spielberg revolutionized the summer blockbuster with Jaws, the definitive shark movie. Despite challenges with the animatronic shark, the film earned over $476.5 million at the box office. Jaws masterfully builds suspense, culminating in the iconic reveal of the shark named Bruce. This tale of New England summer chaos highlights the tension between tourist revenue and public safety, leaving viewers wary of the water long after the film ends. 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.Upcoming Shark Movies
For those looking for even more shark movies to watch, there are quite a few currently in the works or announced. Here are some of the biggest upcoming shark movies we know about:
Fear Below - May 15, 2025Beneath the Storm - August 1, 2025High Tide - TBCDangerous Animals - TBCWhen Is Shark Week in 2025?
Shark Week 2025 will take place from July 6 to July 13, 2025, with the Discovery Channel set to air a whole host of shark-related content.
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