Top 10 Shark Movies Ever Ranked

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, constantly reminding my younger self that nature's unpredictability could strike at any moment.

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

So, grab your Shark Spray. Here are our picks for the top 10 best shark movies of all time. For more creature feature thrills, explore our guide to the best 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

The landscape of shark movies often leans towards the negative, but films like Shark Night make the cut for their basic competence. Set in the Louisiana gulf, vacationers are terrorized by backwoods maniacs who take their Shark Week obsession to extremes by equipping ferocious sharks with cameras. The plot is outlandish—a Great White leaps from the water and decapitates a man on a WaveRunner. Billed originally as "Shark Night 3D," it captures the early 2010s horror vibe, aiming for popcorn entertainment and achieving it. Kudos to the late David R. Ellis for delivering this entertaining, if not top-tier, bite of shark-themed fun.

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

Jaws 2 may not outshine its predecessor, but it stands out in a field with little competition. Roy Scheider returns to protect Amity Island from another Great White that targets water skiers and beachgoers. The sequel leans more into action, a shift that led to the replacement of original director John D. Hancock. Despite its flaws, Jaws 2 delivers with exploding boats and underwater carnage, effectively continuing the story and proving that a successful formula can be turned into a 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

Following the disappointing Deep Blue Sea 2, Deep Blue Sea 3 impressively rebounds, echoing the original's shark-centric thrills. Set on the artificial island of Little Happy, scientists face off against mercenaries and bull sharks. This B-movie delivers with martyrdom explosions, action-packed fights featuring aerial Bull Shark attacks, and unexpected victories. Deep Blue Sea 3 exceeds expectations for direct-to-video sequels and adds a humorous twist to shark cinema, fully embracing its entertainment value.

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. While The Meg might have benefited from a more intense rating and tighter storytelling, it delivers as a blockbuster aquatic horror spectacle. The film's premise of a prehistoric predator threatening underwater research and beachgoers is brought to life with a cast that includes Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, and Cliff Curtis. Despite some soap opera dramatics, The Meg effectively showcases its monster movie elements.

In 2023, The Meg 2 was released, but it didn't meet the original's standards, described as "bigger and badder in all the wrong ways" in our review. Consequently, it doesn't make 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 CGI or mechanical sharks, Open Water uses real sharks for authenticity. Filmmaker Chris Kentis, an avid scuba diver, and his wife Laura Lau, the producer, aimed to capture natural shark behavior. The result is a film that feels distinct from the more entertainment-focused entries on this list. It follows an American couple stranded in shark-infested waters, offering suspense and tension over action-packed sequences.

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

Before Crawl featured alligators in a flooded crawl space, Bait trapped people inside a supermarket with Great White sharks during a tsunami. This Australian film effectively blends survival and horror, with survivors using shopping carts for diving gear and parking lots as hunting grounds. The mix of effects keeps the tension high and the action bloody. Notably, a robbery is interrupted by the tsunami, forcing criminals and clerks to unite against the aquatic threat. Bait stands as a compelling entry in the "trapped during freak weather" subgenre.

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

The ticking clock in 47 Meters Down heightens the panic in an already tense underwater escape scenario. Mandy Moore and Claire Holt portray sisters trapped on the ocean floor after a shark diving mishap, surrounded by darkness and lurking sharks. The film uses the vast emptiness of the ocean to create a nerve-wracking experience, with multiple scares that, while sometimes repetitive, amplify the tension of shark cinema.

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

A film so iconic it inspired an LL Cool J song, Deep Blue Sea captures the outrageous spirit of the 90s with its tale of genetically enhanced Mako sharks and corporate greed. Despite some dated CGI, the film excels with practical shark effects in flooded hallways and kitchens. The cast, including Samuel L. Jackson, battles to survive their own creations, embracing the creature-feature genre's thrilling absurdity.

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 faces off against a menacing shark in The Shallows. Director Jaume Collet-Serra masterfully builds tension with limited settings, showcasing his skill in contemporary blockbuster filmmaking. Lively's performance against a convincingly terrifying CG shark elevates the film, making The Shallows a gripping and intense experience that stands the test of time.

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 redefined the summer blockbuster with Jaws, the undisputed king of shark movies. Despite challenges with the mechanical shark, the film's impact was undeniable, grossing over $476.5 million. Jaws masterfully builds suspense, culminating in the iconic reveal of the Great White named Bruce. This New England story of a mayor prioritizing tourism over safety remains a chilling reminder of nature's power, keeping audiences away from beaches to this day.

For those interested in more horror with bite, check out our guide to the best vampire movies or dive into our favorite dinosaur movies.

Upcoming Shark Movies

For shark movie enthusiasts, several exciting projects are on the horizon:

• 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 is scheduled from July 6 to July 13, 2025, with the Discovery Channel set to broadcast a variety of shark-related content.