Shark Movies You Can Sink Your Teeth Into
Most people love a good scare—especially when it’s from the safety of their couch. And since sharks are both real and ridiculously fascinating, it’s no wonder we can’t resist watching them go full monster mode on the big screen.
Shark Enthusiasts
The film industry has done a fairly good job at entertaining shark-attack enthusiasts, but standards vary based on who you speak to.
Shark Film Standards
Some people rank shark movies based on how realistic it present, others are looking for more gore, and some people want all the suspense.
Any real shark-attack movie buff will tell you it’s nearly impossible to find all three of those in one film.
The Worst of the Best
Before we dive into the best, the top three worst shark-attack movies include:
Jaws: The Revenge (1987), which came in at #40 in Rotten Tomatoes list, Dark Tide (2012) which came in at #39, and Shark Attack (1999) which came in at #38.
These three films apparently lack in thrill and suspense, have boring storylines, and have less-than-impressive special effects, bringing them to the bottom of the list of best shark-attack movies.
Universal, Jaws: The Revenge (1987)
Ranked
Here’s just 15 of the best shark-attack films ever made, ranked by Rotten Tomatoes from worst to best.
What do you think?
15. 47 Meters Down
With a 2017 release date, 47 Meters Down has received mixed reviews over the years, with many shark-movie enthusiasts claiming the film to have a boring pace and being almost entirely reliant on jump scares—which aren’t scary.
Even still, the movie did well with movie-goers who want to like shark-attack movies, but typically can’t handle the suspense.
AMG Motion Pictures, 47 Meters Down (2017)
47 Meters Down: Synopsis
Two sisters head to Mexico in search of sunshine and adventure—and get way more than they bargained for. What starts as a thrilling shark cage dive turns into a nightmare when the cage snaps loose and sinks to the ocean floor, leaving them trapped with nothing but panic…and a rapidly shrinking oxygen tank.
AMG Motion Pictures, 47 Meters Down (2017)
14. Deep Blue Sea
Directed by: Renny Harlin
In 1999, Deep Blue Sea grossed $165 million worldwide, but received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its suspense, pacing, and action sequences, but criticized its unoriginality.
True shark-movie fans seem to give it a much higher rating, though.
Warner Bros., Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Deep Blue Sea: Synopsis
A crew of researchers on an island research facility in the middle of the ocean is harvesting the brain tissue of DNA-altered sharks as a possible cure for Alzheimer's disease.
After an executive joins the team to investigate the experiments, a routine procedure goes awry and a shark starts hunting and attacking the researchers.
Warner Bros., Deep Blue Sea (1999)
13. Sharknado 2: The Second One
Directed by: Anthony C. Ferrante
Released in 2014, Sharknado 2: The Second One actually makes the list at lucky number 13. The sequel of the ridiculous and mindless Sharknado film is just as cheesy as the first one, but still somehow a winner.
Although it is apparently not as entertaining as the first, fans of the brand reportedly enjoy it.
Syfy, Sharknado 2: The Second One (1914)
Sharknado 2: The Second One: Synopsis
A freak weather system brings in ravenous sharks to munch on hapless New Yorkers and iconic landmarks.
Shaknado
Syfy, Sharknado 2: The Second One (1914)
12. Jaws 2
Directed by: Jeannot Szwarc
Released in 1978, Jaws 2 had some big fins to fill—and didn’t quite make the same splash as its legendary predecessor. Still, Rotten Tomatoes called it “reasonably entertaining for a sequel that has no reason to exist,” which, honestly, might be the most accurate review in movie history.
Jaws 2: Synopsis
Years after the shark attacks that left Amity Island reeling, Sheriff Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) finds new trouble lurking in the waters. Mayor Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) wants to rid the beach town of the stain on its reputation. But the disappearance of a pair of divers suggests that all is not right.
An upcoming sailing competition worries the Sheriff, but no one takes him seriously—that is, until a shark fin cuts through the water.
11. The Reef: Stalked
Directed by: Andrew Traucki
The Reef: Stalked was released in 2022 and is the sequel to The Reef. This film comes in with mixed reviews. Some say if you didn’t enjoy the first one, skip this one too. Others say it was mostly a misfire, but still worth a watch for die-hard shark movie fans.
Thrills & Spills, The Reef: Stalked (2022)
The Reef: Stalked: Synopsis
A woman who had recently witnessed the horrific demise of her sister, travels to a tropical resort with her friends for a kayaking and diving adventure. Only hours into their expedition, the women are stalked and then attacked by a great white shark. They must then work together to overcome their fears if they want to survive.
Thrills & Spills, The Reef: Stalked (2022)
10. Open Water
Directed by: Chris Kentis
This low-budget thriller was released in 2003 and features some seriously intense moments. In fact, many have called it an, “uneasy watch,” that is a little rough around the edges, but makes up for it with its nerve-shredding caliber.
Plunge Pictures LLC, Open Water (2003)
Open Water: Synopsis
Two experienced scuba divers set off for a sunny island getaway, ready for crystal waters and coral reefs—but their dream dive takes a dark turn. After a mix-up leaves them abandoned in the middle of the ocean, they find themselves completely alone…except for the sharks circling below.
Plunge Pictures LLC, Open Water (2003)
9. Sharknado
Directed by: Anthony C. Ferrante
Released in 2013, Sharknado shamelessly redefines “so bad it’s good” for a new generation, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
It’s an obviously ridiculous and stupid film that somehow blows our minds with hilarious and cheesy features.
Sharknado: Synopsis
In Sharknado, a monstrous storm devastates Los Angeles, leaving the streets flooded and infested with sharks.
8. Sharks (3D)
Directed by: Jean-Jaques Mantello
Sharks 3D, which came out in 2004, delivers a virtual reality experience of scuba diving with sharks, taking you on a breathtaking voyage to discover a refreshing perspective on the infamously branded “vicious man-eating” predator.
Ocean Futures Society, Sharks 3D (2004)
Sharks (3D): Synopsis
Oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau documents face-to-face encounters with a wide variety of the ocean's ultimate predators, including white, hammerhead and whale sharks.
Ocean Futures Society, Sharks 3D (2004)
7. The Reef
Directed by: Andrew Traucki
Released in 2010, The Reef proves that sometimes the scariest stories don’t need fancy effects—just a whole lot of ocean and a lurking sense of dread. Hailed as a “gripping example of a less-is-more horror,” the film keeps tension high from start to finish. Even more chilling? It’s based on the true story of Ray Boundy, the lone survivor of a real-life shark attack in 1983.
Lightning Entertainment, The Reef (2010)
The Reef: Synopsis
The Reef is about a sailing trip that becomes a disaster for a group of friends when the boat sinks and a great white shark hunts the helpless passengers.
Lightning Entertainment, The Reef (2010)
6. Sharkwater Extinction
Directed by: Rob Stewart
Sharkwater Extinction is a thrilling suspense documentary, jam-packed with action and gore. It’s the sequel to Sharkwater (2006), and was released in 2018—one year after the director, Rob Stewart tragically passed in a diving accident.
Sharkwater Productions, Sharkwater Extinction (2018)
Sharkwater: Synopsis
The documentary follows filmmater Rob Stewart in his fight to expose the massive illegal shark fin industry.
Sharkwater Productions, Sharkwater Extinction (2018)
5. The Shallows
Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
The Shallows is a 2016 American survival horror thriller starring Blake Lively. The film is said to be exactly what one would expect from a movie of its genre, maintaining a suspenseful, entertaining, and tense atmosphere throughout.
Many have called it “the best shark movie ever made.”
The Shallows: Synopsis
A young woman who recently lost her mother travels to a secluded beach for some much-needed solace. While surfing solo, the woman comes face-to-face with a great white shark and must fight for her life as the deadly predator circles her in its feeding ground.
4. Sharkwater
Directed by: Rob Stewart
Sharkwater, released in 2006, isn’t your typical shark movie—it’s a pulse-pounding documentary that dives deep into the truth about these misunderstood predators. Directed by first-time filmmaker Rob Stewart, it made serious waves worldwide, earning over 200 international awards and captivating more than 130 million viewers. Twelve years later, its sequel, Sharkwater Extinction, continued Stewart’s mission to expose the darker side of ocean exploitation.
Sharkwater Productions, Sharkwater (2006)
Sharkwater: Synopsis
The documentary follows filmmaker Rob Stewart as he travels the world to give us proof of the non-violent nature of sharks, and to expose the massive illegal shark fin industry.
Sharkwater Productions, Sharkwater (2006)
3. Kon-Tiki
Directed by: Joachim Rønning, Espen Sandberg
Kon-Tiki takes third in best shark-attack movies. It was released in 2012 and is based on an incredible true-story from the 1940s.
Kon-Tiki: Synopsis
Kon-Tiki follows a Norwegian adventurer on his dangerous journey to prove a theory of the colonization of the South Sea Islands. He and five companions set sail on a wooden raft, navigating the sea through a powerful storm, a tense blood-soaked shark attack, a close encounter with a whale, and a deadly reef.
2. Playing With Sharks
Directed by: Sally Aitken
Playing with Sharks is a relatively newer Shark film that came out in 2021, and it currently takes second place. The film is a documentary with fantastic real-life footage and witness accounts.
National Geographic, Playing with Sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story (2021)
Playing With Sharks: Synopsis
This documentary dives into the life of Valerie Taylor, a trailblazing filmmaker and shark researcher who became a legend beneath the waves. Featuring stunning underwater footage and intimate interviews, it traces her remarkable transformation—from champion spear fisher to one of the ocean’s fiercest advocates for shark conservation.
National Geographic, Playing with Sharks: The Valerie Taylor Story (2021)
1. Jaws
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
The iconic horror film, Jaws, is said to still be the best shark-attack movie of all time. It was released in 1975 and was based on a real-life shark attack that was considered one of the worst in documented history.
The film took the world by storm and attained cult status quite quickly.
Jaws: Synopsis
Jaws is about a great white shark that preys upon a small Long Island resort town and the three men who attempt to capture and end the beast.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
