Top 10 Shark Movies Ever Made

One of my earliest fears was of bodies of water that might be hiding a people-eating shark beneath their calm surface. Shark movies fueled this paranoia, constantly reminding my younger self that nature's predators could strike at any moment.

While the concept of shark movies—vacationers, boaters, or divers being hunted by one or more sharks—seems straightforward, many films fail to capture the thrill effectively. However, when done right, these movies deliver an adrenaline-pumping experience that can make you wary of entering any water for a long time.

So, prepare your Shark Spray. Here are our top picks for the 10 best shark movies of all time. For more creature thrills, don't miss our guide to the greatest monster movies.

Top Shark Movies of All Time

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10. Shark Night (2011)

Image credit: Rogue
Director: 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 the world of shark movies, where the quality can be hit or miss, Shark Night manages to make the list for its basic competence. Set in the Louisiana gulf, vacationers 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—like a Great White jumping out of the water to decapitate someone on a WaveRunner. Marketed as "Shark Night 3D," it captures the early 2010s horror vibe, aiming for popcorn entertainment, which it achieves. Credit the late David R. Ellis for this enjoyable, if not top-tier, shark movie.

9. Jaws 2 (1978)

Image credit: Universal Pictures
Director: 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 stands out in a field with little competition. Roy Scheider returns to protect Amity Island from another Great White, this time targeting water skiers and beachgoers. The sequel is more action-oriented, which led to the original director John D. Hancock's departure. Despite its issues, it offers thrilling boat explosions and underwater carnage, making it a worthy continuation of the franchise.

8. Deep Blue Sea 3 (2020)

Image credit: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Director: 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

Deep Blue Sea 3 marks a significant improvement over its predecessor, returning to the original's thrilling essence. Scientists on the artificial island of Little Happy, tasked with protecting Great White sharks, face off against mercenaries and bull sharks. This B-movie delivers with martyrdom explosions, action-packed fights featuring aerial Bull Shark tag-teams, and unexpected victories, making it a standout in the realm of shark cinema.

7. The Meg (2018)

Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: 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 faces off against a 75-foot-long Megalodon from the Mariana Trench in The Meg. While a PG-13 rating and some storytelling flaws hold it back, it remains a compelling blockbuster aquatic horror spectacle. The film showcases massive Megalodon attacks on dive cages and underwater facilities, with Statham using his diving expertise to combat the ancient predator. Despite some uneven performances, The Meg delivers on its promise of thrilling action.

The sequel, The Meg 2, released in 2023, didn't meet the same standards and thus doesn't feature on our list of the best shark films.

6. Open Water (2003)

Image credit: Lions Gate Films
Director: 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

Unlike many shark films that rely on mechanical or CGI sharks, Open Water uses real sharks to achieve authenticity. Filmmakers Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, both avid scuba divers, captured natural shark behavior, resulting in a film that feels markedly different from typical shark movies. The suspenseful story follows an American couple left stranded in shark-infested waters, offering a harrowing and intense viewing experience.

5. Bait (2012)

Image credit: Paramount Pictures
Director: 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

Bait offers a unique twist on the shark movie genre, trapping survivors in a supermarket during a freak tsunami, where they must fend off Great White sharks. Australia delivers one of the better recent shark films, with survivors ingeniously using shopping carts for diving gear and turning parking lots into hunting grounds. The blend of effects maintains tension and delivers bloody thrills, especially as a robbery is interrupted by the tsunami, forcing criminals and clerks to unite against the aquatic threat.

4. 47 Meters Down (2017)

Image credit: Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures
Director: 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

47 Meters Down heightens the tension with a ticking clock as two sisters, played by Mandy Moore and Claire Holt, are trapped on the ocean floor after a disastrous shark diving expedition. The film effectively uses the vast, dark underwater landscape to create a nerve-wracking experience, with sudden shark attacks adding to the suspense.

3. 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

Deep Blue Sea is a quintessential 90s shark movie, featuring genetically enhanced Mako sharks and a memorable cast, including Samuel L. Jackson and LL Cool J. Despite some dated CGI, the film excels in its practical effects and over-the-top creature-feature thrills, making it a beloved entry in the genre.

2. The Shallows (2016)

Image credit: Sony Pictures
Director: 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 stars in The Shallows, facing off against a menacing shark with minimal resources. Director Jaume Collet-Serra masterfully builds tension using a limited setting, showcasing Lively's compelling performance against a still-impressive CG shark. The film's intensity and focus make it a standout in modern shark cinema.

1. Jaws (1975)

Image credit: Universal Pictures
Director: 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's Jaws revolutionized the summer blockbuster and remains the pinnacle of shark movies. Despite challenges with the animatronic shark, the film's suspense and storytelling propelled it to legendary status, earning over $476.5 million at the box office. Jaws masterfully builds tension, culminating in unforgettable scenes that still keep audiences away from the water decades later.

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, 2025
• Beneath the Storm - August 1, 2025
• High Tide - TBC
• Dangerous Animals - TBC

When 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.