28 Best Shark Movies of All Time: Top List of High-Rated Horror Movies

The endless expanse of the ocean is fraught with a lot of dangers, one of which is voracious sharks. They attack unnoticed and leave almost no chance for their victims to escape. We have put together a list of the best movies with sharks for you. These films will make you shudder, taste sea salt mixed with risk to your life, and check the bottom for a long time before entering the water.

Table of contents

The Shallows

Rating IMDB – 6.3
Genre: Horror, thriller, action, drama
US production / 2016
Budget: $17,000,000
Worldwide gross: $119,100,758
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra
Cast: Blake Lively, Oscar Jaenada, Joseph Salas, Brett Cullen, Sedona Lege, Pablo Calva, Diego Espejel, Janelle Bailey, Ava Dean, Chelsea Moody

Nancy Adams is an ordinary student of medical college. After her mother’s death, she spends the entire weekend alone, conquering the waves on a surfboard. On one of these beautiful days, she finds a deserted beach and jumps into the water with anticipation of joy.

Swimming far enough, the girl meets a shark, which drives her to a small island off the coast. There is nowhere to wait for help, and the rising tide plunges the only salvation deep into the ocean.

The film features a female great white shark created by the painting’s set designers using computer graphics.

In the final scene, Blake Lively hit her head hard on the buoy. The scene with the blow and the blood on the face of the actress got into the final version of the film.

47 Meters Down

Rating IMDB – 5.7
Genre: Horror, thriller
Production UK / 2017
Budget: $5,500,000
Worldwide gross: $62,187,529
Directed by Johannes Roberts
Cast: Mandy Moore, Claire Holt, Chris J. Johnson, Jani Gelman, Santiago Segura, Matthew Modine, Maira Juarez, Axel Mansilla

The film tells the story of two sisters, Lisey and Kate, who come to Mexico for the holidays and decide to experience a new sensation: dive into the water and watch the sharks up close.

At first, everything goes according to plan – the girls climb into the cage and go down a few meters, but then the cable does not withstand the tension and bursts. After regaining consciousness, the sisters realize that they were at a depth of more than 40 meters under water, and ruthless monsters swarm around them.

47 Meters Down: Uncaged

Rating IMDB – 5.0
Genre: Horror
Production UK, USA / 2019
Worldwide gross: $47,582,563
Directed by Johannes Roberts
Cast: Sophie Nelisse, Corina Fox, Brianne Tju, Sistine Rose Stallone, John Corbett, Nia Long, Brec Bassinger, Davi Santos, Kaileen Rambeau, Axel Mansilla

The sequel to the horror film about sharks tells the story of high school student Sasha, who, along with her friends, goes to an underwater gorge to look at the fish. The guys meet with the owners of these places, who see divers only as food.

Underwater filming took place at The Underwater Studio in the UK.

To create the appearance of the habitat of sea creatures, finely chopped cabbage was added to the water.

Deep Blue Sea (a dilogy)

Rating: IMDB – 5.9
Genre: Horror, action, fantasy
Production USA, Mexico / 1999
Budget: $60,000,000
Worldwide gross: $164,648,142
Directed by Renny Harlin
Cast: Thomas Jane, Saffron Burroughs, Samuel L. Jackson, Jacqueline Mackenzie, Michael Rapaport, Stellan Skarsgård, LL Cool J, Aida Turturro, Christos, Daniel Rey

Underwater laboratory scientists are developing a new medicine that should help people cope with many serious illnesses. They conduct their experiments on white sharks, injecting them with a drug that improves brain function.
However, the experiment goes out of control when the wiser monsters reveal their true identity as killers. For the sake of freedom, sharks are ready to kill all their creators and escape into the ocean.

For one of the scenes, actor Thomas Jane had to swim next to a real shark. The shooting of these shots took place last, after the main material was ready.

The film contains references to the series of cult films about killer sharks named Jaws: a matching license plate that was taken out of the animal’s mouth and methods of killing predators.

Great White

Rating IMDB – 4.1
Genre: Horror
Production Australia, USA, UK / 2020
Worldwide gross: $635,058
Directed by Martin Wilson
Cast: Katrina Bowden, Aaron Yakubenko, Kimie Tsukakoshi, Tim Kano, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Jason Wilder, Tatiana Marjanowicz, Patrick Etchison

Five young people decide to spend an unforgettable weekend away from everyone. For this they go to a beautiful uninhabited island. While returning back, their airplane crashes and falls into the open ocean.

The guys manage to escape using an inflatable raft. Recovering from the shock, they meet on their way a problem more serious than a plane crash – their boat was discovered by sharks, who have already smelled blood and plan to feast on unlucky tourists.

The picture shows a great white shark (cannibal shark). Despite the telling name, these predators rarely attack people. They prefer to feed on small fish.

USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage

Rating IMDB – 5.3
Genre: Action, thriller, drama, military, history
US production / 2016
Budget: $40,000,000
Worldwide gross: $2,158,568
Directed by Mario Van Peebles
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Tom Sizemore, Thomas Jane, Matt Lanter, James Remar, Brian Presley, Yutaka Takeuchi, Johnny Wactor, Adam Scott Miller, Cody Walker

The film takes place in 1945, a few weeks before the surrender of Japan. The command of the cruiser named Indianapolis received an order to deliver a special cargo to the Tinian island. After completing the task, the sailors dream to return home as soon as possible and meet with their relatives.

On the way back, their ship comes under Japanese fire and sinks. Part of the crew dies immediately, and the survivors are rescued by boats. Now they need to survive in the open ocean for several days before they can be rescued. They have no water, no food, and only waves and sharks hiding in the depths of the sea are around.

The film is based on a documentary book by Doug Stanton, one of the survivors in this terrible tragedy.

Matt Lander’s grandfather served on the USS Indianapolis during World War II. In the film, the actor wears the personal dog tags of his ancestor.

Open Water

Rating IMDB – 5.7
Genre: Horror, thriller, drama, adventure
US production / 2003
Budget: $500,000
Worldwide gross: $54,667,954
Director Chris Kentis
Cast: Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis, Saul Stein, Michael E. Williamson, Christina Zenarro, John Charles, Estelle Lau, Steve Lemmy

explore the sea world. The dive was exciting, but when they surfaced they found that the boat had sailed away without them.

The lovers were completely alone 15 km from the coast without phones, walkie-talkies or signal lights. Meanwhile, the sharks began to swim closer and closer, waiting for the right moment to attack.

The film is based on real events that took place in 1998 with a married couple Tom and Eileen Lonergan off the coast of Australia.

The film’s budget was so small that the actors had to shoot in armored suits next to real predators.

The Reef

Rating IMDB – 5.8
Genre: Horror, thriller, drama, adventure
Production Australia / 2010
Worldwide gross: $57,986
Directed by Andrew Trauki
Cast: Damian Walsh-Howling, Guyton Grantley, Adrienne Pickering, Zoe Naylor, Kieran Darcy-Smith, Mark Simpson

A group of friends go on a boat trip to the coral reefs. During the trip, the yacht hits a reef and capsizes. One of the group members is left to wait for rescuers on a sinking ship, while four others decide to swim to shore. On the way, they meet a white shark, which destroys all plans.

The film is based on a true story that happened to Ray Boundy in 1983.

Deep Blue Sea 3

Rating IMDB – 4.6
Genre: Horror, fantasy, thriller
US production / 2020
Directed by John Pogue
Cast: Tanya Raymond, Nathaniel Buzolic, Emerson Brooks, Bren Foster, Reina Aoi, Alex Bhat, Siya Mayola, Avumil Kwongo, Brashaad Mayweather, Ernest St. Clare

Dr. Emma Collins is a talented biologist who, along with her team, is studying the ecosystem of one of the South African atolls and its inhabitants – sharks. Due to climate change, these creatures have become more aggressive than before, although there have been no cases of attacks on people.

One day, her friend and former colleague Richard turns to Emma for help. He asks to find and neutralize two bull sharks that have killed several people.

This is the last and final part of the Deep Blue Sea trilogy.

Bait

Rating Kinopoisk – 5.3 / MDB – 5.2
Genre: Horror, thriller, drama, adventure
Production Australia, Singapore / 2011
Budget: A$ 30,000,000
Worldwide gross: $25,830,380
Directed by Kimble Randall
Cast: Xavier Samuel, Sharni Vinson, Adrian Pang, Qi Yuu, Alex Russell, Phoebe Tonkin, Martin Sachs, Alice Parkinson, Julian McMahon, Daniel Wyllie

A terrible wave covers the calm city, washing away everything in its path. From the depths of the sea, bloodthirsty sharks rush out to the flooded streets. They are thirsty for flesh and blood. A group of people managed to hide in the mall, which now has monsters floating around.

Being trapped, people try to escape so as not to become bait for sharks. Will the protagonist George be able to find and save his beloved, if once he almost lost her?

Animatronic sharks were used for filming. The director wanted to make the film without computer graphics, but the picture’s budget was not enough for this.

Shark Night 3D

Rating IMDB – 4.0
Genre: Horror, thriller
US production / 2011
Budget: $25,000,000
Worldwide gross: $41,363,927
Directed by David R. Ellis
Cast: Sara Paxton, Dustin Milligan, Chris Carmack, Kathryn McPhee, Donal Logue, Joel Moore, Joshua Leonard, Sinqua Walls, Alyssa Diaz, Chris Zylka

A group of students spend the weekend in a cozy house near the lake. Their rest is overshadowed by the appearance of sharks that attack people. It soon turns out that behind a series of terrible murders there is a benefit: someone is making snuff movies about big bloodthirsty sharks, and the guys just happened to be at the wrong time and in the wrong place.

Filming took place in Louisiana at Caddo Lake.

Jaws (series)

Rating IMDB – 8.0
Genre: Thriller, horror, adventure
US production / 1975
Budget: $7,000,000
Worldwide gross: $470,653,000
Director Steven Spielberg
Cast: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton, Carl Gottlieb, Jeffrey Kramer, Susan Backliny, Jonathan Philly, Ted Grossman

The action of a series of horror films about a giant shark takes place with the participation of police sheriff Martin Brody. In a small resort town on Amity Island, a terrible event occurs – the sheriff finds the bitten body of a young woman and realizes that now all the inhabitants of the district are in mortal danger. Enlisting the support of scientists and hunters, Martin goes in search of a monster whose hunger is getting stronger every day.

In the sequels of this Oscar-winning movie, the shark returns again and again, bringing monstrous horror to the inhabitants of the coast and the Brody family.

The film is based on the novel of the same name by Peter Benchley.

The recognizable soundtrack of “Jaws” was composed by John Williams. At first, director Steven Spielberg did not take the music seriously, but later noted that the film gained popularity due to the exciting audio accompaniment.

12 Days of Terror

Rating IMDB – 5.5
Genre: Horror, thriller, drama
South African production / 2004
Director Jack Sholder
Cast: Colin Egglesfield, Mark Dexter, Jenna Harrison, John Rhys-Davies, Jamie Bartlett, Adrian Golly, Colin Stinton, Roger Dwyer, Patrick Lister, Nigel Sweet

The film is set in the summer of 1916. The coast of New Jersey is filled with tourists craving coolness and freshness. However, the appearance of a white shark, which decides to feast on unlucky tourists, overshadows a pleasant rest.

After the first attack, the energetic lifeguard Alex insists that all beaches be closed. But the state authorities do not want to lose profits and write off the deaths of people in the machinations of US enemies. Then Alex decides to find and kill the man-eating shark on his own.

The film is based on the book of the same name by R. Fernicola, based on real events of those days.

The Meg

Rating IMDB – 5.6
Genre: Horror, fantasy, action, thriller
Production USA, China / 2018
Budget: $130,000,000
Worldwide gross: $530,243,742
Directed by John Turtletaub
Cast: Jason Statham, Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Cliff Curtis, Winston Chao, Shuya Sophia Tsai, Ruby Rose, Paige Kennedy, Robert Taylor, Olafur Darri Olafsson

A deep-sea submersible descends into the Mariana Trench for research. Suddenly, the device is attacked by an unknown huge creature, which turns out to be a prehistoric megalodon. The team is trapped in the heart of the Pacific Ocean.

For the evacuation of the crew, retired submariner Jonas Taylor is invited. No one even realizes that Jonas has already met a sea monster before, and now he has his own plan for the monster.

The killer shark movie is based on Steve Alten’s first novel, Megalodon: Terror from the Deep.

The picture was planned to be staged back in 1997, but the film rights were transferred from studio to studio. As a result, the author of the novel wrote the script himself and achieved the release of the story on the screens in 20 years.

Dark Tide

Rating IMDB – 4.3
Genre: Horror, thriller, drama, adventure
Production of South Africa, UK / 2011
Budget: $25,000,000
Worldwide gross: $1,167,612
Directed by John Stockwell
Cast: Halle Berry, Olivier Martinez, Sizwe Msutu, Mark Elderkin, Toko Ntschinga, Henrik Vos, Judith Cronenberg-Sarembock, Wayne Harrison, Joseph Du Plessis, Jessica Taylor

Kate is a documentary filmmaker and biologist who specializes in the psychology of sharks. After the tragic death of her mentor, she stopped diving, relying on sea excursions.

One day, her ex-husband and partner Jeff comes to her with a request. His familiar millionaire promises a tidy sum for an extreme trip to sea monsters. Kate reluctantly agrees to dive, although the memory of the past revives her fear and heavy inner feelings.

Filming took place in False Bay near Cape Town, South Africa. The film shows real white sharks.

Open Water 3: Cage Dive

Rating IMDB – 4.2
Genre: Horror, thriller, drama, adventure
Production Australia / 2016
Worldwide gross: $836,413
Directed by Gerald Rashionato
Cast: Joel Hogan, Josh Potthoff, Megan Peta Hill, Pete Valley, Mark Fell, Christopher Collen, Tara Wraith, Chris Bass

Three students decide to videotape their extreme getaway, a deep-sea dive in a special cage that allows them to see marine predators at arm’s length. But a combination of circumstances leads to an unexpected disaster: friends find themselves in the open ocean alone with a monster that knows no mercy.

The filming of the scary film about the killer shark took place in South Australia – in the natural habitat of these predators.

Film director Gerard Rashionato acted as producer, cameraman, screenwriter and editor.

The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time

Rating IMDB – 3.5
Genre: Horror, science fiction, fantasy, action, thriller, comedy, adventure
US production / 2018
Directed by Anthony Ferrante
Cast: Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, Cassie Skerbo, Judah Friedlander, Vivica A. Fox, Brendan Petrizzo, M. Stephen Felty, Todd Rex, Debra Wilson

After humanity was almost completely destroyed due to a global attack of sharks, Fin, along with his grown-up son and true friends, decides to go back 66 million years to prevent the very first shark tornado. In the process of traveling through time, the heroes fall into different historical eras and change the world.

Dee Snider, who plays the Sheriff, is the lead singer of the rock band Twisted Sister.

Swamp Shark

Rating IMDB – 3.7
Genre: Horror, fantasy, action, thriller, comedy, adventure
US production / 2011
Directed by Griff Furst
Cast: Kristy Swanson, D.B. Sweeney, Robert Davi, Jason Rogel, Jeff Chase, Richard Tann, Dylan Ramsey, Sophie Sinise, Wade Boggs, Ashton Lee

The swimming season has opened on the lakes of Atchafalaya. Tourists from all over America come to the festival to admire the beautiful nature and enjoy an unforgettable vacation.

At this time, a local gang unsuccessfully turns a deal with the sale of a rare predator, and a hundred-year-old shark breaks free, falling into the swamps. Having refreshed himself with crocodiles, the creature quickly swims to the town, where crowds of unsuspecting tourists have just gathered.

The director of the tape was the actor, screenwriter and producer Griff Furst.

Super Shark

Rating IMDB – 2.5
Genre: Horror, fantasy, action, thriller, comedy, adventure
US production / 2011
Directed by Fred Olen Ray
Cast: Tim Abell, Catherine Annette, Ashley Carr, Rick Kramer, Trish Cooke, John L. Curtis, Shane Van Dyke, J. Ferguson, Michael Gallo

Due to exposure to toxic chemicals while drilling for oil, sea creatures quickly mutate. One of the sharks turns into a monster that can move on land and withstand gunfire.

After a super shark knocks out a drilling rig and eats several people, biologist Katherine Carmichael begins investigating what’s going on in hopes of stopping the predator.

The film was broadcast on the German channel Tele5 as part of the Schlefaz Format show.

Megalodon

Rating IMDB – 2.9
Genre: Horror, fantasy, action, thriller, adventure
US production / 2018
Director James Thomas
Cast: Michael Madsen, Caroline Harris, Igo Mikitas, Aimee Stolte, Scott S. Rowe, Sebastien Sharman, Pauline Nguyen, Daniel Joo

The film takes place presumably during the Cold War. The Russian army intends to connect to a secure NATO communication channel, but their actions attract the attention of a giant shark.

Meanwhile, the US Marines discover an unknown submarine at great depths and set off to intercept. During the dive, the crew encounters a sea monster that intends to sink the ship with the entire crew on board.

The tape was released in parallel with another horror film about the prehistoric shark “Meg: Monster of the Deep”, therefore it received less attention from the audience.

Toxic Shark

Rating IMDB – 3.3
Genre: Horror, fantasy, action, thriller, comedy, adventure
US production, Puerto Rico / 2017
Budget: $500,000
Directed by Cole Sharp
Cast: Cubby Borders, Christina Masterson, Bryce Darphy, Sean Samuels, Quinn Bozza, Pedro Diaz, Eric Etebari, Jame Wallace

A young guy is very worried about a painful break with his girlfriend. Then his friends invite him to an unforgettable vacation among the palm trees and the gentle ocean in the middle of the tropics. Arriving on a small island, the guys begin to relax and have fun, but a pleasant atmosphere is quickly spoiled by a shark that swims up.

In addition to sharp fangs, the monster emits a toxic poison that destroys everything around. Several tourists join forces to save themselves from imminent death and stop the poisonous fish.

Island views were filmed in Puerto Rico.

The film’s budget was only half a million dollars.

Malibu Shark Attack

Rating IMDB – 3.1
Genre: Horror, fantasy, thriller, drama, comedy
Production Australia, Canada / 2009
Budget: $3,000,000
Director David Lister
Cast: Peta Wilson, Warren Christie, Remy Broadway, Chelan Simmons, Sonya Salomyaa, Nicholas Cooper, Jeff Gannon, Mango McKay, Evert McQueen, Renee Bowen

A massive earthquake off the Californian coast gave birth to a huge tsunami that hit the city. Along with the wave, sharks rush to the beaches. Earlier they peacefully existed in deep caves, until tremors forced them to leave their abode.

While the population is in a panic and is trying to escape from the bloodthirsty creatures, rescuer Doug Crenshay and a team of volunteers decide to restore order in the city by catching the creatures.

This is one of the TV movies in the Cannibal series made for the Syfy channel.

Red Water

Rating IMDB – 4.1
Genre: Horror, fantasy, action, thriller, drama, crime, adventure
Production of South Africa, USA / 2003
Directed by Charles Robert Karner
Cast: Lou Diamond Phillips, Christy Swanson, Coolio, James Woolvett, Rob Boltin, Langley Kirkwood, Dennis Haskins, Gideon Emery, Charles Dumas, Clive Scott

Two bandits Ice and Jerry learn that there is a treasure in the waters of the Louisiana River. The operation to steal treasures is disrupted by a bloodthirsty shark that has appeared in these places. In order not to climb on the rampage, the couple attracts unsuspecting people for their dirty deeds.

Sharknado (film series)

Rating IMDB – 3.3
Genre: Horror, fantasy, action, thriller, comedy, adventure
US production / 2013
Budget: $1,000,000
Directed by Anthony Ferrante
Cast: Tara Reid, Ian Ziering, John Heard, Cassie Skerbo, Jason Simmons, Alex Arlio, Neil H. Burkov, Heather Joslyn Blair, Sumiko Brown, Diane Chambers

A catastrophic waterspout hits sunny Los Angeles. After that, the city is flooded, and thousands of marine lifeforms swim through the streets, including flocks of hungry sharks. Predators feel at home, and calmly devour defenseless citizens who find themselves in their path. Surfer Fin and a team of friends set out across the city to find his family and save the children.

A series of films about killer sharks was filmed specifically for the Syfy TV channel. Starting in 2013, it expanded into comics and computer games.

2-Headed Shark Attack

Rating IMDB – 2.5
Genre: Horror, fantasy, action, thriller, comedy, adventure
US production / 2012
Director Christopher Ray
Cast: Carmen Electra, Charlie O’Connell, Brooke Hogan, Christina Bach, Gerald Webb, David Gallegos, Geoff Ward, Mercedes Young, Shannan Stewart, Tihira Tagliaferro

A group of tourists goes on a boat trip. Not reaching their destination, their ship suddenly crashes. Fortunately, there is a small island nearby, where people are hiding from the monster that attacked them.

But the troubles of the survivors don’t end there – a flood begins on a tiny island. Therefore, the chance for salvation slips into the water, where a two-headed mutant shark is already prowling.

The film premiered in September 2012 on Syfy TV channel.

Shark Swarm

Rating IMDB – 3.4
Genre: Horror, fantasy, action, thriller, drama, comedy, adventure
US production / 2008
Directed by James A. Contner
Cast: Daryl Hannah, John Schneider, Armand Assante, F. Murray Abraham, Rourke Critchlow, Heather McComb, John Enos III, Alan Fudge, Jean Davis, Brent King

Billionaire Hamilton Lacks is going to buy all the real estate in a small California town in order to build several hotels there. But fishermen are afraid of the development of this idea, because the flow of tourists will scare away all the fish in the area.

The tycoon’s confrontation with the locals ends with Lax pouring pesticides into the coastal waters. He does not even know how this will affect marine life and people.

The film was shot for a series of mockbusters about bloodthirsty predators, released by Ayslum for the Syfy TV channel.

Shark Hunter

Rating IMDB – 3.2
Genre: Horror, fantasy, action, thriller, adventure
US production / 2001
Directed by Matt Codd
Cast: Antonio Sabato Jr., Christian Tulali, Grand L. Bush, Heather Marie Marsden, Velizar Binev, Hristo Shopov, Rob Zakar, Voika Velkova, Kirill Hristov, Viktor Biserov

A group of scientists find the DNA of a prehistoric shark and decide to make a scientific breakthrough. They are raising a giant monster at the underwater research station.

One day, the shark destroys its habitat and breaks out into the open ocean. Many years later, Spencer, whose parents died from the teeth of a megalodon, returns to the place of the disappearance of the research station to end the monster.

The main role was played by the American-Italian fashion model Antonio Sabato.

Roboshark

Rating IMDB – 3.0
Genre: Horror, fantasy, action, thriller, comedy, adventure
Production Bulgaria, Canada / 2015
Directed by Jeffrey Scott Lando
Cast: Alexis Peterman, Matt Rippy, Nigel Barber, Vanessa Grass, Isaac Haig, Laura Dale, Vladimir Mikhailov, Kicker Robinson

An unknown space object descends to Earth, which releases its probe directly into the Pacific Ocean. There he is swallowed by a white shark, turning into a dangerous monster with red eyes and strong skin.

The US Army begins hunting the monster, intending to attack it with all the guns. This moment is trying to take advantage of the unfortunate journalist, who first arrives at the place of capture of the predator and begins to report.