One of my earliest fears was of bodies of water that might conceal a people-eating shark beneath their calm surfaces. Shark movies intensified this paranoia by constantly reminding my younger self that nature could strike at any moment.
The premise of shark movies—vacationers, boaters, or divers being hunted by one or more sharks—seems straightforward, yet many films fail to capture the essence. When executed correctly, these films deliver an adrenaline-pumping experience that can make you wary of entering any body of water for a long time.
So, grab 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.
Top Shark Movies of All Time
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10. Shark Night (2011)
Image credit: RogueDirector: David R. Ellis | Writer: Will Hayes, Jesse Studenberg | Stars: Sara Paxton, Dustin Milligan, Chris Carmack | Release Date: September 2, 2011 | Review: IGN's Shark Night review | Where to watch: Peacock, free with ads on Pluto TV and The Roku Channel, rent from Apple TV and more
In a genre where quality can be scarce, Shark Night earns its spot for being competently made. Set in the Louisiana gulf, vacationers are terrorized by backwoods maniacs who indulge their Shark Week obsession by attaching cameras to ferocious sharks. It's absurd—a Great White leaps out of the water to decapitate a man on a WaveRunner. Originally released as "Shark Night 3D," it embodies the early 2010s horror vibe, aiming for popcorn entertainment, which it achieves. Kudos to the late David R. Ellis for delivering this "better with booze" bite of jawesomeness, even if it's not the top lure in the tackle box.
Jaws 2 (1978)
Image credit: Universal PicturesDirector: Jeannot Szwarc | Writer: Carl Gottlieb, Howard Sackler | Stars: Roy Scheider, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton | Release Date: June 16, 1978 | Review: IGN's Jaws 2 review | Where to watch: Rentable on Amazon and other platforms
While Jaws 2 doesn't surpass the original, it holds its own in a thinly populated field. Roy Scheider returns to protect Amity Island from another Great White that begins preying on water skiers and beachgoers. The film leans more into action, which led to the departure of original director John D. Hancock, who was deemed unsuitable for such sequences. It continues the familiar narrative with exploding boats and underwater carnage, executed with enough flair to justify its franchise status. If it ain't broke, why not expand it into a franchise?
Deep Blue Sea 3 (2020)
Image credit: Warner Bros. Home EntertainmentDirector: John Pogue | Writer: Dirk Blackman | Stars: Tania Raymonde, Nathaniel Buzolic, Emerson Brooks | Release Date: July 28, 2020 | Where to watch: Rentable on Amazon and other platforms
Surprisingly, there are two Deep Blue Sea sequels. Deep Blue Sea 3 rebounds impressively after the disappointment of Deep Blue Sea 2, recapturing the original's sharky charm. Scientists on the artificial island of Little Happy, tasked with protecting Great White sharks, find themselves under threat from mercenaries and bull sharks—classic B-movie territory. The film features martyrdom explosions, action-packed brawls with aerial Bull Shark attacks, and character deaths turned into memes, culminating in one of the most unexpected victories in recent shark cinema. The cast and crew deserve applause for delivering an aquatic horror film that exceeds expectations for direct-to-video sequels and celebrates the absurdities of shark cinema.
The Meg (2018)
Image credit: Warner Bros. PicturesDirector: Jon Turteltaub | Writer: Dean Georgaris, Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber | Stars: Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson | Release Date: August 10, 2018 | Review: IGN's The Meg review | Where to watch: Stream on Amazon Prime Video, rentable on Apple TV and more
Jason Statham battling a 75-foot-long shark from the Mariana Trench? The Meg, though toned down to PG-13 and somewhat bloated in its storytelling, delivers as a blockbuster aquatic horror spectacle. The film showcases the peril of a massive Megalodon's chompers threatening dive cages and underwater research facilities, with Statham using his diving expertise to fend off the supposedly extinct predator. A diverse cast, including Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, and Cliff Curtis, attempts to prevent the Megalodon from turning beachgoers into snacks. While not everyone shines, the film effectively blends Kaiju Lite elements with soap opera dramatics. The Meg makes a significant splash, fulfilling its promise.
2023 saw the release of The Meg 2, but it didn't meet the expectations set by the original. Our review described it as "bigger and badder in all the wrong ways," so it doesn't make our list of top shark films.
Open Water (2003)
Image credit: Lions Gate FilmsDirector: Chris Kentis | Writer: Chris Kentis | Stars: Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis, Saul Stein | Release Date: October 26, 2003 | Review: IGN's Open Water review | Where to watch: Hoopla, VIX and VUDU Free (with ads), or rentable on other platforms
While most shark films rely on mechanical or computer-generated sharks, Open Water opts for real ones, striving for authenticity. Filmmakers Chris Kentis and his wife, Laura Lau, both avid scuba divers, aimed to capture natural shark behavior. They also served as cinematographers, leveraging their scuba passion to ensure the footage met their standards. The film stands out from more entertainment-focused entries on this list, depicting an American couple stranded miles from shore in shark-infested waters. It's less action-packed but intensely suspenseful and harrowing.
Bait (2012)
Image credit: Paramount PicturesDirector: Kimble Rendall | Writer: Russell Mulachy, John Kim | Stars: Xavier Samuel, Sharni Vinson, Adrian Pang | Release Date: September 5, 2012 | Where to watch: fuboTV, Starz, or rentable on other platforms
Before Crawl trapped family members in a flooded crawl space with alligators during a category 5 hurricane, Bait confined patrons and workers inside a supermarket with agitated Great White sharks during a freak 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 film blends effects to keep the aquatic thrills tense and bloody, with action hitting full force. A robbery in progress adds complexity, as criminals and clerks must unite against the swimming killers. Bait rivals Crawl in a niche subgenre of "When Animals Attack in Trapped Locations During Freak Weather Incidents."
47 Meters Down (2017)
Image credit: Entertainment Studios Motion PicturesDirector: Johannes Roberts | Writer: Johannes Roberts, Ernest Riera | Stars: Mandy Moore, Claire Holt | Release Date: June 12, 2017 | Review: IGN's 47 Meters Down review | Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, or rentable on other platforms
The ticking clock in 47 Meters Down heightens the panic of an already tense underwater escape. Mandy Moore and Claire Holt portray sisters trapped on the ocean floor after a disastrous shark diving expedition, unable to move without drawing the attention of sharks. The film uses the vast emptiness of the underwater landscape to create tension, with sharks lunging into view from the darkness. It's nerve-wracking and intense, utilizing familiar scare tactics to emphasize the terror of shark cinema.
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Image credit: Warner Bros.Director: Renny Harlin | Writer: Duncan Kennedy, Donna Powers, Wayne Powers | Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, LL Cool J, Saffron Burrows | Release Date: July 28, 1999 | Review: IGN's Deep Blue Sea review | Where to watch: Rent from Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and more
A movie that inspires an LL Cool J song is undoubtedly good. "Deepest, bluest, my hat is like a shark's fin" captures the 90s flair of Deep Blue Sea, which revolves around genetically enhanced Mako sharks and pharmaceutical greed. The cast, including Samuel L. Jackson, fights to escape their own creation, though not even Jackson can avoid becoming a shark's meal. Despite some dated animation, the film features practical sharks navigating flooded hallways and kitchens. Deep Blue Sea embraces the absurdity of creature features, delivering a thrilling tale of karma with razor-sharp teeth.
The Shallows (2016)
Image credit: Sony PicturesDirector: Jaume Collet-Serra | Writer: Anthony Jaswinski | Stars: Blake Lively | Release Date: June 21, 2016 | Review: IGN's The Shallows review | Where to watch: Starz, or rent on Amazon and other platforms
Blake Lively faces off against a formidable shark in The Shallows. Director Jaume Collet-Serra masterfully builds tension using just a few locations—a rock formation, water, and a buoy. Lively's performance against a convincingly terrifying CG shark elevates the film, which ages well over time. Collet-Serra plunges viewers into an overwhelmingly hopeless scenario, delivering unrelenting intensity.
Jaws (1975)
Image credit: Universal PicturesDirector: Steven Spielberg | Writer: Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb | Stars: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss | Release Date: June 20, 1975 | Review: IGN's Jaws review | Where to watch: Rentable on Amazon and other platforms
Steven Spielberg revolutionized the summer blockbuster with Jaws, the undisputed king of shark cinema. Despite challenges with the animatronic shark, the film grossed $476.5 million at the box office. Jaws masterfully builds suspense, withholding the shark until the perfect moment. Set in New England, it critiques the prioritization of tourism over safety, leaving a lasting impact on audiences. Decades later, Jaws remains the best shark movie ever made.
AnswerSee ResultsFor more horror movies with bite, check out our guide to the best vampire movies of all time or dive into our favorite dinosaur movies.Upcoming Shark Movies
For those eager for more shark-related thrills, here are some of the most anticipated upcoming shark movies:
- Fear Below - May 15, 2025
- Beneath the Storm - August 1, 2025
- High Tide - To Be Confirmed
- Dangerous Animals - To Be Confirmed
When Is Shark Week in 2025?
Shark Week 2025 will run from July 6 to July 13, 2025, with the Discovery Channel broadcasting a variety of shark-related content.
