The 11 Best Shark Movies

Tropes and Characteristics of Shark Movies

Shark movies really are a genre unto themselves, kind of an offshoot of monster movies, that at least are loosely grounded in reality.

Because of this, they have a bunch of tropes and characteristics that many ofthe following films have in common.

Common Shark Movie Tropes

• The Ignored Warning: The film almost always opens with an initial, often brutal, attack on an unsuspecting victim. A central character (usually The Expert or The Voice of Reason) recognizes the danger and warns the authorities, but their concerns are dismissed, typically for economic reasons like preserving the summer tourist season. This is the cornerstone of Jaws.
• The Greedy Mayor/Authority Figure: This character is the one who ignores the warning. Their motivation is almost always financial or political. They prioritize profits or public image over public safety, famously represented by Mayor Larry Vaughn in Jaws who insists, "Amity is a summer town. We need summer dollars."
• The Revenge Plot: Often, the shark isn't just a random animal; it seems to have a personal vendetta. It might be a mother shark avenging the capture of its young (Jaws: The Revenge) or a genetically engineered super-shark hunting its creators (Deep Blue Sea). This anthropomorphizes the shark, turning it from a natural predator into a slasher-style villain.
• The Isolated Location: The characters are almost never in a place with easy access to help. They are trapped on a small rock (The Shallows), in a cage at the bottom of the ocean (47 Meters Down), on a capsized boat in open water (The Reef), or in a flooded research facility (Deep Blue Sea). This isolation is key to cranking up the tension.
• The "Kitting Up" Montage: Before the final confrontation, the heroes will gather their gear. This usually involves loading spear guns, checking scuba tanks, preparing explosives, and perhaps reinforcing their boat. It's a classic montage sequence that builds anticipation for the climax.
• The False Finish: The heroes think they've killed the shark, only for it to spring back to life for one final scare. This trope is a staple of horror in general, but it's particularly effective when the "dead" shark suddenly lunges from the water.
• The Ludicrously Unscientific Shark: Real-world shark behavior is often thrown out the window for the sake of spectacle. Movie sharks can hold grudges, roar (despite lacking vocal cords), swim at impossible speeds, and survive massive injuries. Films like The Meg and the Sharknado series take this to the extreme.
• The POV Shot (Shark Vision): A classic cinematographic technique, pioneered by Jaws, showing the shark's perspective as it glides ominously through the water, stalking its prey from below. It's an incredibly effective way to build suspense without even showing the creature.
• The Grizzled Hunter / The Stoic Hero: This is the Quint or Jason Statham character. A tough, experienced individual who has a past with the sea (and maybe even sharks). They are often quiet, highly capable, and might be motivated by money, revenge, or a sense of duty. They are the muscle of the operation.
• The Voice of Reason / The Expert: This is the oceanographer, marine biologist, or seasoned fisherman who knows exactly how dangerous the situation is. They are the first to identify the threat and provide crucial exposition about the shark's behavior and weaknesses. Matt Hooper from Jaws is the quintessential expert.
• The Opening Victim / The "Chum": This character's primary purpose is to demonstrate the shark's power and establish the threat. They are often young, attractive, and enjoying a moment of carefree fun before being brutally dispatched. Chrissie Watkins in the opening of Jaws is the most iconic example.

1. Jaws

It comes as no surprise that Steven Spielberg's masterpiece, Jaws, remains at the pinnacle of the genre.

I mean, it's one of the greatest movies of any kind of all time.

Its masterful blend of suspense, character development, and a terrifyingly unseen threat for much of the film set a new standard for blockbuster filmmaking and permanently etched the fear of sharks into the public consciousness.

2. Open Water

This hidden gem is really bleak. I remember seeing it in a small theater where, by the end, people were pacing under the tension.

Based on a true story, Open Water is a stark and terrifying look at what happens when a scuba-diving couple is accidentally left behind in the middle of the ocean. The film's low-budget, documentary-style aesthetic and use of real sharks create a palpable sense of dread and hopelessness.

3. The Shallows

A tense and visually stunning survival film, The Shallows stars Blake Lively as a surfer stranded on a rock just a short distance from shore, stalked by a persistent great white shark.

There's a really clever part of this movie where she uses a dead seagull to trick the shark, and I think about it all the time when I'm writing.

The film was a critical and commercial success, praised for its suspenseful direction and Lively's compelling performance.

4. Jaws 2 (1978)

A worthy sequel that sees Police Chief Martin Brody once again facing off against a great white shark terrorizing the waters of Amity Island.

While not reaching the heights of the original, it delivers solid scares and a compelling return for the beloved characters.

5. Dangerous Animals

If you want to make a shark movie now, you need something new in the genre. You have to have a twist on the story.

In this movie, the twist is that it is a serial killer plus sharks threatening our heroes. It adds another element to the predator storyline and layers in something thematic.

6. Deep Blue Sea

Truly, a movie I watch all the time. "Bigger, faster, smarter" was the tagline for this 1999 sci-fi horror flick, and it delivered on its promise.

In Deep Blue Sea, a group of scientists' experiment to cure Alzheimer's disease goes horribly wrong when their genetically engineered mako sharks develop super-intelligence and begin hunting them down.

The film has become a beloved cult classic.

7. The Meg

What's more fun than a shark? A giant shark. Pitting action star Jason Statham against a 75-foot-long prehistoric megalodon, The Meg was a massive box office success.

It's the kind of thing you want from most shark movies, with big set pieces and an even bigger predator chasing our heroes down.

8. 47 Meters Down

This is a smart way to do a one-location movie that really pays off. Capitalizing on the primal fear of being trapped, 47 Meters Down follows two sisters who find themselves in a shark cage at the bottom of the ocean with their air supply dwindling and great whites circling.

You have a time lock and lots of stakes, it keeps the pages turning. The film was a sleeper hit, praised for its suffocating suspense and terrifying premise.

9. The Reef

Based on a true story, this Australian thriller follows a group of friends whose boat capsizes, forcing them to swim through open water to reach a distant island while being stalked by a great white shark.

The use of real shark footage enhances the film's terrifying realism, making it a favorite among those who prefer their horror grounded in reality.

10. Sharknado

No list of shark movies would be complete without mentioning the cultural phenomenon that is Sharknado.

This made-for-television movie about a waterspout that lifts sharks out of the ocean and deposits them in Los Angeles is the epitome of a "so-bad-it's-good" film.

With its ludicrous premise and campy effects, it spawned a franchise and a legion of devoted fans.

11. Under Paris (2024)

A recent addition to the genre, this French film sees a massive shark threatening the Seine River during an international triathlon. It's a thrilling and action-packed adventure.

Summing It All Up 

Movies about sharks have sort of become their own genre, driving fear of being in the water and creating a mythos around the animal.

This summer, as millions of people head into the ocean, they'll be sure to keep an eye out after watching these incredible movies.