One of my earliest fears was of bodies of water that may or may not be hiding a people-eating shark beneath their calm surfaces. Shark movies fueled that paranoia by constantly reminding my younger self that the world's natural order could strike at any moment.
Fin flicks seem to have a straightforward premise—vacationers, boaters, or divers hunted by one or multiple sharks—but many films fail to capture the essence. When done right, however, shark movies deliver an adrenaline-pumping experience that can keep you out of any body of water for the foreseeable future.
So, get your Shark Spray ready. 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)
The ratio of "alpha" to "minnow" in shark movies tends to lean heavily towards the negative, which means movies 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 a man on a WaveRunner. Originally billed as "Shark Night 3D," it captures the early 2010s horror vibe perfectly (translation: popcorn entertainment), and the late David R. Ellis delivers this "better with booze" bite of jawesomeness, even if it's not the shiniest lure in the tackle box.
Jaws 2 (1978)
Jaws 2 may not be a sequel that surpasses the original, but it stands out in a field with little competition. Roy Scheider returns to protect Amity Island from another Great White shark that begins devouring water skiers and beachgoers. It's more action-oriented—a shift that cost original director John D. Hancock his job due to his inability to handle such sequences—and continues the familiar storytelling. It has its flaws, but also features exploding boats and underwater carnage with enough execution to hold its own. If it ain't broke, why not turn it into a franchise?
Deep Blue Sea 3 (2020)
Yes, there are two Deep Blue Sea sequels. Deep Blue Sea 3 significantly rebounds from the franchise's low point with Deep Blue Sea 2, returning to the original's sharky essence. Scientists on the artificial island of Little Happy, tasked with protecting Great White sharks, encounter mercenaries and bull sharks threatening their safety—classic B Movie territory. The film delivers martyrdom explosions, action-packed brawls with aerial Bull Shark tag-team action, comical memes turned into character deaths, and one of the most unexpected victories in recent shark cinema. Kudos to the cast and crew of Deep Blue Sea 3 for exceeding expectations, not only for direct-to-video sequels but for absurd shark cinema that embraces its entertainment value.
The Meg (2018)
Jason Statham versus a 75-foot-long shark from the Mariana Trench? While I wish The Meg had been more thrilling and less restrained by its PG-13 rating, it still delivers as a blockbuster aquatic horror spectacle. The film showcases the danger of a massive Megalodon trying to break through dive cages and underwater research facilities, all while Statham uses his expert diving skills to thwart the not-so-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—some more successfully than others. The film blends Kaiju Lite tropes with soap opera dramatics, and for that, The Meg makes a significant splash.
2023 saw the release of The Meg 2, but the sequel didn't quite live up to the original. According to our review, it's "bigger and badder in all the wrong ways," and thus, it doesn't make our list of the best shark films.
Open Water (2003)
While Jaws used a mechanical shark and countless other films opted for CGI beasts, Open Water strives for authenticity by using real sharks. Filmmaker Chris Kentis and his wife and producer, Laura Lau, are avid scuba divers and wanted to capture as much natural behavior as possible. They also served as cinematographers, relying on their scuba expertise to ensure the footage met their standards. The result feels different from the more entertainment-focused films on this list, as it follows an American couple left stranded miles from shore in shark-infested waters. Not the most action-packed, but certainly suspenseful and harrowing.
Bait (2012)
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. Credit Australia with one of the better recent shark films, as survivors use diving gear fashioned from shopping carts, and parking lots with trapped cars become hunting grounds. The film blends practical and digital effects to maintain tense and bloody aquatic thrills. Add in a robbery interrupted by the tsunami, forcing criminals and clerks to work together against the swimming killers, and you have a film as compelling as 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 adds a layer of panic to an already frantic underwater escape scene. 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 emptiness to create tension, as the sisters are engulfed by pitch-black waters, with sharks lunging into view. It's nerve-wracking and white-knuckled, utilizing familiar scare tactics to amplify the thrills of genuine shark cinema.
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
You know your movie is iconic when it inspires an LL Cool J song. "Deepest, bluest, my hat is like a shark's fin" captures the 90s outrageousness of Deep Blue Sea, a film about genetically enhanced Mako sharks and the consequences of corporate greed. A talented cast fights to escape their own creation, but even Samuel L. Jackson can't avoid becoming another soggy snack. While the CGI may show its age, the practical shark effects in flooded hallways and kitchens are still impressive. Deep Blue Sea embraces the creature-feature genre's "nonsense" in the best ways, highlighting the razor-sharp teeth of karma.
The Shallows (2016)
Blake Lively goes head-to-head with an imposing finned foe in The Shallows. Jaume Collet-Serra proves his prowess as a blockbuster filmmaker, using limited locations (a rock formation, water, and a buoy) to maximize tension. Lively's compelling performance against a still-terrifying CG shark makes The Shallows a standout. It's a film that ages like fine wine, leaving no gristle on the bone. Collet-Serra dives into an unfathomably hopeless scenario and delivers intense, gripping action.
Jaws (1975)
Steven Spielberg revolutionized the summer blockbuster with the undisputed king of shark cinema. Despite struggles with the animatronic Great White, the film's success—earning $476.5 million at the box office—was well worth it. Jaws is a masterclass in suspense, withholding the shark until the perfect moment. This New England tale of summertime madness shows what happens when mayors prioritize 4th of July tourism over beachgoer safety, with the memory of Alex Kintner's fate still chillingly fresh. There's no debate—Jaws remains the best shark movie of all time, even decades later.
AnswerSee ResultsLooking for more horror movies with teeth? Check out our guide to the best vampire movies of all time next or dive into our favorite dinosaur movies.Upcoming Shark Movies
For those eager for more shark movies, here are some of the most anticipated upcoming releases:
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 wide range of shark-related content.
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