Top 10 Shark Movies Ever Ranked

From an early age, the fear of bodies of water potentially harboring a people-eating shark beneath their serene surfaces gripped me. Shark movies intensified this paranoia, constantly reminding my younger self that nature's order could strike at any moment. The concept of fin flicks seems straightforward—vacationers, boaters, or divers being hunted by one or more sharks—but many films miss the mark. When done right, these movies deliver an adrenaline-fueled experience that can make you wary of any body of water for a long time.

So, prepare your Shark Spray. Here are the top 10 best shark movies of all time. For more thrills with creatures, check out our guide to the greatest monster movies.

Top Shark Movies of All Time

11 Images10. 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 the realm of shark movies, the ratio of "alpha" to "minnow" leans heavily towards the negative, but films like Shark Night make the cut for their general competency. This movie features vacationers in the Louisiana gulf who are attacked by backwoods maniacs obsessed with Shark Week, to the extent of attaching cameras to ferocious sharks. It's over-the-top—a Great White leaps from the water to decapitate someone on a WaveRunner. The original theatrical billing as "Shark Night 3D" captures the early 2010s horror vibe it's aiming for (think popcorn entertainment), and the film delivers on this promise. Kudos to the late David R. Ellis for this "better with booze" bite of jawesomeness, even if it's not the most dazzling catch.

9. 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

Jaws 2 may not surpass the original, but it stands out in a field with little competition. Roy Scheider returns to protect Amity Island from another Great White that starts preying on water skiers and beachgoers. The film leans more into action, which led to the original director John D. Hancock being replaced for not fitting the action-oriented vision. It continues the familiar story with exploding boats and underwater carnage, executed well enough to justify its place in the franchise.

8. 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

Yes, there are two Deep Blue Sea sequels. Deep Blue Sea 3 significantly improves upon the franchise's second installment, returning to the original's shark-centric thrills. Scientists on the artificial island of Little Happy, tasked with protecting Great White sharks, face threats from mercenaries and bull sharks. It's a full-on B Movie with martyrdom explosions, action-packed brawls featuring aerial Bull Shark tag-team action, and character deaths inspired by comical memes. This film delivers an unexpected victory in the realm of shark movies, exceeding expectations for direct-to-video sequels and embracing its entertainment value.

7. 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 battles a 75-foot-long shark from the Mariana Trench in The Meg. While the film could have benefited from a more intense rating and tighter storytelling, it delivers as a blockbuster aquatic horror spectacle. The Megalodon's massive chompers threaten dive cages and underwater research facilities, with Statham using his diving expertise to combat the ancient predator. A talented cast, including Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, and Cliff Curtis, tries to prevent the Megalodon from treating beachgoers like appetizers. The film blends Kaiju Lite elements with soap opera dramatics, making a significant splash despite its flaws.

2023 saw the release of The Meg 2, 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 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

Unlike Jaws, which used a mechanical shark, and other films that relied on CGI, Open Water opts for real sharks to achieve authenticity. Filmmakers Chris Kentis and Laura Lau, avid scuba divers, aimed to capture natural shark behavior. They also served as cinematographers, ensuring the film's authenticity. Open Water stands out for its suspense and realism, depicting an American couple stranded miles from shore in shark-infested waters after their boat leaves them behind. It's less action-packed but intensely suspenseful.

5. 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 featured alligators in a flooded crawl space during a hurricane, Bait trapped people inside a supermarket with Great White sharks during a tsunami. This Australian film showcases survivors using shopping carts and parking lots as makeshift diving gear and hunting grounds. The blend of effects keeps the aquatic thrills tense and bloody, with the added twist of a robbery interrupted by the tsunami, forcing criminals and clerks to unite against the sharks. Bait holds its own against Crawl, fitting into the niche of "When Animals Attack in Trapped Locations During Freak Weather Incidents."

4. 47 Meters Down (2017)

Image credit: Entertainment Studios Motion PicturesDirector: Johannes Roberts | Writer: Johannes Roberts, Ernest Riera | Stars: Mandy Moor, 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 adds a ticking clock to an already tense underwater escape scenario. Mandy Moore and Claire Holt portray sisters trapped on the ocean floor after a shark diving expedition goes wrong. The film uses the vast, dark underwater landscape to heighten the suspense, with sharks lurking in the shadows. It's a nerve-wracking, white-knuckle experience that showcases the best 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 that inspired an LL Cool J song, Deep Blue Sea captures the 90s' outrageousness with its tale of genetically enhanced Mako sharks and pharmaceutical mishaps. The cast, including Samuel L. Jackson, fights to escape their own creation, but not all survive. Despite some dated CGI, the film features practical shark effects in flooded hallways and kitchens. Deep Blue Sea embraces the creature-feature genre's "nonsense" in the best way, showcasing karma's sharp teeth.

2. 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 minimal locations—a rock formation, water, and a buoy. Lively's performance against a convincingly terrifying CG shark elevates the film. The Shallows delivers a relentless, intense experience, leaving no room for excess.

1. 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 movies. Despite challenges with the animatronic shark, the film grossed $476.5 million. Jaws masterfully builds suspense, culminating in the reveal of the shark, named Bruce. This New England story about a mayor prioritizing tourist revenue over beach safety remains terrifying, with the memory of Alex Kintner's fate still fresh. Decades later, Jaws remains the best shark movie of all time.

Upcoming Shark Movies

For those eager for more shark movies, several are in the works or have been announced. 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 is scheduled to take place from July 6 to July 13, 2025, with the Discovery Channel set to broadcast a wide array of shark-related content.