From ‘Jaws' to ‘The Meg,' we rank the 10 best shark movies of all time

USA Today

9 hours ago

From 'Jaws' to 'The Meg,' we rank the 10 best shark movies of all time
For five decades, it hasn't been safe to go back into the water. Thanks, "Jaws."
The big screen has played host to a never-ending spate of troublesome man-eating sharks ever since Steven Spielberg's killer-fish spectacle. And now's the time to celebrate all things Amity Island with the 50th anniversary of "Jaws" (originally released June 20, 1975). It was the first summer blockbuster and remains one of Spielberg's greatest hits in his storied career. Not to mention having the most iconic – and ominous – two-note musical theme ever.
Since "Jaws," audiences have developed a deep hunger for these underwater antagonists – hello, Shark Week! – so we're ranking the top 10 shark movies ever. (It's probably worth noting that, like with basketball comedies, the quality drops off quickly after the first few.) And sorry, "Sharknado." We're excluding made-for-TV flicks from our list, but you, "Ghost Shark" and "Sharktopus" are still cool.
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10. 'Deep Blue Sea 3' (2020)
The proudly B-movie "Deep Blue Sea" franchise has a penchant for seriously bonkers shark attacks. This third installment is no different: Tania Raymonde plays the head of a group of video-blogging environmentalists on an artificial island in the Mozambique Channel, and her marine biologist ex (Nathaniel Buzolic) shows up with a goon squad hunting a trio of genetically engineered, crazy-smart bull sharks. (Fun fact: You'll root for the fish.)
Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home.
9. 'Meg 2: The Trench' (2023)
The first half of this sequel is a dull underwater sci-fi action flick all about folks turning on each other for natural resources and Jason Statham's diver dude saving his trouble-magnetic daughter. Then director Ben Wheatley lets loose with the creature feature we came for, where our hero has to deal with a trio of hungry megalodons, a kaiju-sized octopus and other freaky monsters attacking "Fun Island," a beachy locale that maniacally lives up to its name.
Where to watch: Max, Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home.
8. 'Jaws 2' (1978)
Imagine the pressure of following "Jaws" without Steven Spielberg and two of your top actors. But unlike the two sequels that came later, this follow-up wasn't absolute chum. The shark is still crazy destructive – even taking on a helicopter – but what's neat here is the return of Roy Scheider as the police chief who's voted out when the powers-that-be don't believe another beast is in the water, but who saves the day anyway.
Where to watch: Tubi, Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home.
7. 'The Meg' (2018)
It does give you the hand-to-fin combat you want from Jason Statham battling a 75-foot-long prehistoric shark, but getting there is a bit arduous: A bunch of researchers plumb new depths off the coast of Shanghai and accidentally unleash the Meg. It's all pretty corny and earnest until the ginormous shark starts wreaking havoc on ships and people in inner tubes.
Where to watch: Max, Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home.
6. 'The Reef' (2010)
A bunch of Australian friends (including a pair of lovers) sailing a yacht to Indonesia crash their boat on a coral reef and are stranded in the middle of the ocean. Their only hope is to get to a nearby island, a situation made harder – and much more tense – by a clever great white, noteworthy for being a real shark rather than a CGI one like most films use. Extra points for a headless giant turtle corpse.
Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home.
5. 'Open Water' (2003)
This Sundance Film Festival breakout used actual sea life to add all-too-realism to its worst-case vacation scenario. A married couple go on a scuba expedition to help their relationship and wind up getting stranded, with jellyfish stinging and sharks circling. It's an unnerving narrative that aims for authentic emotions and some very hard decisions when it comes to survival.
Where to watch: Tubi, Pluto TV, Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home.
4. 'Under Paris' (2024)
Not only did it nab a Stephen King Tweet of Approval, there's a lot to enjoy in this high-end B-movie. A scientist (Bérénice Bejo) partners with a cop (Nassim Lyes) for help when a man-eating menace begins a killing spree, sets up shop in the catacombs and threatens a major triathlon that's come to town. In addition to some "Jaws" nods (including a clueless mayor), the final act is full of fishy mayhem, all leading to one heck of a last-scene cliffhanger.
Where to watch: Netflix.
3. 'The Shallows' (2016)
The prettiest shark movie you'll ever see, it's essentially "Let's go surfing with Blake Lively in paradise" until her character becomes the target of a hungry shark. A scene-stealing seagull is her only confidante as she tends to a really nasty leg bite – luckily, she's pre-med! – and uses her smarts (and a flare gun) to foil the shark's meal plans.
Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home.
2. 'Deep Blue Sea' (1999)
Sure, the ridiculous factor is high when you consider that the sci-fi thriller centers on super-duper-smart sharks born from the studies of scientists working on an Alzheimer's cure. But it totally owns that silliness in an enjoyable way, like a shark using a dude strapped to a gurney as a battering ram. Bonus: The film offers up an all-time great movie death, a joyously gnarly munch you don't see coming until it's too late.
Where to watch: Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home.
1. 'Jaws' (1975)
The seafaring masterpiece sinks every other shark movie in its utter perfection. Hollywood's first summer blockbuster is aces across the board, from sheer terror to the unforgettable John Williams score (which keeps the dread going even without the toothy predator). But what really elevates the film from creature feature to complex shark-ridden drama is the trio of main characters, including top cop Brody (Roy Scheider), nerdy oceanographer Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) and Ahab-esque hunter Quint (Robert Shaw).
Where to watch: Tubi, Peacock, Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango at Home.