10 'bad' shark movies we secretly love to watch
While Steven Spielberg’s 1975 masterpiece JAWS set the gold standard for oceanic terror, the sharksploitation genre has since often had one fin in campy, over-the-top underwater cinema...or direct to DVD or streaming.
Despite the sometimes cheesy effects, questionable acting, and downright ludicrous premises, many of these 'bad fish' shark films have earned a special place in our hearts.
They’re guilty pleasures — the movies we know aren’t 'good', but we can’t help but enjoy them anyway.
Here are 10 shark films that may not win any Oscars, but will always find an audience looking for fun, laughs, and plenty of teeth.
1. Jaws 3D (1983)
When the third installment of the JAWS franchise hit the big screen, it tried to capitalise on the 3D craze of the early 1980s, alongside the likes of Friday the 13th Part 3 (1982) and Amityville 3D (1983). The result was a hilariously clunky spectacle that looks more like a theme park ride than a horror movie...but we love it
Set in SeaWorld, Jaws 3D follows a giant shark - at 35 feet the largest in the JAWS series - wreaking havoc on the park's attractions and visitors. The 3D effects — including a shark 'gliding' toward the screen — are laughably outdated, and the plot feels stitched together by tropes.
Yet, there’s something irresistible about seeing Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr. try to keep straight faces in the face of such absurdity. It’s a time capsule of its era, but offers a fresh and unique setting for the JAWS series. And who can forget Cindy and Sandy the dolphins.
2. Jaws the Revenge (1987)
For many Jaws the Revenge, sinks to new depths of ridiculousness. This time, the shark is out for personal vengeance against the Brody family, even though it’s unclear how the fish would know who they are.
Michael Caine famously skipped the Oscars - where he won a best supporting actor award - to film this Christmas-set sequel (yes, JAWS the Revenge IS a Christmas film, just like Die Hard) and later admitted he’d never seen the final product — but he did enjoy the paycheck and the house it built.
The laughably implausible plot, including a shark that growls and swims to the Bahamas, makes this film a prime example of “so bad it’s good.” Throw in Caine’s inexplicably calm reaction to being in a sinking plane, and you’ve got a must-watch disasterpiece.
3. Shark Night (2011)
Shark Night had all the makings of a fun summer thriller: a group of college students, a secluded lake, and plenty of sharks. Yet, somehow, it managed to miss the mark in almost every way.
The film tries to combine slasher tropes with aquatic horror but ends up feeling half-baked. The sharks are part of a convoluted scheme involving local rednecks who plant the predators in the lake to make snuff films. The characters are cookie-cutter archetypes, and the scares are watered down by poor CGI.
Still, there’s something oddly entertaining about the movie’s utter refusal to take itself seriously. It’s the kind of film you put on for a group of friends when you want to laugh at the absurdity and yell at the screen.
4. The Meg (2018)
Jason Statham battling a 75-foot prehistoric shark? Sign us up. The Meg takes itself just seriously enough to deliver a semi-coherent plot but doesn’t shy away from the ridiculous spectacle that makes it so entertaining.
The premise is simple: a megalodon, thought to be extinct, is unleashed from the depths of the ocean and wreaks havoc. Statham plays a grizzled rescue diver tasked with stopping the giant predator, and his tough-guy one-liners make the movie a joy to watch.
While the film’s CGI is decent, it leans heavily into over-the-top action sequences that strain believability. Yet, it’s this larger-than-life approach that makes The Meg a fun, popcorn-worthy ride — even if you’re rolling your eyes half the time.
5. The Last Shark (1981)
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then JAWS should feel honored by The Last Shark. This Italian knock off borrows heavily from Spielberg’s classic, from its plot about a seaside town terrorised by a shark to specific scenes lifted almost shot-for-shot.
The shark effects are hilariously bad — the mechanical predator looks more like a pool float than a fearsome beast. The dubbing is equally laughable, with awkwardly delivered lines that don’t quite match the actors’ mouths.
Despite its blatant plagiarism, The Last Shark has a cult following. It’s shameless in its attempts to cash in on JAWS’ success, and that brazenness makes it oddly endearing. If you’re in the mood for pure camp, this one’s a gem.
6. Sharknado (2013)
Where do we even start with Sharknado? This SyFy original took the concept of bad shark movies to a whole new level, combining tornadoes and sharks in a way that defies all logic.
Ian Ziering and Tara Reid lead a cast of characters battling airborne sharks as they rain down on Los Angeles. The special effects are gloriously awful, and the script is filled with cringe-worthy one-liners. But the film leans so heavily into its absurdity that it becomes oddly charming.
Sharknado spawned an entire franchise, proving that sometimes, the weirder the premise, the better. It’s the ultimate “turn off your brain and enjoy the madness” movie.
7. Shark Attack 3: Megalodon (2002)
If you’ve ever watched a clip of a hilariously bad shark movie on YouTube, chances are it came from Shark Attack 3: Megalodon. This low-budget disaster is infamous for its terrible special effects, wooden acting, and an inexplicably bizarre romantic subplot.
The titular megalodon looks like stock footage of a regular shark awkwardly scaled up to ridiculous proportions. The characters’ interactions - including a pre-Doctor Who John Barrowman - are stilted at best, and the dialogue is unintentionally hilarious.
Despite all this — or perhaps because of it — Shark Attack 3 is a must-watch for fans of bad cinema. It’s so earnest in its attempts to be serious that it loops back around to being funny.
8. Shark Bait (2022)
Also known as Jetski, this recent entry in the shark movie canon follows a group of reckless spring breakers stranded in open water after a jetski accident. Predictably, they’re picked off one by one by a hungry shark.
The film’s premise is painfully straightforward, and the characters’ poor decision-making makes it hard to root for them. The CGI shark isn’t the worst we’ve seen, but it’s far from convincing.
Still, Shark Bait taps into the primal fear of being stranded in the ocean, and the tension keeps it watchable. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s a solid choice for a lazy afternoon when you want to scream at the characters for their stupidity.
9. Great White (2021)
This Australian shark thriller aims for a more serious tone but struggles to deliver on its promise. The plot follows a group of survivors stranded on a raft after a plane crash, with a hungry shark circling them.
While the cinematography captures the beauty of the ocean, the film suffers from slow pacing and underdeveloped characters. The shark attacks are few and far between, leaving viewers waiting for something to happen.
Yet, Great White has a certain charm in its earnestness. It tries to blend survival drama with creature horror, and while it doesn’t quite succeed, it’s an enjoyable misfire for fans of the genre.
10. Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Okay, this one might actually be a good movie, for many the best shark film after JAWS, — but it’s still delightfully ridiculous. That is all part and parcel of its irresistible B-movie with a budget charm.
Deep Blue Sea, directed by Renny Harlin,
follows a group of scientists conducting experiments on sharks to cure Alzheimer’s, only to have their creations turn on them.
The film’s standout moment is, of course, Samuel L. Jackson’s shocking mid-speech death scene, which has become the stuff of memes. The CGI sharks haven’t aged well, but the practical effects are still astounding and the film’s mix of tension and campy fun makes it a staple of the shark-movie genre.
Unlike the other entries on this list, Deep Blue Sea manages to balance its absurdity with genuinely thrilling moments, making it a classic worth revisiting.
So why do we keep coming back to these 'bad' shark movies? Maybe it’s the escapism they offer — a chance to laugh, scream, and marvel at how far filmmakers will go to entertain us.
Or maybe it’s the nostalgia of sitting down with friends to watch something so absurd, it becomes unforgettable.
Whether they’re swimming in bad CGI or implausible storylines, these films remind us that sometimes, movies don’t need to be good to be great (white).
Words by Dean Newman
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