The Most Memorable Shark Films of All Time

Shark films have swum the ocean of cinema, regularly rearing their heads then vanishing again. They have left audiences terrified, bemused, baffled and fascinated. These movies have continued to evolve and reinvent themselves over the decades, sometimes managing to produce some unexpectedly original titles. From horror classics (you know the one!) to lesser-known gems, we’re celebrating the shark film genre and highlighting its most memorable offerings.

Many of these films have produced entire franchises and lines of merchandise, from posters to t-shirts, from action figures to lunchboxes. There have even been some great shark-related slot games, which Australian players can find at these top-rated gaming platforms. These sites are not only popular but also certified and audited, making them a secure choice for enjoying games.

Before we dive into the specifics, here’s an overview of the titles we’ll be featuring:

Jaws
Deep Blue Sea
Sharknado
Open Water
The Meg
Shark Tale

The OG Shark Film: Jaws (1975)

Spielberg’s early-career masterpiece revolutionised cinema and redefined the summer blockbuster, drawing huge numbers of viewers. Its legacy cannot be overstated, with virtually every shark film that followed owing a debt to Jaws.

During the production, Steven Spielberg had to overcome certain technical limitations—mainly that the mechanical shark wasn’t working—by minimising the amount of time that the titular antagonist spent on screen. This had the effect of ramping up the tension to new heights, helped along by John Williams’ uniquely suspenseful and equally minimalistic score.

Spielberg has since expressed some regret about the anti-shark phenomenon that followed. The film proved so memorable and made such an impact on audiences that it led to widespread fear of the ocean. Despite this, Jaws had various sequels and a huge merchandising campaign that is ongoing to this day.

Campy Cult Chaos: Deep Blue Sea (1999)

Deep Blue Sea took the established shark horror genre and injected some science fiction, giving a new lease of life to shark films. The antagonists of this film are not simply hungry sharks—they’re hungry and intelligent sharks.

The film’s events unfold in an underwater research facility where scientists, including one played by Samuel L. Jackson, become trapped and are forced to observe as their predators grow more and more capable. Although absurd, Deep Blue Sea is a beloved cult film, enjoyed especially for its outrageously over-the-top kill scenes, including a particularly memorable one involving Samuel L. Jackson.

So Bad It’s Brilliant: Sharknado Series (2013–2018)

The self-aware B-movies that comprise the Sharknado series are ridiculous, but they’re great fun. Briefly, the premise is that a tornado has swept up a huge number of sharks and is now depositing them in civilian areas.

The absurdity of the premise is what drives this film, rather than production quality. This SyFy original spread by word of mouth, eventually generating an entire franchise of Sharknado films. Through the use of basic effects, celebrity cameos, and a self-aware tongue-in-cheek tone, the Sharknado series went on to become a staple of the low-budget creature feature genre.

True Story = Real Fear: Open Water (2003)

Open Water is based on the true and tragic tale of Tom and Eileen Lonergan, who went on a scuba diving trip in 1998 and were abandoned by their dive-boat crew. The characters of the story are left adrift in shark-infested waters with few resources on which to survive.

Open Water proved the value of low-budget shark movies. Despite costing just $120,000 to produce, it was bought by Lionsgate for $2.5 million, after playing well at festivals. It ultimately grossed $55.5 million worldwide.

By leaning into the true story and using realistic filmmaking techniques (and by not revealing too much too soon, as per the Spielberg method), the film did extremely well.

Big-Budget Mayhem: The Meg (2018)

Based on the novel by Steve Alten, The Meg uses the star power of none other than Jason Statham to generate interest. However, the real star of the show is the giant prehistoric shark that he has to face off against, the megalodon.

This is a fun, outrageous popcorn film which is more about the spectacle of the gigantic sea creature than it is about horror. Although not particularly scary, it is a rip-roaring ride and essential viewing for fans of shark films.

The Meg has gone on to produce a franchise, with one of the entries being directed by Ben Wheatley.

Family Fun With Sharks: Shark Tale (2004)

Now for something a bit lighter! Sometimes you just can’t beat an animated family film. Some people overlooked Shark Tale, favouring Finding Nemo instead, but this is a perfectly good family film in its own right, even if it was a bit overshadowed.

With a protagonist voiced by Will Smith, and other members of the star-studded voice cast including Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese and Jack Black, this is absolutely one of the most memorable shark movies of all time.

The satirical gangster tale follows Oscar, a small fish who lies about having killed a shark and becomes an overnight hero, facing the consequences of his deceit. Whether you’ve got kids or not, this is well worth a watch.

Honorable Mentions

Shark films come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s only fair to acknowledge a few of the worthy runners-up:

47 Meters Down (2017)

Claustrophobia exacerbates the fear of sharks in this dive cage-set thriller.

Bait (2012)

In Bait, which makes use of 3D technology, Australian shoppers get trapped in a supermarket.

The Shallows (2016)

Blake Lively stars in this return to good old shark survival horror.

Conclusion

Shark films are in the cinema’s blood. They come in so many different forms, genres and tones that there are even sub-genres within them. What they all have in common is that they’re great fun.

The shark films that we’ve highlighted above span the whole gamut, from wacky comedy to outrageous spectacle to heavy realism and stark, primal fear. What form shark films will take next is unknown. What we do know: they will continue to resurface again and again.